DENIAL OF AMNESTY TO BOKO HARAM: A GROSS MISCALCULATION

12th March, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

DENIAL OF AMNESTY FOR BOKO HARAM:

A GROSS MISCALCULATION

 

President Goodluck Jonathan rejected amnesty for the notorious Boko Haram group over the weekend claiming facelessness of the group for his decision. The rejection came during the president's official visit to Borno, the centerpiece of the Boko Haram insurgency.

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is deeply disturbed by this development. It is our belief that the president lost a great opportunity to steer the country back on the path of peace. This rejection is now part of history. Politicians act on the spur of the moment, statesmen base their actions on vision and the overall interest of the country at large.  As long as today is born from the wombs of yesterday, posterity will judge whether Jonathan is a mere politician or a statesman.

 

There are concerns in some quarters that the president of Nigeria is acting the script of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The statement credited to CAN after Jonathan rejected the request for amnesty lends credence to this fear. CAN reportedly commended the president for his action. MURIC regards CAN's statement at this point in time as unfortunate, tactless and unguarded.

 

President Jonathan hinged his refusal on the facelessness of Boko Haram. This is a lame excuse. It smirks of lack of sensitivity to the colossal loss of lives and property in the region. If Boko Haram is faceless, are the dead bodies of their innocent victims equally faceless? Are the widowed and orphaned victims real or imaginary?

 

The president should be more concerned with the killing of innocent people, Christian clerics and Imams. A concerned leader will seize the opportunity to avoid further carnage. The president's action suggests that he believes that force will end this saga. This is a gross miscalculation.  Albert Einstein once said, "Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding."

 

MURIC is not unaware of the allegation of insincerity on the part of the Federal Government made by some Northern leaders sometime ago. It was alleged that Boko Haram leaders were arrested by security agents each time they were coaxed into showing up for dialogue. This may lead us to ask if there is a conspiracy theory in the whole brouhaha. Is the government ready to keep its own words? It bothers on integrity.

 

The events which led to the declaration of amnesty in the Niger Delta are still fresh in our memory. Militant leaders were initially hounded from pillar to post just as we are now doing to Boko Haram. They did not come out to say, "Here we are" until the Federal Government guaranteed their safety if they came forward. They did and they were thereafter invited to Aso Rock and granted amnesty. The records are still there for all to see. President Jonathan has fallen short of doing this.

 

For the avoidance of doubts, we say for the umpteenth time that attack on places of worship is unIslamic, totally criminal and inhuman. But the same people are the ones attacking mosques and killing ordinary Muslims and Imams. We must therefore look beyond religion. We do not support Boko Haram or its unorthodox methods. Yet we must strive towards finding a peaceful solution to the problem at hand. We have seen the destruction in war-torn areas like Congo, Zaire, Iraq and Syria. Nigerian children do not deserve to become refugees on account of the neglect and recklessness of the adults. We want peace in Nigeria and we want to co-exist peacefully with our Christian neighbours.

 

MURIC believes that hope is not yet lost. We call on President Jonathan to first guarantee the safety of members of Boko Haram who are in hiding. They need assurances that they will not be arrested if they come out. The assurance must be given wide publicity. Peace-making is cheaper than war and Nigeria needs to seize every straw that may lead to peace now more than ever before. Only thus shall we hail Jonathan as a true leader.

 

We remind Nigerians of the wise words of Shaykh Uthman Dan Fodio, "In an unjust society silence is a crime..." We therefore call on all men of goodwill, true patriots and lovers of peace to persuade the Federal Government to tow the path of dialogue. Jaw-jaw is always better than war-war. Two years into the Syrian civil war, the children are dying, schools are closed, businesses are paralysed. We have no other land than Nigeria and if we turn Nigeria into a war theater, our children will ask us in future: "How did you drag us into this mess?"

 

Professor  Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

234-803-346-4974

 

MURIC BERATES CAN FOR ATTACKING SULTAN

 

8^th March, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC BERATES CAN FOR ATTACKING SULTAN

 

In a statement issued on Wednesday 6^th March, 2013 and signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), attacked His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'd Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) over the latter's call for amnesty for the Boko Haram group.        

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) takes CAN's firebrand reaction with a pinch of salt. Nothing but bad faith and preconceived idea could have ignited such an explosive reaction to the Sultan's simple and sincere admonition.

