STOP CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY AGAINST AYEDE POLY RECTOR – MURIC

 

30^th December, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

STOP CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY AGAINST AYEDE POLY RECTOR – MURIC  

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has waded into the brewing crisis in the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State. The human rights group called on the polytechnic community as well as the people of Osun and Oyo states to stop the campaign of calumny against the rector of the institution, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul Hameed.

 

In a press statement issued on Monday, 30^th December, 2024 by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC accused the detractors of the rector of resorting to blackmail because the latter insisted on following due process particularly in the award of contracts.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“The pioneer Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul Hameed, was recently accused of nepotism, religious bias and lack of transparency in the award of contracts. But his detractors and whistle-blowers remain faceless while pursuing their propaganda in the social media.

 

“Our findings reveal that the allegations levelled against the rector are baseless, unfounded and without any evidence whatsoever. Contrary to the false allegations, the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede which was established in February 2021 has made monumental progress within such a short period under Engr. Abdul Hameed.

 

“There is every reason to believe that those behind the malicious propaganda are resorting to blackmail because the rector has always insisted on following due process. Vested interest, Islamophobia, avaricious greed and rapacious covetousness are responsible for the malice being manifested towards the hardworking rector.

 

“It is uncommon for an institution that is merely three years old to have reached the height already being enjoyed by the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede. Despite the fact that it is yet to generate funds internally, 23 projects have been completed through capital projects and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TEFUND).

 

“As an astute administrator, the rector has been able to attract and complete four projects donated by philanthropists, all within this short time. The four projects are already visible at the permanent site. This achievement in particular is an eloquent testimony to the rector’s credibility, his uncommonness and the humongous trust which members of the public repose in his person.

 

“That is not all. The temporary site also boasts of three other completed projects as well as another four renovated and donated projects. This is apart from various equipment that are sine qua non in a tertiary institution procured by the rector for the young polytechnic.

 

“Among these are 3 Toyota Hilux vehicles, 2 utility vehicles, 40 number of computers, a 500KVA transformer with feeder pillars and cables, 30KVA solar energy with 48 panels and 24 batteries, 40 number of laptops, ongoing construction of a storey building library complex, etc.

 

“There is no scintilla of ambiguity that Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul Hameed is a performer with indubitable pedigree. His fake whistle-blowers are out to smear his good reputation. Their complaints are mere distractions born out of envy, pettiness and malice. They are clogs in the wheel of progress for the new polytechnic.

 

“Records show that there has been inter-religious harmony in the Federal Polytechnic Ayede since inception. The academic and administrative staff must not allow merchants of dirty antics to sow the seeds of religious crisis. Their sole aim is to secure contracts without following due process. These agents of Lucifer must not be allowed to halt the progress of the institution.

 

“MURIC appeals to the Federal Ministry of Education to ignore the allegations and continue to give the rector and the polytechnic the much needed support. We urge the people of Osun and Oyo states to stop the campaign of calumny against the rector, Engr. Dr. Taofeek Adekunle Abdul Hameed.”

 

#FederalPolytechnicAyede

#StopDirtyAntics

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

BOMBING: SOKOTO BRANCH OF MURIC TASKS AIR FORCE

 

28^th December, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

BOMBING: SOKOTO BRANCH OF MURIC TASKS AIR FORCE  

 

The Muslim Rights Concern Sokoto State Chapter is seriously concerned about

the bombing of innocent Nigerian citizens in Sokoto which led to the killing of at least 10 law abiding citizens, wounding many and destroying properties worth millions of naira. The bombing was allegedly carried out by a Nigerian Air Force jet.

 

While we commend the efforts of the Nigerian Air Force fighting Lakurawa terrorists and bandits, we condemn in the strongest terms the killing of innocent citizens.

 

We demand that those who carried out the bombing be identified and subjected to legal process. Killing someone even if it is by mistake is a criminal offence in itself liable to punishment particularly for military personnels. 

 

This incident is particularly disturbing as it highlights the ongoing issue of extrajudicial killings of Nigerian citizens through bombing without identifying and court-martialing the culprits.

 

By way of emphasis, in the provisions of both civil and military laws in Nigeria, it is a criminal offence to kill citizens by mistake. It is alarming that this is not an isolated incident.

 

It is worthy of mention here that in 2019, Nigerian Air Force officers unjustly killed two innocent citizens at Mabera Area in Sokoto Metropolis and the report of the committee which investigated the murder was neither made public nor communicated to the lawyers of the victims who fully took part during the sittings of the Committee. (https://punchng.com/naf-investigates-personnel-accused-of-murder-in-sokoto/; https://tribuneonlineng.com/the-air-force-killings-in-sokoto/). This lack of transparency and accountability in a democratic society is unacceptable and it is highly condemnable.

