THREAT TO FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN NIGERIA

                                                                                            5th October, 2010

PRESS RELEASE:

ARREST OF DOKPESI: THREAT TO FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS IN NIGERIA 

Nigerian security agents have confirmed the arrest of nine suspects for their alleged roles in the bomb blasts which occurred in Abuja on October 1, 2010, the nation’s independence day. The explosions killed eight people instantly and injured many others. Two of those critically injured have reportedly died in the hospital. Another twist in the ongoing investigation into the terror attack is the alleged arrest of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of the Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Committee. Dokpesi was invited by security agents on Sunday 3rd October.






The alleged arrest and subsequent detention of Dokpesi must attract the attention of the Nigerian civil society in view of his current position as a key figure in the opposition camp flying the campaign flag of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd), a former Nigerian military head of state. Babangida is one of the presidential aspirants challenging the incumbent, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in the 2011 presidential election.






This arrest is capable of throwing fear into the hearts of opposition figures, leaving a clear field for the incumbent. Such a development constitutes blatant rape of democracy since a free and fair election can no longer be guaranteed. The Nigerian government is already double-speaking. Jonathan exonerates the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which issued a warning thirty minutes before the blast and also made a post-explosion claim of responsibility. Yet the same government gave the green light to the South African authorities to arrest, detain and charge MEND leader, Henry Okha to court for the blasts.






The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) charges the Nigerian government to eschew political vendetta and witch-hunting. Government must avoid strong-arm tactics in dealing with the opposition. Throwing the opposition campaign team into disarray is an old trick used by those who will not brook opposition and intolerance of opposition is the hallmark of dictatorship. The Nigerian security agencies must not be turned into an African Gestapo if the dream of true reform of the Nigerian society is to be realized. The arrest of Dokpesi has sent wrong signals not only to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora but also to the international society.






We call the attention of African states and Western powers to the fact that the five evil things of which Chamberlain spoke are rearing their ugly heads in Nigeria: brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution.






MURIC reminds the security agency holding Chief Dokpesi of the need to respect the rule of law as well as his Allah-given and fundamental human rights. The suspect must be charged to court and not detained ad infinitum. We call on civil society, well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to speak up now before it is too late.






Finally, MURIC affirms that Dokpesi’s arrest has robbed the electioneering process of its credibility. He must therefore be set free. It is also capable of throwing spanners in the works of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and discourage intellectuals and men of goodwill hoping to cooperate with the agency. Nigerian men and women of conscience may not want to touch politics and electioneering matters with a long pole if the opposition continues to be silenced.






Dr. Is-haq Akintola,


Director,


Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)


234-803-346-4974



THREAT TO FREE AND FAIR ELECTION IN NIGERIA

5th October, 2010

PRESS RELEASE:

ARREST OF DOKPESI: THREAT TO FREE AND FAIR ELECTION

Nigerian security agents have confirmed the arrest of nine suspects for their alleged roles in the bomb blasts which occurred in Abuja on October 1, 2010, the nation’s independence day. The explosions killed eight people instantly and injured many others. Two of those critically injured have reportedly died in the hospital. Another twist in the ongoing investigation into the terror attack is the alleged arrest of Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Chairman of the Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Committee. Dokpesi was invited by security agents on Sunday 3rd October.



The alleged arrest and subsequent detention of Dokpesi must attract the attention of the Nigerian civil society in view of his current position as a key figure in the opposition camp flying the campaign flag of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (rtd), a former Nigerian military head of state. Babangida is one of the presidential aspirants challenging the incumbent, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in the 2011 presidential election.



This arrest is capable of throwing fear into the hearts of opposition figures, leaving a clear field for the incumbent. Such a development constitutes blatant rape of democracy since a free and fair election can no longer be guaranteed. The Nigerian government is already double-speaking. Jonathan exonerates the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which issued a warning thirty minutes before the blast and also made a post-explosion claim of responsibility. Yet the same government gave the green light to the South African authorities to arrest, detain and charge MEND leader, Henry Okha to court for the blasts.



The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) charges the Nigerian government to eschew political vendetta and witch-hunting. Government must avoid strong-arm tactics in dealing with the opposition. Throwing the opposition campaign team into disarray is an old trick used by those who will not brook opposition and intolerance of opposition is the hallmark of dictatorship. The Nigerian security agencies must not be turned into an African Gestapo if the dream of true reform of the Nigerian society is to be realized. The arrest of Dokpesi has sent wrong signals not only to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora but also to the international society.



We call the attention of African states and Western powers to the fact that the five evil things of which Chamberlain spoke are rearing their ugly heads in Nigeria: brute force, bad faith, injustice, oppression and persecution.



