Sunday, May 14, 2017

LOOTERS MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN PRAYERS AND CURSES




15th May, 2017
PRESS RELEASE:
LOOTERS MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN PRAYERS AND CURSES


The war against corruption has encountered several encumbrances in the past two years under President Muhammadu Buhari. Anti-corruption agencies have lost several cases to technicalities while the absence of special courts has retarded efforts to bring looters to book. In addition, the National Assembly (NASS) has been a major cog in the wheel of progress in the anti-graft fight. To our consternation, corrupt elements have taken shelter under the canopies of religion and ethnicity thereby compelling religious and ethnic leaders to speak out in their defence.


The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) expresses deep concern at the trend of corruption matters in Nigeria. We affirm that although corruption is the bane of development in this country, the war against corruption seems to be at crossroads and the Nigerian people stand to lose the fight at the end unless something urgent is done. Hunger, starvation, disease, rise in the level of ignorance, fall in the standard of living, political instability and a violent revolution are the likely fallouts if we fail to kill corruption.  


Only the enemies of Nigeria will say that the Federal Government has not been sincere in its war against corruption. The problem is that there is strong resistance to the anti-graft war mainly from members of the past regime and their sympathisers. Corruption is fighting back using different mechanisms among which are: legal technicalities, death wish, false propaganda, betrayal and outright sabotage.


FG has used every known conventional and legitimate means of fighting looters but the result has not been commensurate with the efforts. Looters have the elephant while FG has the ant. South Africa used the Truth Commission when it had a national crisis but it did not work when Nigeria adopted it because many powerful people refused to appear before the commission.  


Knowing the slow nature of judicial cases in Nigeria and over-loaded with stolen money, the foot-soldiers of corruption have calculated that corruption cases will continue to drag for the next eight years even if Buhari wins a second term. This is why they are feeling comfortable and laughing at the masses.  


A drastic problem requires a drastic solution. So what else is the panacea to corruption in Nigeria? We believe that it is time to adopt something unconventional; something we have never adopted before; something that costs government no money or effort at all; something revolutionary and mass-oriented; something local and scary and, above all, something in which every Nigerian has an emotional attachment.


MURIC is asking looters to choose between prayers and curses. What is this new idea? All past and present politicians and their conniving bureaucrats will decide within themselves either to voluntarily surrender whatever they have stolen and receive prayers from the Nigerian people or hold on to their illegal loots and receive curses from the masses whom they have sentenced to a life of destitution.


MURIC charges the Nigerian masses to seize their destiny with their hands by mobilizing their individual and collective prayer power. Agents of corruption have used religion to divide the poor masses before. It is now our turn to use the power of faith against them. Let us pray in the mosque, churches, shrines and private homes for politicians who voluntarily return what they stole in the past. Let us also ask for forgiveness for them. But our prayer sessions must be double-edged. We will rain curses on recalcitrant looters who refuse to return what they stole from our common wealth.


Greatest Nigerian People! We must curse our oppressors three times daily. Curse them in the morning as you rise from bed or from under the bridge if you are homeless. Curse them under the scorching sun as you trek up and down on empty stomachs. Curse them before you go to bed at night. Curse them as you roll sleeplessly in bed. Curse them as you sweat profusely in bed when your fan is useless because they have stolen the money meant for electricity supply. Curse them as your vehicle crawls on bad roads where you spend hours instead of minutes because they stole all the money allocated to the repair of roads. Curse them as you wonder why you are still jobless despite graduating years ago.  


We urge Muslims to recite Inna atayna (Surat al-Kaothar) to bless those who voluntarily return our stolen wealth and tabatiada (tabbat yada from Surat al-Lahab) for looters who refuse to change. Christians may use prayer warriors to pray for those who voluntarily return their loot and seek forgiveness for them. Psalm 109:5-19 or any other portion from the Bible may be recited to rain curses on thieves and rogues who refuse to change. The curses should be accompanied with the proviso that they will be affected if they don’t surrender their loots but they will be free from the curses if they do.


Yet we must not stop there. These thieves find it easy because the system is deficient. The checks and balances are not strong enough. An example is the swearing-in ceremony held for new appointees which has been trivialized. The Muslim appointee holds the Qur’an and swears but he will start stealing public property the next day. Vice versa for the Christian. The scriptures mean nothing to looters. There is, therefore, an urgent need to radicalize the swearing-in ceremonies.


So what is the way forward? If we are serious as a people, let us introduce self-curse mechanism at swearing-in ceremonies. We must suspend swearing by simply holding the Bible or the Qur’an. It has no effect on them. They are hardened thieves and die-hard kleptomaniacs. They have the noun ‘thief’ and the verb ‘to steal’.  This is the time to remember that we are Africans. Therefore our swearing-in method has to reflect our environment and background if it has to be taken seriously. Enough of colonial mentality!


