MURIC TO PLATEAU GOVT: DON’T DESECRATE OUR CEMETERY

 

30^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO PLATEAU GOVT: DON’T DESECRATE OUR CEMETERY

 

The Plateau State Government has announced the impending closure of the Muslim cemetery on Zaria Road. But the Muslim community has opposed the move. Meanwhile, an Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has waded into the matter.

 

In a statement issued on Saturday, 30^th November, 2024, MURIC described it as an attempt to desecrate the Muslim cemetery because graves must be left untouched in Islam. The statement was signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

MURIC said:

 

“The Plateau State Commissioner for Land, Survey, and Town Planning, Barrister Nyam Peter Gai, has inaugurated a committee whose assignment is to provide an alternative burial ground within the Bukur-Jos metropolis (https://dailytrust.com/jos-community-raises-alarm-over-planned-closure-of-cemetery/#google_vignette). 

 

“MURIC frowns at this move. It is disrespectful to the dead. It is also motivated by hatred for Muslims. We note with serious concern that there is no single Muslim leader among members of the committee. How can Plateau State government exhume the corpses of Muslims and rebury them elsewhere without involving a single Muslim leader? We repeat, it is a hate-filled action.

 

“Our beloved parents, children, Islamic scholars and other deceased Muslims are resting in that cemetery. They are an integral part of our history. We will not be willing tools in the hands of those who intend to erase our chronicle.

 

“Every cemetery has a story behind it. It is the offsprings, friends and dear ones who leaf through the pages and drop additional lines as time goes on. A cemetery is a miniature memorabilia and any attempt to destroy it is not only a crime against humanity but also an assault on both terrestrial and celestial forces.  

 

“This is a deliberate attempt at totally eliminating historiology among the Jos Muslim community. We are not surprised the vandalization of cemeteries is a common practice among governments led by apartheid infested haters. At least 16 cemeteries have been vandalized by Israeli invaders in Gaza (https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/20/middleeast/israel-gaza-cemeteries-desecrated-investigation-intl-cmd/index.html).

 

“During the Yugoslav Wars of the 90s, Serb and Croat militias destroyed Bosnian Muslim cemeteries. However, those behind the latest attempt to vandalise Jos Muslim cemetery should note that the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ruled that the destruction of religious and cultural sites, including cemeteries, can be considered a crime against humanity (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnian_genocide).

 

“It is an insensitive mission. Plateau has another agenda different from what it has told the public. This attempt lacks inclusivity and suffers desertification of credibility. Barrister Nyam Peter Gai has inaugurated an anti-Muslim committee. We will not be party to the deliberate destruction of our past. You cannot bury our dead behind our back. Plateau has a luciferous agenda.”

 

#MuslimCemeteryJos

#RespectMuslimCemetery

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

GOTV FORCING CHRISTIANITY ON NIGERIAN MUSLIMS – MURIC

 

29^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

GOTV FORCING CHRISTIANITY ON NIGERIAN MUSLIMS – MURIC

 

The international cable television network, GOTV, has been accused of forcing Christian televangelism on Nigerian Muslims.

 

The allegation was made by an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). In a widely circulated press release signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the organization demanded stoppage of the use of ‘Faith’ channel on the first Channel of GOTV with immediate effect, describing it as offensive, nauseating and denigrating.

 

The full press release says:

 

“A plethora of complaints has flooded the headquarters of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in the past 30 days concerning the disturbing allocation of a prime channel on the popular international cable television network, GOTV, to ‘Faith’, a popular Christian programme used for televangelism.  

 

“According to the complainants, the first channel on GOTV which used to feature the advertisement of programmes on its other channels has now been dedicated to ‘Faith’ alone such that users of GOTV are compelled to watch the Christian channel willy-nilly once they switch on their television sets.

 

“This is an obvious extension of trammadolised religiousity to a provocative level, a strangulation of Nigerian Muslims with a Christianised hangman’s noose and a grinding subjection of the totality of the Nigerian Muslim psyche to trauma, assault and derision. It is offensive, nauseating and denigrating.

 

“GOTV is taking undue advantage of its licence, abusing its priviledged position and infringing on Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslims to use of television, choice of programme and freedom to navigate television channels.

 

“On behalf of more than 130 million Nigerians, MURIC demands immediate cessation of the ‘Faith’ programme on this prime channel and its return to its former channel or any other of GOTV’s choice.

 

“By allocating its first channel to the Christian ‘Faith’ televangel programme, GOTV has made Christianity its numero uno agenda in the country and relegated Islam to the bottom of the pyramid. It is religious apartheid and Nigerian Muslims will not accept relegation to third class citizenship in a country where they enjoy comfortable demographic lead.