MURIC reminds the security agency holding Chief Dokpesi of the need to respect the rule of law as well as his Allah-given and fundamental human rights. The suspect must be charged to court and not detained ad infinitum. We call on civil society, well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to speak up now before it is too late.



Finally, MURIC affirms that Dokpesi’s arrest has robbed the electioneering process of its credibility. He must therefore be set free. It is also capable of throwing spanners in the works of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and discourage intellectuals and men of goodwill hoping to cooperate with the agency. Nigerian men and women of conscience may not want to touch politics and electioneering matters with a long pole if the opposition continues to be silenced.



Dr. Is-haq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

234-803-346-4974

TONY BLAIR FACES NEMESIS

Serves Tony Blair right. He was pelted today with shoes and eggs for war crimes. What goes round comes round. Don't you think so?

MURIC WELCOMES SPEECH BY PRESIDENT JONATHAN

We welcome the speech made today by President Jonathan of Nigeria. He wants Nigerians to have confidence in free elections. We congratulate Mr. President for choosing a tested team to handle Nigeria's 2011 elections and urge Nigerians to share in our optimism. Change can only be effected by Nigerians themselves and this is the time to begin to have faith. There can be no hope without faith.

MURIC DEMANDS SALAH BONUS FOR MUSLIMS

CHRISTMAS BONUS: MURIC DEMANDS SALAH BONUS FOR MUSLIM WORKERS   Nigerian workers have since colonial days enjoyed Christmas bonus both in the public and private sectors. This has always been helpful as it puts smiles on workers faces during the Christmas season. It is also a mark of appreciation and a reward for hardwork. Boosting workers' purchasing power improves standard of living as well as their families' general welfare.   We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) regard Christmas Bonus as sine qua non to high spirit among the proletariat and commend governments at both the federal and state levels as well as a large section of the private sector for being consistent with its payment.     Nonetheless, MURIC wishes to call attention to the need to create a level playing ground for workers of different religious backgrounds in the dispensation of such largesse. No matter what is shared out as incentive to workers, Christmas remains, essentially, a Christian festival. Dishing out largesse only during the festival of a particular religion is capable of depicting government and employers generally as being partisan.   Muslim workers lack this motivation during Salah. Christmas is therefore made glamorous whereas Salah does not enjoy this dividend. Salah period is rendered dull and Muslim workers have to fend for themselves. The idea of giving bonus to both Christian and Muslim workers during Christmas is narrow, ill-defined and parochial. It seeks to bury the identity of Muslim workers in the Christmas season. This must change if Nigeria is trully democratic.   MURIC is calling for parity in the way governments and other employers of labour favour Christmas at the expense of Salah. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.Since Christians and Muslims are all tax-payers and in the name of fairplay, MURIC urges employers of labour, particularly the federal and state governments, to share the bonus between the Christmas season and Id al-Kabir in such a way that Christians can receive their Christmas bonus during Christmas while Muslims collect Id al-Kabir bonus during Id al-Kabir.         Dr. Is-haq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 234-803-346-4974 Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace

MURIC DIALOGUES WITH PRESIDENT JONATHAN, DEMANDS PARITY

Thank you Mr. President. You have a listening ear and we appreciate it. Muslims demand parity and to be respected for what they are and not coerced to go along with colonial settings. Could Mr. President grant Nigerian Muslims two things? 1. Share the Christmas bonus into two for workers to receive half during Christmas and the other half during Id al-Kabir. 2. Declare 1st Muharram a holiday like 1st January. Thank you Mr. President for listening.

RAMADAN OF UNITY   Nigerian Muslims started Ramadan fasting today Wednesday 11th August, 2010 after the Sultan announced the sighting of the moon in several northern states of the country.   The moon was also reportedly sighted outside Nigeria in Saudi, Egypt, Qatar, Yemen, Kuwait, Libya, Jordan, Algeria, Malaysia, etc. This development has facilitated a united approach to fasting this year. Alhamdulilah.   We call on Nigerian Muslims in particular to rally behind Sultan Abubakar whose leadership style has been dynamic, purposeful and focussed.   We urge Muslims around the globe to see this as a unique opportunity to sink their differences and speak with one voice. MURIC advocates the unification of all elements in Islam. Let us follow Islam, not Sunnism. Let us cherish the Glorious Qur'an, not Shiism. We are Muslims, not Sunnis. We are believers in Allah, not Shiites. Let us do away with all vestiges of compartmentalisation which have stood as insurmountable barriers between us and our fellow Muslims.    It is shameful seeing Sunnis and Shiites slaughtering each other in Iraq and Pakistan We call on Muslims all over the world to address this issue very urgently Dr. Is-haq Akintola Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Be just Justice is the soul of peace No one can deny one and have the other Neither can violence or naked force bring lasting peace