 

CAN's claim that only Christians and churches have been the targets and victims of attacks in the North is false, baseless and unfounded. We affirm that more Muslims have fallen victims than Christians in the on-going Boko Haram imbroglio. Hundreds of Islamic scholars have been reported killed by Boko Haram. This insurrection is therefore not about religion. This is where CAN missed the point.

 

The same group is known to have attacked Muslim traditional rulers of Northern extraction. For instance, about three palace guards lost their lives while defending the Emir of Kano during an attack on his person. Or is the Emir of Kano a Christian?

 

MURIC calls on CAN to be objective in its perception of issues, to be critical in its analysis of scenario and guarded in its reaction to perceived rivals. We remind CAN about the Sultan's consistent condemnation of the insurgent group. It is also on record that the Sultan had earlier called on both Christians and Muslims to come together to fight the evil of Boko Haram. Our suspicion is that CAN wants the North destroyed. Nigerian Muslims will resist this with every legitimate instrument at our disposal.

 

We declare without any fear of contradiction that it was the Sultan's love for peace and progress in Nigeria that informed his appeal to the Federal Government to grant amnesty to the Boko Haram group. We affirm clearly, unequivocally and categorically that the Sultan is the indisputable head of all Muslims in Nigeria. Law-abiding Nigerian Muslims, young and old, respect the Sultan.

 

The current Sultan is the best thing that has happened to the Nigerian Muslim Ummah in decades. We repose full confidence in his person and admire his style of leadership. Mobile and articulate, Sultan Abubakar III is a great inspiration for us. He is a leader with great integrity, a patriot primus inter pareil and a statesman nulli secundus. We will therefore not stand akimbo while some people treat him with disrespect. We remind CAN that respect begets respect.

 

MURIC therefore fully backs the Sultan's call for amnesty for Boko Haram. With hindsight, we affirm that this will not be the first time Nigeria is granting amnesty to dissident groups. The Federal Government declared amnesty for the Niger Delta militants when a Muslim was in government and the nation benefitted from it. CAN must rise above partisanship. What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander.

 

The question that comes to mind is what is CAN's answer to the crisis? Endless bloodbath? Did CAN object to amnesty for the Niger Delta militants? It amounts to double standard if we are willing to grant amnesty in one case but determined to 'crush' with military might in another. Perhaps CAN is secretly eyeing American drones stationed in Niger. We should not forget that when a hen perches on a rope, neither the rope nor the hen can be stable.

 

In any case, guerrilla warfare has never been crushed with military might alone. Nigeria should learn from America. Has the United States been able to annihilate the Taliban? Is there peace in Iraq?

 

On the contrary, those countries which have opted for dialogue with rebels are today enjoying the fruits of their humility. Britain dialogued with the IRA. Italy sat down at table with the Red Brigade. Spain held a tete-a-tete with the Basque Separatists. Nigeria too can stoop to conquer.

 

Finally, MURIC charges religious leaders to watch their pronouncements and control their emotions. Instead of throwing stones, we urge the leadership of CAN to join hands with the Sultan and the Federal Government to find lasting solution to the ongoing destruction of lives and properties in Northern Nigeria.

 

 

Professor  Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

234-803-346-4974

MURIC PROTESTS BEATING OF GIRL IN HIJAB

Esteemed readers, 

Please find below a copy of MURIC's protest letter sent to the Commissioner for Education in Lagos State over the outlandish and cruel caning of a Lagos school girl:

The Honourable Commissioner,    25^th February, 2013

Ministry of Education,

The Secretariat,

Alausa, Ikeja.

 

Honourable Commissioner Ma,

PETITION AGAINST THE PRINCIPAL OF KADARA JUNIOR GRAMMAR SCHOOL, EBUTE METTA

 

As a human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is keen on promoting the enviable principles of justice and fairness. True to our motto, 'Dialogue, No Violence', MURIC has pursued cases of violation of the rights of Muslims in particular and Nigerians in general through dialogue. We have consistently renounced violence and we encourage our members as well as the general public to pursue their grievances by approaching the authorities using civilized methods. This explains why we have chosen to forward this petition to you.

 

On Tuesday 5^th February, 2013, at about 3.50 pm, the principal of Kadara Junior Grammar School, Ebute Metta, Mrs. Ukpaka, personally administered 43 strokes of the cane on a female Muslim student by name Aisha Alabi who is in JSS 2D. The principal's grouse was that the student wore hijab at the time.

 

This case is making the rounds all over Lagos State. It has also leaked to the press. Tension is mounting and Muslims in the state are demanding justice. MURIC calls the Honourable Commissioner's attention to the reckless action of this principal. We suspect a strong feeling of Islamophobia tainted with sadism in her action. The fact that a minor is given 43 lashes of the cane is very disturbing. We are of the humble opinion that children should be protected from this type of school official.

 

We affirm that Mrs. Ukpaka's action tantamounts to blatant child abuse. It is unethical and highly provocative. This school principal has subjected an innocent child to immense psychological trauma thereby impugning upon her personal dignity and infringing upon her Allah-given and fundamental human rights contrary to the provisions of Article 18 of the United Nations Charter and Articles 9 and 14 of the European Treaty of Human Rights and Articles 18 and 19 of the Treaty of Civil and Political Rights all of which Nigeria is a signatory. Her action also constitute a breach of Section 38 (i) & (ii) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

 

We demand an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this ugly incident. We also appeal to the Honourable Commissioner to use her good office in taking actions and making pronouncements capable of dousing tension on this unfortunate incident. Lagos has been peaceful over the years, we have all benefitted from the peaceful atmosphere and we intend to maintain the status quo.

 

Eko o ni baje o. Amin.

 

 

 

Professor Is-haq Akintola                          Abdul Razaq Uthman

             Director                                       Public Relations Officer

cc

1.     The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State

2.     Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Lagos State Chapter

3.     The Nigerian Muslim Council

4.     The Criterion

5.     The Companion

6.     Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) Lagos Chapter

7.     Muslim Teachers Association (MUTAN) Lagos Chapter

8.      Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN)

PRESS RELEASE ON POLIO VACCINE

25^th  February, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

POLIO VACCINES: MURIC CONDEMNS MINDLESS KILLINGS

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has followed the controversy on POLIO VACCINES with deep interest. We have long expected that Government or at best one of its relevant agencies would have addressed the alleged presence of harmful elements in the vaccines in order to allay the fears of suspicious Nigerians. Rather than this honourable option, the Federal Ministry of Health has allowed all kinds of interpretations of the alleged harmful elements.

 

As at today, many Nigerians believe rightly or wrongly that the oral anti-polio vaccine contains sterile components that render children incapable of reproduction. It is also believed that there are components in the oral vaccine that ultimately cripples children when it is administered on them. It has been alleged that there are medical case studies in India which has proven that the oral polio vaccine administered on children proved fatal as almost all the children became cripples over a short period of time.

   

The agitations against this oral polio vaccine in Northern Nigeria, especially among Muslims, has been on for many years. Against the background of the PFIZER fatal drug experimentation some years ago which left many children with series of biological malformations and the attendant unworthy financial compensations of the victims, one can not dismiss this anti-oral polio vaccine agitations as false alarm.

 

Yet Nigerians may become better informed with widespread enlightenment campaign on oral polio by government. Afterall smallpox was eradicated in 1979 after mass vaccination around the world including here in Nigeria. It is important to note that after mass anti-polio vaccination, India for the past two years has had no single report of paralysis due to the notorious polio virus.

 

Record of decrease in polio cases should have been enough if only government uses the information effectively. In 2008 Nigeria had 788 polio cases. This fell to less than 400 in 2009. Polio cases reduced to just 21 in 2010. But in a sudden twist, 62 cases were recorded in 2011 while 122 children were paralysed in 2012. Incidentally, almost 99% of the children paralysed by polio have Muslim names. This is where we find the objection of some Muslims to the use of the polio vaccine ironical and self-defeating.

 

In this context therefore, MURIC hereby advises the Federal Government to match propaganda with achievement. It appears enough has not been done to carry the local population in some Muslim communities along. Government should also compel an independent investigation into this brewing scandal. The continuous silence of Government on this matter will further aggravate the allegation that Government Agencies often collaborate with foreign interests to put the lives of Nigerians in jeopardy.