 

“For a starter, Nigerian Muslims will be forced to start de-subscribing from GOTV if this obnoxious, prejudiced and ill-advised practice is not halted within seven days counting from Monday, 2^nd December, 2024. Other peaceful, legitimate and constitutional anti-GOTV actions may follow as deemed necessary if the service provider fails to comply.

 

“Meanwhile, MURIC appeals to Nigerian Muslims to continue to exercise patience and to remain peaceful and calm. We must not give in to provocation, lawlessness and violence. The law is on our side and we have the right to reject a service provider that has no respect for our faith or for its Muslim customers.”

 

“GOTV will also do better by returning to its original practice whereby the last station watched by consumers opens immediately they switch on their television sets. Nigerians are going through enough stress and GOTV has no right to escalate tension in the nation’s anatomy.”

 

#GOTV

#RespectMuslimCustomers

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

KADUNA REFINERY NEXT AFTER PORT HARCOURT – MURIC

 

27^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

KADUNA REFINERY NEXT AFTER PORT HARCOURT – MURIC

 

 

The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd began processing crude oil yesterday, Tuesday, 26^th November, 2024 after a turnaround that lasted several years. This commendable milestone was achieved after several deadlines for resumption failed.  

 

However, in a statement made available to the media on Wednesday, 27^th November, 2024 by the Executive Director of an Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, it was argued that instead of turning attention to the Warri refinery for the next turnaround, the oil industry should now focus on Kaduna refinery for strategic planning, security concerns and geopolitical balancing.

 

The group contended further:

 

“Efforts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd (NNPCL) to revive the economy and secure autonomy for the nation in the oil sector received another boost when the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd began processing crude oil yesterday, Tuesday, 26^th November, 2024.

 

“This was after many attempts at a turnaround of the refinery that lasted several years. This commendable milestone was achieved after several deadlines for resumption failed. The resumption of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which was initially inaugurated in 1965, raised Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity to 860,000 barrels per day. (https://dailytrust.com/just-in-port-harcourt-refinery-begins-operations/).  

 

“While we commend NNPCL management for firmly setting the nation’s feet on a new era of energy security and economic growth, we call for a re-engineering of thought-process towards a change in focus, at least temporarily. Instead of turning attention to the Warri refinery for the next turnaround, the oil industry should now focus on the Kaduna refinery.

 

“Olufemi Soneye, spokesperson of NNPCL, was quoted as saying that the corporation’s attention would now turn to the second Port Harcourt refinery (the new one) and Warri Refinery.  

 

“But this will not be fair, in our humble opinion, because Kaduna Refinery which has the capacity to produce 110,000 barrels per day (bpd) should be the next to be overhauled. This is for reasons of strategic planning, security concerns and geopolitical balancing. We must get our priorities right.

 

“With the Port Harcourt facility joining Dangote Refinery in Southern Nigeria, the attention of the oil industry should shift to the North where no single refinery is functioning at present. No region or zone should be sidelined in the distribution of infrastructure. Besides, Nigeria should not put all its eggs in one basket. There is, therefore, need for even distribution of oil facilities across the country.

 

“In addition, we call on NNPCL to expedite action on oil exploration in the North. It has been revealed that hydrocarbon deposits have been found in commercial quantity in the Kolmani River II Well spanning Bauchi and Gombe States on the Upper Benue Trough, Gongola Basin, in the northeastern part of the country (https://tribuneonlineng.com/nnpcs-quest-for-oil-exploration-in-the-north/).

 

“This is necessary in order to mull arrogant claimants who refer to the North as a liability to the rest of the country and refer to the South as the nation’s cash cow. Such claims are false, baseless and reckless. We complement each other as equal partners in nation building. We must therefore eliminate the mantra of North-South dichotomy”

 

#PortHarcourtRefineryTurnaround

#KadunaRefineryNext

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC HAILS NNPC-DANGOTE RAPPORT

 

25^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC HAILS NNPC-DANGOTE RAPPORT

 

A faith-based human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has applauded the cooperation and mutual understanding between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and Dangote Refinery.

 

In a statement issued on Monday, 25^th November, 2024, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the recent development as positive, progressive and commendable.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) yesterday instructed independent marketers to halt the importation of petroleum products from outside Nigeria citing the capacity of Dangote Refinery to supply the petroleum needs of the country (https://thenews-chronicle.com/nnpc-instructs-marketers-to-halt-petrol-imports-citing-dangote-refinery-capacity/).

 

“In the same vein, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) had announced earlier that over 30,000 of its members are set to purchase petrol directly from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery (https://9jaeye.ng/ipman-to-buy-petrol-from-dangote-refinery/).

 

“Coupled with yesterday’s instruction from NNPCL that marketers should stop importing petroleum products henceforth, the recent developments are positive, progressive and commendable.

