24th October, 2022
PRESS RELEASE:
DELIST RCCG CAMP FROM EXAM CENTRES FOR DISALLOWING MUSLIMS FROM ENTERING
– MURIC
An Islamic human
rights advocacy group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused the
Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) of disallowing Muslims from entering
its camp along Lagos-Ibadan expressway to transact business in their banks or
to check their WAEC, JAMB and other examination centres. The group therefore
demands the relocation of examination centres from the RCCG camp.
The
allegation was contained in a public statement issued on Monday, 24th
October, 2022 by the director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement
reads :
“Our office
has been inundated with complaints from Nigerian Muslims who have been denied
access into the Lagos-Ibadan expressway camp of the Redeemed Christian Church
of God (RCCG).
“Among the complainants are Muslims who registered for the Joint
Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), the West African Examinations Council
(WAEC) as well as other examinations. Attempts by the candidates to enter the
RCCG camp in order to check their examination centres are always rebuffed by
RCCG securitymen who turn them back at the gates with clear messages that
Muslims are persona non grata inside the camp.
“The second
group of Muslims who are not allowed to enter are those who opened bank
accounts in some of the banks located inside the camp like Eco Bank, Unity, Guaranty
Trust Bank, FCMB, United Bank for Africa, Zenith and Access Bank. This ugly
trend has been on for quite some time but the complaints have increased in
number recently.
“MURIC finds this
development distasteful, disturbing and disdainful. It is interesting to note
that this kind of stereotyping with Muslims as the victims is happening in
Yorubaland. It is even more interesting to note that those behind this
obnoxious practice are Yoruba Christians while the victims are Yoruba Muslims.
“Those who talk about religious tolerance being rampant in Yorubaland
have therefore missed the point. Christians and Muslims who live together in
the same buildings or those who work together in the same workplaces tolerate
each other out of necessity. There are no clashes between them in those places
because they do not bring their religion into their homes and offices. They
relate as individuals. No more, no less.
“But the
difference is the case in matters concerning religion where they operate as
Christian or Muslim groups or as corporate entities. The same Christian teacher
who lives in the same house with many Muslims without any problem is the same teacher
who will snatch the hijab from the head of a female Muslim student in the
school. Simply put, there is no religious tolerance in Yorubaland. That is the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
“The reality
is that Christians and Muslims in Yorubaland relate perfectly with one another
as individuals, friends and family members but they have no respect or
tolerance whatsoever for one another’s religion. However, it is the Muslims who
are at the receiving end because Christians had the advantage of being in
control of the paraphernalia of educational and socio-economic priviledges.
“The RCCG camp
saga cited above is one good example. RCCG has used opportunities at its
disposal to build a big camp on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. It has also equipped
the camp with necessary infrastructural facilities including a university,
schools, clinics, banks, residential houses, etc.
“MURIC
acknowledges the right of RCCG to do all these but at the same time members of
the public should be given access to them. Failure to allow that access robs
RCCG of an important quality and role in social relations, namely, neighbourliness
and service to the people. Afterall many other entities have such facilities
and keep them open to the public.
“Or is RCCG replicating the obnoxious practice in apartheid South Africa
where swimming pools and clubs hang bold signs outside their doors to warn off
blacks? It used to be ‘Dogs and Blacks NOT Allowed’. Is it now ‘Dogs and
Muslims NOT Allowed’?
“This
attitude is most disgusting, most repugnant and therefore most unacceptable.
MURIC will not stand akimbo when Muslims are treated with ignominy, contempt
and utmost disrespect. Not even security concerns call for such treatment. RCCG
is deliberately pursuing the same ostracization policy of Yoruba Christian
elites against Yoruba Muslims in their midst. It amounts to gross intolerance.
“As a way forward, we demand, first and foremost, the relocation of all
public examination centres from the RCCG camp. This camp should be delisted by
WAEC, JAMB, NECO and other examination bodies for practising religious
apartheid. However, any examination body that examines Christian candidates
only are free to continue patronising RCCG camp.
“Any
individual or institution that applies to examination bodies to host
examinations must give access to the public, particularly the candidates. Anything
to the contrary is arbitrary and alien to the culture of education. A situation
whereby candidates of a particular religion are shut out of the premises of the
examination venue is unfair, unjust and unacceptable by any standard.
“We advise
Muslims to stop going inside the RCCG camp. It is private property where
Muslims are not welcome. Muslims residing in the vicinity should patronise
banks and other business concerns located outside the camp. However, we warn
that banks and other business concerns located within RCCG camp may start losing
their Muslim customers if they continue within RCCG camp. Our advice to the
banks id to engage RCCG authorities in dialogue on this matter.
“Whereas RCCG
has the option of using bomb detectors and conducting physical searches based
on male for males and female for females method to overcome its security
concern, it has elected to dehumanise Muslims seeking entry into its premises.
This will remain on record for a very long time.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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