 

In the same vein, MURIC urges serious restraint on the part of fellow Muslims in their reactions to the perceived inaction of their Government. There is no way one can justify the mindless killings of health workers by unknown gunmen. While we commiserate with the relatives of the deceased and support the search for and the prosecution of the criminals, we strongly appeal to the Federal Government and the Governments of the affected States to empanel a body of medical experts to analyse the components of the oral polio vaccine with a view to unravelling the mysteries associated with it.

 

 

Professor  Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

234-803-346-4974

 

PRESS RELEASE: 2 YEAR JAIL FOR STEALING N32b

30^th January, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

TWO YEAR JAIL FOR STEALING N32b!:

A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE

 

An Abuja High Court yesterday sentenced one John Yakubu Yusufu to two years in prison with an option of fine to the tune of N750,000.00 (seven hundred and fifty thousand naira only) for stealing a whopping N32 billion police pension fund.

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is flabbergasted by this judicial pronouncement. The judgemnet has far-reaching implications both within and outside this country. It constitutes an open and indubitable invitation to young Nigerians to engage in corruption and crimes of all types because they may now see no justitia omnibus in the system. Outside the country, Nigerians are exposed to more ridicule, contempt and derision.

 

This, no doubt, is a rape on democracy and an infra dignitatem of the collective intelligence of the good people of Nigeria. It makes a mockery of the war on corruption. This judgement reveals that the Nigerian corruption ring is wider than ever imagined.

 

The impact of this judgement on the bench is unfathomable. Whereas there are men of integrity in the profession, this pronouncement makes a mockery of the bench and renders it in puris naturalibus. It opens the noble profession to a floodgate of questions concerning the integrity of some of its drammatis personae. It portrays the Nigerian judicial system as one bent on robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is very sad that Nigerian courts are fast becoming recruitment sergeants for armed robbers and the principle of the rule of law is fast becoming a myth rather than a reality.

 

MURIC calls on the Nigerian Judicial Council to investigate the pedigree of Justice Abubakar Talba who delivered this provocative and highly irrational judgement. We assert that Nigerians have no confidence in him and his ilk. We charge Mr. Adoke, the Minister of Justice to call for the case file with a view to ordering a retrial in another court and under another judge in the interim. As a long term measure, however, we demand a clean-up of Adokie's Animal Farm.

 

Thousands of poor Nigerian citizens have spent years in jail awaiting trial: some for stealing one tuber of yam due to the pervasive hunger in the land, others for less offence. But Yusufu steals N32 billion and gets a pittance as fine. It is preposterous, tyrannical and therefore totally unacceptable. Our democracy is a fraud if this judgement stands.

 

We remind Nigerian judges and those in the corridors of power that "Allah commands justice, fairness and liberality to kith and kin. He forbids injustice…" (Qur'an 16:90). Allah also warns, "…And judge fairly when you judge among men…" (Qur'an 4:58) "…Follow not your lusts lest you swerve and if you distort or refuse to do justice, verily, Allah is well acquainted with all what you do" (Qur'an 4:135).

 

MURIC calls on civil society to rally against the tyranny of the powerful and influential in society. We charge Nigerians to rise against selective justice. Nigerians must reject this ruling with one voice. It is hypocritical to have one law for the rich and another for the poor. This is definitely not the democracy we fought for. It is imperative upon the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appeal this judgment immediately.

 

Finally, we advise members of the press to start a boycott of Abuja courts if within 21 days nothing is done to reverse this draconian ruling. Simultaneously, civil society must call out Nigerians to occupy court premises all over the country. As a last resort, the Nigeria Labour Congress must call out its members to start a 'sit-at-home' until this arbitrary, thoughtless and reckless judgment is reversed.  

 

Professor  Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

234-803-346-4974

 

ATTACK ON THE EMIR OF KANO: TIGHTEN SECURITY

23^rd January, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

ATTACK ON EMIR OF KANO:

TIGHTEN SECURITY AROUND RELIGIOUS LEADERS

 

Gunmen ferociously attacked the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, during the weekend, killing some of his palace bodyguards and injuring two of his sons. The injuries are reportedly so serious that they have been flown abroad for treatment.

 

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) regard this as one attack too many. Two major problems have now emerged. One: the security agencies are not doing enough. Two: the present Nigerian leadership lacks the political will and the intellectual capacity to tackle or comprehend the dimensions of the country's security challenges.

 

The fact that those who attacked the Emir got away without anyone challenging them reveals the gross ineptitude of our security agencies. Apart from total lack of underground information network which should have uncovered the plot and nipped it in the bud, the attack exposes Nigeria's security apparatus as tragically deficient in strategic planning and poorly equipped in forward-looking defence system.

 

Ceteris paribus, water-tight and absolutely impregnable security should have been knit around the Emir of Kano and all other religious leaders in the North from the day the suspected Boko Haram group had started attacking churches, mosques, Imams and emirs. It is as clear as daylight that the suspected Boko Haram group has rejected the status quo. This is why the group is targeting Muslim leaders. But it is astonishing that our security agencies could not read this barometer even after an emir was attacked some months ago. It is nauseating, preposterous and unacceptable.

 

MURIC demands an explanation from the Inspector General of Police. Kano Police Command must explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against it for allowing this to happen. Ditto for the Kano State Security Service and the JTF Kano wing. What were they doing? This is sheer dereliction of duty.

 

While we thank Allah for the Emir's survival of this atrocious attack, we make an urgent call for the tightening of security around all religious leaders particularly in the North. A very thick cordon must be thrown around the topmost echelon of both the Christian and Muslim organizations from now on.

 

Finally, MURIC reminds President Jonathan that he cannot afford to go to bed while the roof is burning. He should listen to the voice of reason and engage Boko Haram in sincere dialogue. Wars are not won on the battlefield alone. You may win the battle but the war goes on. Dialogue has been the option of MURIC ab initio and on dialogue we still stand.   

 

Professor  Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

234-803-346-4974

 

TRAVAILS OF PENSIONERS IN NIGERIA

16^th January, 2013

PRESS RELEASE:

PAY PENSIONERS' ENTITLEMENTS WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF RETIREMENT

 

The war against corruption in Nigeria has been long and hard. Yet no anti-corruption agency fashioned by successive Nigerian administrations to date has been able to nip the problem in the bud. The cancerous tumour rears its ugly head in every facet of public and private lives though its manifestation is felt most strongly in the public arena.

 

One of the casus belli for the reticence of corruption in this country is the negative attitude of governments and their agents to the payment of the retirement benefits of workers. The story is the same whether in the civil service, the army, the police, customs or any other formation.

 

Islam lays great emphasis on the umbilical cord which connects work with reward. People who serve must be paid. The Glorious Qur'an frowns upon the 'monkey-de-work-baboon-de-chop' mentality. Qur'an 24:38, 29:7 and 39:35 measure reward according to deeds. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) commanded his followers to pay workers before the sweat on their faces dry up.

 

Unfortunately this golden practice is ignored in Nigeria. Men and women who spent the most productive period of their lives in serving this country are treated like lepers who must not be touched and who must live the rest of their lives in quarantines. The payment of pension which should have been regular and monthly ceteris paribus is delayed for months and sometimes for years. In their old age, Nigerians who toiled for their country are treated like oranges whose owners peel off the skin and squeeze the juice out of them until they become totally dry and useless. They are then thrown away.

 

Many pensioners are made to stand in long queues under the burning sun while waiting to be paid. Many have collapsed and died in such inhuman circumstances. This is a blatant violation of citizens' Allah-given and fundamental human rights. It is ungodly, unjustifiable and unacceptable.

 

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) regard this phenomenon as wicked, inhuman and atrocious. It is the height of barbarism to treat senior citizens with reckless abandon. Any state governor or head of state who has no enduring welfare package for elderly people should pack his bags and baggages and leave office. Governance must have a human face and the welfare of the citizens (particularly the elderly) is the numero uno responsibility of government. Any government that fails in this regard has breached its contract with the people and should leave the stage for a more dedicated leadership.

 

MURIC asserts clearly, categorically and unambiguously that there is a symbiotic link between corruption and the shoddy way pensioners are treated. Workers who are still in service are driven to corrupt practices by the fear of what awaits them after retirement.

 

Finally, MURIC commends the efforts of some state governments who have initiated welfare packages for senior citizens and calls on the Federal Government and other states to take a cue from such welfarist states. We charge the National Assembly to enact a bill compelling the payment of pensioners' benefits within six months of retirement.

 

Professor  Is-haq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
234-818-211-9714

234-803-346-4974