 

“Having monitored the relationship between the two major stakeholders in the petroleum industry (NNPCL and Dangote refinery) for several months and having observed that both of them have developed respect for each other, we have come to the conclusion that both of them should be applauded for eventually seeing the need for cooperation and mutual understanding in the interest of Nigeria.

 

“It only makes sense even to ordinary laymen that Dangote Refinery with a massive capacity of 650,000 barrels per day is in an ideal position to meet Nigeria’s domestic fuel needs which, as at 29^th October 2024, stands at 50 million litres per day (https://www.thecable.ng/nmdpra-nigerias-daily-consumption-of-petrol-is-50m-litres/).

 

“The Dangote facility can produce far above local demand. This is a big plus for the country. Reuters News Agency has also confirmed that Dangote Refinery has a stockpile of 500 litres of petrol (https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/dangote-says-refinery-has-500-mln-litres-petrol-storage-can-meet-nigerias-demand-2024-10-30/).

 

“The national goal of reducing, ab initio, reliance on fuel import and eventually, totally halting it in order to make fuel self-sufficiency a fait accompli has been eventually actualized in our time.  

 

“With the recent revelation that Nigeria spends approximately N2.6 trillion monthly on fuel importation only (https://nairametrics.com/2024/06/09/nigeria-incurs-n2-6-trillion-on-fuel-imports-in-first-quarter-of-2024-up-46/), the ability of Dangote Refinery to supply all the petroleum needs of the country is a humongous blessing.

 

“MURIC salutes the Federal Government, the leaderships of NNPCL and Dangote refinery for making all these happen without collateral damages. In particular, NNPCL deserves special accolades for letting go and for maintaining iron-grip discipline in the petroleum industry as evidenced by the fact that prices in NNPC petrol stations are the lowest while fuel supply is most stable in them.

 

“The current achievement has been made possible by a combination of highly responsible professionals in NNPCL and a visionary businessman and African industrialist nulli secundus (Alhaji Aliko Dangote), a self-made and very resourceful business guru who has dedicated his life to the provision of the crucial needs of his countrymen and women.

 

“On the other hand, Nigeria is fortunate to have an NNPCL manned by highly experienced men who are endowed with high level integrity and unquestionable sense of patriotism.

 

“MURIC congratulates the Federal Government, NNPCL, the leadership and management of Dangote Refinery and every Nigerian citizen for eventually crawling out of the dark tunnel, at least in the oil sector.

 

“Hope is finally here. It has also been reported that Dangote Refinery has started exporting petrol to West African countries and earning dollars (https://www.thegazellenews.com/news/report-dangote-refinery-exporting-petrol-exports-to-wafrica-in-dollars/). What that means is that we have started generating foreign exchange. It is hoped that this will improve our forex crisis and stabilise the naira.

 

“But it is not yet uhuru. We urge Nigerians to adopt a positive mien about their country so that every other thing can fall in place. Attitudinal change is crucial to winning the war against low self-esteem. Let us think of Nigeria first in all our dealings.

 

“John Franklin Kennedy once said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country’. Apart from several investments in other areas, Dangote gave a huge refinery to his country. Every Nigerian must see this as a challenge and ask himself or herself, ‘What is my contribution to Nigeria?’

 

“Before we drop the anchor, I invite Nigerians to ponder over this golden advice from the Glorious Qur’an, ‘Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change their own attitude’ (Qur’an 13:11).

 

#NNPCDangoteRapport

#NigeriaFirst

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

LAKURAWA: MAKE SULTAN’S SAFETY A PRIORITY – MURIC

 

23^rd November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

LAKURAWA: MAKE SULTAN’S SAFETY A PRIORITY – MURIC  

 

The Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Security Services have been urged to make the safety of the Sultan of Sokoto a matter of utmost priority.

 

The call was made by an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) following recent reports that the new Lakurawa terrorist group is now operating in ten local government areas of Sokoto and Kebbi States.

 

In a statement circulated to the media on Saturday 23^rd November, 2024, the Founder and Executive Director of MURIC called for urgent proactive measures to ensure the safety of the Sultan in the face of the new threat posed by Lakurawa terrorists.

 

The full message reads:

 

“Latest reports indicate that the new Lakurawa terrorist group is now operating in ten local government areas of Sokoto and Kebbi States (https://punchng.com/how-lukarawa-terrorists-operate-in-10-sokoto-bauchi-council-areas/).

 

“According to some reports, they have more than 10,000 active fighters. They burn shops, impose fines and remove Imams who cannot speak Arabic (https://www.operanewsapp.com/ng/en/share/detail?news_id=2e62fd83f229af1ee8b7252c018bf777&news_entry_id=s184cdc5b241111en_ng&open_type=transcoded&from=news&request_id=share_request&share_from).

 

“We are all aware of the antecedents and modus operandi of terrorist groups in Northern Nigeria. They are known to have killed and kidnapped emirs, district heads and others. The Nigerian security agencies must prove their mettle by being proactive. We cannot afford any mishap around a distinguished personality like the Sultan of Sokoto.