Let an appointee hold the Qur’an or Bible or anything he believes in and curse himself saying, for example, “I, Lagbaja the son of Lakasegbe, if I betray the people’s trust, if I steal in this position, if I abuse my office or if I am unfair to others on ground of religion or ethnicity, let me be put to shame. Let my children end up in the streets like the children of the poor. Let all the known and unknown diseases of this world afflict me and my children, like meningitis, ebola, lassa fever, cholera, etc. Let me sweat without reaping the fruit of my labour…In Allah’s Mighty Name I swear”   


Who will misbehave after this kind of swearing-in? Who is the son of a killer of elephants in the presence of a licensed killer of men? Politicians will become sober. In fact many of them will retire and only the serious ones will remain in the political arena. The vultures in the NASS will go back to their various private businesses, leaving the seats open for young, patriotic and visionary Nigerians.


To round up, we advise FG to re-open the window of opportunity for looters to voluntarily return public properties, cash and funds in bank accounts within and outside the country. We call on our oppressors and downpressors, looters of the people’s treasury, to take notice of ‘war’ from the people. We declare total and comprehensive spiritual war on those responsible for our predicament. There will be no retreat, no surrender. Return our stolen destiny and receive our blessing and forgiveness. Retain our common wealth and receive our curses morning, noon and night.


Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)


Saturday, May 13, 2017

MURIC CALLS FOR TRUCE IN KANO IMBROGLIO




14th May, 2017
PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC CALLS FOR TRUCE IN KANO IMBROGLIO


The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for truce in the crisis engulfing Kano Emirate.      


It will be recalled that the Kano State House of Assembly is currently investigating allegations made against the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The lawmakers have also reportedly invited the Emir to appear before it. In addition, the Kano State anti-graft agency is also alleged to be investigating the Emir.


MURIC in a statement issued in Kano on Sunday appealed to the State Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the state’s lawmakers and Islamic scholars in the state to find an in-house solution to the crisis in the interest of peace, law and order.


The human rights organization acknowledged Kano city as the economic hub of the North whose growth should be promoted at all times. The body also reminds all stakeholders of the outstanding contributions of the Emir to the introduction of the Islamic banking system in Nigeria, his immense exposure to the Shari’ah legal system and his passion for the advancement of Islam.


MURIC called on Emir Sanusi to always carry along Kano State authorities, members of the state’s House of Assembly and Islamic scholars in the state in his deliberations.


The human rights body appealed for cohesion among Northern leaders and charged them to utilize the various mechanisms available in the region to resolve issues without externalizing them. It observed that every little incident in the North has far-reaching impact on Islamdom in Nigeria.   


Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

OODUA MUSLIM COALITION IS AN AMORPHOUS GROUP



9th May, 2017
PRESS RELEASE:
OODUA MUSLIM COALITION IS AN AMORPHOUS GROUP


A hitherto unknown and unheard of group that called itself Oodua Muslim Coalition (OMC) attacked the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2017. In its press statement, OMC alleged that MURIC is being used by the Northern Caliphate to destabilize Yorubaland. It further alleged that Yoruba Muslims were not part of Nigerian Muslims headed by the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.

   
The statement was signed by one Mallam Lateef Adeyera as Chairman and one Alhaji Ambali Olubodun Noibi as Secretary. The same signatories claim to be Vice Chairman and Deputy Organising Secretary of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) respectively.


MURIC affirms that OMC’s press statement is offensive, abusive and aggressive. It violates the letter and spirit of decorum and breaks the rules of defamation of character. OMC is a fake and faceless group. There is no Islamic organisation called Oodua Muslim Coalition in the South West. Muslims in the South West know their organisations very well.


We have no doubt that fake names have been used to issue the group’s statement. We declare clearly, unambiguously and unequivocally that no genuine Muslim organisation would issue such a statement in Nigeria of today. OMC’s press release is the handiwork of malicious detractors who envy the rising profile of MURIC.  


Although this amorphous group does not deserve to be given any serious attention, there is need to put the records straight in view of the security implications of the group’s statement and the fact that the group has gone public through the media. We will therefore systematically and methodically analyse the group’s statement in order to pull the rug from under its feet.


First and foremost, the group claimed to have emerged from the mainstream Yoruba socio-cultural group, the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC). But upon investigation, leaders of the two main factions of the OPC (Dr. Fasehun and Chief Gani Adams’ factions) claim  they have no group called Oodua Muslim Coalition. They said OPC does not confront religious groups as membership of the group includes all religious affiliations.  

Besides, MURIC can confirm cordial relationship with Dr. Frederick Fasehun, the popular leader of the OPC. Dr. Fasheun was a speaker at MURIC’s seminar on religious tolerance held at the University of Lagos in 2007.


By the same token, the leader of the new faction of the OPC (The Reformed OPC), Comrade Oludare Adesope, has also denied any knowledge of the formation of any Muslim group under his OPC or any other faction. He said OPC does not operate along religious lines. So which OPC does this amorphous Oodua Muslim Coalition claim to have sprung from? The OPC that we know does not attack any religion. They defend Yorubaland. There are both Muslims and Christians among their members and the last thing OPC would want is to be divided along religious lines.