 

We, therefore, demand a serious, sincere and unbiased investigation. The public deserves to know the truth and those responsible must be held accountable for their negligence. An open and transparent investigation with a clear timeline coupled with a guarantee of report of the outcome would help restore trust and ensure justice is served.

 

The people of Nigeria deserve better and it is time for the government to take concrete actions to protect its citizens' rights and lives.

 

Dr. Muhammad Mansur Aliyu Esq 

Chairman,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

Sokoto Branch.

 

SHARI’AH: MAKINDE NEEDS BRIEFING – MURIC

 

27^th December, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

SHARI’AH: MAKINDE NEEDS BRIEFING – MURIC

 

The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, recently spoke against the Shari’ah. However, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has criticized the governor for failing to receive proper briefing before opposing Shari’ah.

 

According to a statement issued by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Friday, 27^th December, 2024, the group said Makinde spoke in ignorance of the true situation on ground. The group advised government officials to get adequate briefing before commenting on issues particularly sensitive matters like religion.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“Engr. Seyi Makinde, the executive governor of Oyo State, recently spoke against the Shari’ah in Oyo State. It is quite obvious that the governor was not properly briefed before coming out publicly to make scathing remarks about Shari’ah.

 

“Makinde spoke from a position of ignorance about the subject matter, particularly about the true situation on ground. It is advisable for government officials to get adequate briefing before commenting on issues particularly sensitive matters like religion.

 

“This is so because neither Muslims nor Christians can allow anyone, not even a governor, to ridicule their religion. That is why any government that does not want to be embarrassed should not make frivolous statements that can be debunked even by children in kindergarten classes.

 

“To this end, it has come to our knowledge that shortly after some uninformed and misguided Yoruba youths declared publicly that they did not want Shari’ah in Yorubaland, Governor Makinde announced in a viral video clip that Shari’ah was not in the constitution which he swore to defend.

 

“But Makinde lied. Shariah is in the constitution. It is either the governor feigned ignorance of it for reasons best known to him or he was not properly briefed. We expected the governor to have consulted the legal arm of his government before uttering that fallacious statement.

 

“Section 275(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria allows the states to establish Shari’ah Courts of Appeal. It says inter alia, ‘There shall be for any state that desires it a Shari’ah Court of Appeal for that state’. This is the reality on ground unless the governor is saying that Oyo State has been carved out of the entity called Nigeria or that his own constitution is different from what Nigerians are using.

 

“We find the governor leveraging on a typographical error committed by the organisers of the Shari’ah programme in Oyo town who wrote ‘the word ‘Court’ instead of ‘Panel’ in the invitation sent out which reads: ‘Inauguration Ceremony of Shariah Court in Oyo Town and its Environs’ but should have read: ‘Inauguration Ceremony of Shariah Panel in Oyo Town and its Environs’.

 

“The governor deliberately exploited the typographical error because we know that he cannot claim to be unaware of the existence of many Shari’ah panels in Yorubaland.  

 

“A Shariah Panel has been sitting at the Central Mosque in Oja Oba, established since 1^st May, 2002 to date. Makinde met the panel there and it will still be there when he leaves office in 2027. There is nothing he can do about that.

 

“Shari’ah panels are spread all over Yorubaland. It has been in Lagos since 1993. Ogun State got its own Shari’ah panel on 17^th January, 2018 and its first sitting took place on 2^nd February of the same year at the Egba Muslims Central Mosque, Kobiti, Abeokuta.

 

“Oshogbo got a taste of the Shari’ah panel in 2005 and it is on record that conventional courts in Osun refer Imamate and inheritance cases to the Shari’ah panel. The latest and newest is the 11-member Ekiti State Shari’ah Arbitration Panel which was sworn in on Friday, 1^st November, 2024 (https://independent.ng/ekiti-sharia-arbitration-panel-shall-dispense-justice-to-all-grand-qadi/; https://dailytrust.com/kwara-grand-kadi-inaugurates-ekiti-shariah-arbitration-panel/)

 

“Makinde is just grandstanding. He cannot say he is unaware of all these Shari’ah panels which are everywhere in Yorubaland. It is just that politicians cannot stop making political statements. It is semantics. Makinde simply played tricks with the words ‘court’ and ‘panel’. He knew the organisers of that event meant to write ‘panel’.

 

“These Shari’ah panels were established as alternative dispute settlement centres for Muslims. They are not conventional courts per se but channels for Muslims to ventilate family disputes and vehicles for tackling Muslim civil matters like inheritance, marriage and divorce which can only be understood and satisfactorily resolved by experts in Islamic law.

 

“Makinde just shot himself in the foot anyway. This is the same governor who is warming up for Aso Rock. After talking about our Shari’ah in this manner, we wonder how he will navigate the tortuous and windy road to the presidency in a country demographically skewed in favour of Muslims. He should remember that even Peter Obi’s ‘Yes Daddy’ mantra was to no avail.

 

“MURIC advises government officials and the general public in Yorubaland to understand the concept of civil Shari’ah. Yoruba youths in particular should not allow themselves to be misled by Muslim haters. Like Nigeria, Yorubaland belongs to us all. Nobody is going anywhere for anybody.

 

“Muslims, Christians and traditionalists must learn to peacefully coexist. We must learn to tolerate Muslim civil Shari’ah just as the Muslims have been tolerating Christian laws and their courts for decades.

 

“We should not allow trouble-makers, rabble-rousers and irredentists to lead us by the nose. The Muslim Shari’ah panel is for Muslims alone and it is only to settle disagreements among Muslims. No Christian can appear in our Shariah panel. It is not even a court and it has no power of enforcement in any form.

 

“Yoruba people must not listen to those inciting them against their Muslim neighbours. There is nothing to fear in ordinary Shari’ah panel. Beware, the Bible warns: ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee …’ (Hosea 4:6).

 

“We appeal to Muslims in Oyo State in particular and Yorubaland in general to ignore all forms of provocations. Islam is a religion based on knowledge and peaceful behaviour. We must therefore manifest patience and maturity at all times.”

 

#ShariahIsInTheConstitution

#ShariahPanelNotShariahCourt

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

ARREST ABUJA, ANAMBRA EVENT ORGANISERS OR SET IBADAN ORGANISERS FREE – MURIC

 

24^th December, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

ARREST ABUJA, ANAMBRA EVENT ORGANISERS OR SET IBADAN ORGANISERS FREE – MURIC

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has told the Nigeria Police to arrest the organisers of palliative distribution in Abuja and Anambra or set the organisers of a similar event in Ibadan free.      

 

In a statement issued by the Executive Director of the group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday, 24^th December, 2024, MURIC condemned the idea of different treatments for the same tragic incident in three different places. The group therefore demanded the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested in Ibadan over the disaster.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“Three tragic events took place in the last few days as the distribution of palliatives in Ibadan, Oyo State, Abuja and Okija in Anambra State led to uncontrollable stampede which claimed the lives of about 50 people, many of them children.

 

“MURIC is interested in knowing why it was only the organisers of the Ibadan event that were arrested while those in Abuja and Okija were allegedly left free. We therefore demand the immediate and unconditional release of the organisers of the Ibadan event.

 

“Queen Naomi Silekunola in particular is well known for her philanthropic activities and nobody in his or her right mind will assume that she deliberately planned a massacre.

 

“By the same token, the arrest of the principal of Islamic High School, Orita Bashorun, Ibadan, was quite unnecessary because the alumni of that school has confirmed that the venue was approved by the Oyo State Ministry of Education and not by the principal acting unilaterally (https://dailypost.ng/2024/12/21/ibadan-stampede-oyo-govt-not-principal-approved-venue-alumni/).  

 

“The Obi Jackson Foundation led by Chief Ernest Obiejesi had good intentions as usual but things still went wrong. However, Anambra police did not haul him into detention the way Oyo police detained Queen Naomi and Mr. Fasasi, the school principal.

 

“In the same vein, there has been no report of arrests by the Abuja police formation over the palliative-induced stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, on Saturday, 21^st December, 2024.

 

“The Nigeria Police has left many questions unanswered regarding its handling of the three tragic episodes. A stampede is a stampede. One should not be differentiated from the other. Ditto for the issue of deaths. Homo sapiens died in all the events, not goats, not dogs.

 

“All the organisers should have been treated equally. But as things stand, it appears the sledgehammer descended on Ibadan organisers alone while Abuja and Okija merely vowed to investigate the calamities.

 

“There is only one way to go, viz, arrest the organisers of the Abuja and Okija events or set the Ibadan organisers free. The honourable thing the Oyo State Police Command can do is to set those detained free immediately and unconditionally while the state government sets up a panel to investigate the tragedy. The police should not blow hot and cold at the same time.

 

“We condole with the bereaved families and we pray that Allah will give them the fortitude to bear the loss. Finally, we align with the position of the police concerning the need for organisers of future events which are likely to draw large crowds to involve the police for security measures and crowd control modalities.”

 

#PalliativeStampedes

#EqualTreatmentForAllOrganisers

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

TIME TO PAY 54 SOLDIERS: MURIC APPEALS TO COAS

 

23^rd December, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

TIME TO PAY 54 SOLDIERS: MURIC APPEALS TO COAS

 

An appeal has gone to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, to pay the entitlements of the 54 soldiers who received presidential pardon in May 2022.

 

Making the appeal on Monday, 23^rd December, 2024, the Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola, told the COAS that the soldiers and their families have gone through untold suffering due to the nonpayment of their entitlement almost three years after they had been pardoned.

 

MURIC’s full statement reads:

 

“It will be recalled that 54 soldiers of the Nigerian Army were sentenced to death on 17^th December, 2014 for demanding better weapons to confront Boko Haram insurgents (https://thenationonlineng.net/mutiny-54-soldiers-face-firing-squad-five-freed/; https://www.voanews.com/a/nigerian-soldiers-sentenced-death-mutiny/2563715.html).

 

“Their death sentence was later commuted to ten years imprisonment on 19^th December, 2015 (https://thestreetjournal.org/army-commute-death-sentences-on-66-officers-to-imprisonment/).

 

“The soldiers regained freedom seven years later on 17^th August, 2021 (https://saharareporters.com/2021/08/17/54-nigerian-soldiers-jailed-demanding-better-arms-regain-freedom-after-seven-years) and they were granted presidential pardon on 11^th May, 2022 (https://theeagleonline.com.ng/muric-thanks-buhari-for-granting-pardon-to-54-soldiers/).

 

“First and foremost, MURIC wishes to appreciate the Nigerian Army for following due process throughout the travails of the 54 soldiers. It marks the institution out for diligence, decorum and adherence to professionalism.

 

“However, it is our wish to bring the sufferings of the 54 soldiers and members of their families to the attention of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Olufemi Oluyede. It has been tales of woe for all of them.

 

“Their children have dropped out of school. Many of their matrimonial homes have scattered. Their octogenarian parents no longer cry: they just stare into the emptiness that the world has become for them. Nigeria’s current economic doldrum has worsened the situation for them. At least one of the soldiers has gone completely blind while the rest have been reduced to walking corpses and living dead.

 

“It is on this compassionate ground that we appeal to the COAS to show mercy to the 54 soldiers by approving the payment of their entitlements without further delay. Hearkening to this appeal will prove to Nigerians that the Nigerian Army has a truly human face. Young Nigerians will rush forward to join the army and parents will feel no qualms encouraging their children and wards to don the army garb with pride.”

 

#NigerianArmy

#ChiefOfArmyStaff

#Approve54SoldiersEntitlements

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

REINSTATE HADI NOW – MURIC TELLS WIKE

 

20^th December, 2024

PRESS RELEASE:

REINSTATE HADI NOW – MURIC TELLS WIKE

 

The Minister of Abuja FCT, Nyesom Wike, has been told to reinstate the suspended Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr Shehu Ahmad Hadi or give the reason behind his suspension.

 

The advice came from an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). In a statement issued on Friday, 20^th December, 2024 by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC said:

 

“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, announced the immediate suspension of Engr Shehu Ahmad Hadi as the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) on 14^th November, 2024 without giving any reason whatsoever (https://tribuneonlineng.com/wike-suspends-fcda-executive-secretary-hadi-ahmad/).

 

“Wike has kept sealed lips five weeks down the line and tongues are wagging. The minister has appointed FCDA’s Director of Engineering Services, Richard Yunana as Acting Executive Secretary.

 

“We stand to be corrected but the suspended Executive Secretary has a credible pedigree. He was a former Commissioner for Works in Gombe State and he has an unblemished civil service record. Nigerians are already wondering about the raison d’etre for his suspension.

 

“There is every reason to believe that due process may not have been followed particularly because the reason for the suspension has not been given to date. The practice in public service is that no suspension is decided upon without an investigation going on parri passu.

 

“Besides, the principle of fair hearing demands that the former Executive Secretary knows why he was suspended and is given the chance to defend himself. As tax-payers, Nigerians also have the right to know. Dead silence after such suspension suggests traits of impunity.

 

“On 13^th April, 1655, Louis XIV, King of France and Navarre, told the French ‘Parlement’, ‘L'État, c'est moi’ (i.e. ‘The state is mine’) thereby arrogating to himself all powers in France. He was a sacred cow.   

 

“It is our hope that another Louis XIV is not being mentored in Abuja FCT. Wike appears to have become too powerful while some of his actions seem to have been arbitrary.

 

“While we appreciate his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we have second thoughts about some of his decisions which seem to have been reckless and anti-people. For instance, the demolition of houses at short notice and sacking officials of the FCT only to replace them with people of his own ethnic background do not give a picture of probity, transparency and objectivity.

 

“In particular, apart from being a seasoned technocrat, someone like Engr Shehu Ahmad Hadi who also worked for the emergence of President Tinubu as Nigeria’s numero uno citizen deserves better treatment.

 

“We therefore urge the FCT Minister to reinstate the suspended Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr Shehu Ahmad Hadi or give the reason behind his suspension. We are in a democracy and we must toe the path of global best practices if we want to be taken serious in the commity of civilized nations.”

 

#AbujaFCTMinister

#AbujaFCDAExecutiveSecretary

#ReinstateAhmadHadi

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)