 

“The twin status of Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar as the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) makes his protection mandatory. It is a matter of national security. The security agencies must therefore make his person, family members, palace, convoy and entourage impregnable at all times.

 

“It is needless to reiterate the fact that as the leader of more than 130 million Nigerian Muslims, any untoward incident around the Sultan’s personality is capable of igniting unprecedented and unimaginable consequences.

 

“This is why the protection of the Sultan is not only mandatory but a sine qua non to peace in contemporary Nigeria. Terrorists may want to strike at the heart of the Sultanate to score a strategic point in contemporary relevance or to embarrass the security agencies and deride the Federal Government. We must not allow this to happen. To keep the Sultan safe is a task that must be done.”

 

#LakurawaTerrorists

#KeepTheSultanSafe

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

STOP ARBITRARY ARREST OF MUSLIMS IN OGBOMOSO – MURIC

 

19^th November, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

STOP ARBITRARY ARREST OF MUSLIMS IN OGBOMOSO – MURIC

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the recent spate of arrests of Muslim youths in Ogbomoso as arbitrary, dangerous, odious and insidious. While pointing accusing finger at the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the group called on the Oyo State Police Command to stop the ugly trend and remain neutral.

 

MURIC made the call on Tuesday, 19^th November, 2024 in a press release signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The release said:

 

“The Ogbomoso Muslim Youths Forum has cried out over the current spate of arrests of its members. Four Muslim youths were arrested and detained last week by the police.   

 

“Kasimu Owolabi was arrested in Ogbomoso on Monday 11^th November, 2024. He was taken to Eleiyele, Ibadan where he spent two nights. His release was secured on Wednesday, 13^th November, 2024.

 

“On the same day, i.e. Wednesday, 13^th November, 2024, another Ogbomoso Muslim youth, Adebisi Muritala, was arrested and moved to Ibadan where he also passed the night.

 

“Still not satisfied, the police again arrested two other Muslim youths, namely, Abdulsalam Abdullahi and Mustapha AbdulRahman, that same week.

 

“We are constrained to bring this disturbing trend to the attention of the Nigerian public. Muslim youths in Ogbomoso can no longer sleep at home. Neither can they walk the streets freely. Their attendance in the mosque to worship has been equally endangered as any of them can be picked up at any time.

 

“MURIC strongly condemns this spate of arrests. It is arbitrary, dangerous, odious and insidious. It is a barbaric attack on freedom of speech, a brutal assault on freedom of movement and a gross violation of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Ogbomoso Muslim youths.

 

“But there is no smoke without fire. At least the last two detainees were allegedly picked up for leaking a petition reportedly authored from the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso. It was also alleged that the first detainee, Kasimu Owolabi, was arrested for ‘insulting’ the Soun during a protest held by Ogbomoso Muslims against the monarch. It is now obvious that Soun’s reign of terror is already in full motion.

 

“The allegations levelled against the Muslim youths run counter to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Section 39 of the constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression by stipulating as follows: Every person shall be entitled to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impact ideas and information without interference.

 

“Arbitrary arrest is an open contravention of Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which says inter alia, ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part thereof, and no citizen of Nigeria shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.’

“By extension, Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and People’s rights lay strong emphasis on the right of citizens of all countries to move freely within their borders.

“The question is being asked, ‘Why are Ogbomoso Muslim youths being hounded right, left and center?’ Well, the witch cried yesterday, the child died today, do we have to go far looking for the child’s killer? We do not have to consult any oracle to find out who is behind the spate of arrests.

 

“We charge the Oyo State Police Command to remain neutral. The command must discharge its duties with utmost finesse. Hounding Muslim youths merely for expressing dissent is unprofessional, unethical and undignifying for any police force that seeks and cherishes global standard behaviour. Oyo State Police Command must stop this wave of intimidation and suppression.

 

“One-time British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain who ruled from May 1937 to May 1940 spoke of five evils: brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution. Those five evils have been fully manifested in Ogbomoso under a pastor turned totalitarian traditional ruler. The police have no business sharpening his weapon of tyranny. It is illegal to obey unlawful instruction.

 

“The danger here is that the king is visiting his tools of oppression on the Muslims of the ancient town. Something is terribly wrong if a pastor becomes king and starts targeting Muslim land for conversion to what it was not intended for and orchestrating the mass arrest of Muslims.

 

“MURIC calls for the enforcement of fundamental human rights of Ogbomoso Muslims with immediate effect. We warn that Nigerian Muslims will not stand akimbo while the right to personal liberty of Ogbomoso Muslims in particular and that of any other Muslim anywhere in this country is compromised. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

 

#OyoPoliceCommand

#StopArbitraryArrests

#OgbomosoMuslims

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC