23rd November, 2020
PRESS RELEASE:
LEVERAGE ON WORKFREE FRIDAY IN BENUE
- MURIC
The government of
Benue State has approved Friday as a workfree day. This is one of the measures
aimed at cushioning the effect of COVID-19 in the state. However, the measure
is to run for three months only, from 6th November, 2020 to 29th
January, 2021. This is to enable civil servants in the state to harvest their farm
products during the period (https://www.akelicious.net/benue-state-govt-approves-fridays-as-work-free-day/)
In its reaction to the development, the Nigerian Islamic human rights
organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which has been in the
forefront of the campaign for a workfree Friday, has welcomed the three-month moratorium.
MURIC described it as a half measure and a temporary relief for workers in
Benue State. In addition, the group called on Northern governors and legislators
to leverage on the directive by declaring workfree Friday throughout the year. MURIC’s
observation came on Monday, 23rd November, 2020 through its
director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
According to MURIC, “The
hypocrisy of Muslim-haters has been exposed by the action of the Benue State government.
Our critics claim that there would be confusion if Friday is declared a
workfree day. But a whole state has gone ahead to declare the day free and
heaven has not fallen in Makurdi. Though the state government’s intention has
nothing to do with allowing Muslims to worship, it has served as a reference point.
What it implies is that a workfree Friday is possible if the political will is
there.
“The onus is therefore on Northern governors and legislators to
set the ball rolling. If the Benue State governor can issue a directive to
declare Friday free for three months to promote a bumper harvest, Northern
governors and legislators have every reason to leverage on that by introducing
workfree Friday bills in their houses of assembly which the governors can pass
into law.
“The freedom of
Nigerian Muslims is in the hands of their political leaders. Nobody is going to
set them free until they are ready to break the shackles with their own hands.
What is good for agricultural bumper harvest is good for robust spiritual fulfilment.
It is also a wakeup call for Muslim the youth to go into politics in large
number. The destiny of nations is shaped by politicians. Muslims who fail to
participate in politics will be ruled by politicians who hate Muslims.
“MURIC calls on Nigerian Muslims to open their eyes very wide. Muslim
families are scattered like wild oats every Friday. The father is working in
the office while the mother is teaching in a school at a distant location. The
children are learning in separate schools. The Muslim family cannot attend the
same mosque together on Friday. Meanwhile Christian families go to the same church
together and listen to the same sermon on Saturday and Sunday. This situation
has far-reaching effects on spiritual development.
“What MURIC is
saying in essence is that Nigerian Muslims are seriously shortchanged in the
system and there is need for redress. The Northern states where Muslims are in overwhelming
majority must wake up to this reality. The Federal Government (FG) is not ready
to listen even though we have been on this campaign since 1993 when the director
of MURIC published his 135-page book
Entitled ‘The Friday Question’.
“It
is also a potential area of interest whenever FG is ready for restructuring. The
gross imbalance in the recognition of days of worship for Christians and
Muslims must be addressed under restructuring. Those who are clamouring for
restructuring should take note because restructuring must not be selective. It
is supposed to address lopsidedness in all facets of the Nigerian life.
“A system that gives Christians two days (Saturday for Seventh Day
Adventists and Sunday for other Christians) but gives nothing to the Muslims
cannot be described as fair or just. It is a contravention of the law of natural
justice. Two out of seven days per week for
Christians and nothing for Muslims is grossly unfair. Mathematicians should put
that together. It means Nigerian Christians are given 104 days out of 365 days
of every year to worship their God. That is a whopping 28.57%! But the Muslims
are given nothing. Yet our neighbours shout to high heaven that Nigeria is
Islamised and the cry of ‘Islamisation’ rents the air.
“Islamisation my
foot!”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
No comments:
Post a Comment