The group (OMC) is also not known to the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN) which is the umbrella body for all Islamic organisations in the South West. The fraudulent tendency in the group is further cemented by its deceitful use of the family name of our revered leader and father of all Islamic scholarsin the South West, Professor Noibi, the Executive Secretary of MUSWEN to deceive the public (the group claims that its own secretary’s name is Alhaji Ambali Olubodun Noibi).


The groups allegation that MURIC is run by one man is false and baseless as attested to by the massive number of members of MURIC who participate in public programmes, its members on several social media platforms and Yahoo Groups as well as its branches which are spread all over the country including Abuja,  the Federal Capital Territory. MURIC is also known to have been represented by competent members in various fora organized by local and international organizations. The fact is that MURIC is a united and disciplined organization with recognized leadership. Perhaps this constitutes a problem for OMC.


Our antecedents date back to 1994. Our motto is ‘Dialogue, No violence’. We have consistently condemned terrorism and all forms of violence. We have pedigree and cannot be so easily rubbished. We warn this fake group and those behind them that it is illegal to impersonate. They will soon be exposed. 


An Islamic organization that interacts with Christian and traditional groups cannot be called a terrorist or extremist group. Established in 1994, MURIC has been issuing goodwill messages to Nigerian Christians during Easter and Christmas for the past twenty years in spite of criticisms by extremist Muslims. Anybody who accuses such a group of being the ‘Taliban of Yorubaland’ needs to have his head examined.


Although it is the wish of the OMC to balkanize Nigerian Muslims and give MURIC a bad name in order to silence it (for obvious reasons), we assert the unity and indivisibility of the Nigerian Muslim Ummah. Yoruba Muslims are part and parcel of the NSCIA. Muslims everywhere in Nigeria, North, East West and Centre are one and a single Ummah and we are proud to be under a level-headed and peace-loving Sultan of the People.  


We alert the OPC of the existence of a group using its name and platform to cause disaffection between OPC and Yoruba Muslims. The fact that there are Muslims and Christians in the OPC further shows the unity in Yorubaland. This is why OPC must not allow fraudsters who use fake names to launch diatribes under its platform.


We appeal to members of the press to abide by the ethics of their profession at all times. Gone are the days of impunity in journalism. Press statements boardering on assassination of character call for self-censorship in order to avoid the judicial consequences. We advise the press not to entertain fictitious writers and ghost organisations whose only trade marks are name-calling and blackmail. 


We alert security agents in the South West to the dangerous antics of this fake organization. MURIC is physically visible. We are ready to submit ourselves for investigation if the need arises but those behind this fake group must be fished out before they do more harm. Any group which uses fake names is a danger to the community. This is why no sane society should condone impersonation.


Finally, we assure Nigerians in general and Yorubas in particular, that MURIC is a peace-loving organization. While it is true that we project Allah-given and fundamental rights of Muslims, we are mainly concerned with the people’s welfare in general. We encourage good governance and promote peaceful coexistence. Those who raise false alarm about MURIC are the real enemies of Yoruba people.


Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)


Saturday, May 6, 2017

BUHARI’S ILLNESS: STOP WORRIES AND DISTRACTIONS



6th May, 2017
PRESS RELEASE:
BUHARI’S ILLNESS: STOP WORRIES AND DISTRACTIONS


President Muhammadu Buhari was reportedly absent during Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings. He also missed two Jum’ah services although he attended the last one. Consequently, there is palpable apprehension in the land leading some stakeholders to call for his resignation while others asked him to take medical leave.


The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) urges Nigerians to stop worrying. Some of the interventions constitute a form of distraction. Nigerians seem to be making a mountain out of an ordinary mole hill. While genuinely concerned stakeholders are appreciated we warn that some unpatriotic elements are already leveraging on the president’s illness and the complex nature of politics to cause havoc.     


We affirm that there is nothing strange in having a president who is sick or recovering from sickness. What matters is the handling. We urge the Federal Government (FG) not to allow mischief makers and corruption-friendly opposition parties to capitalize on the situation. We therefore commend the Minister of Information for the professional manner with which he has handled the situation.


MURIC does not subscribe to the school of thought that insists on disclosing the president’s type of sickness. We believe that many of those agitating have ulterior motives. We should allow the president and his health managers to manage his period of recovery in a professional manner. The Presidency has a duty to keep the nature of the president’s ailment private otherwise opportunists and enemies of transparency will throw this country into pandemonium.


We should remember that a state governor in the opposition party once advertised death-wish for Buhari even before he won the election. Taking mockery to the height of Everest, the same governor even insisted that Buhari should talk to him on telephone to convince Nigerians that he is alive. Do you think such a person will stop at anything to actualize his diabolical wish once he knows the president’s real ailment? The Presidency must keep him and his co-travellers guessing.


We call on the presidency to ignore sadistic insinuations. It is clear that many of those agitating have ulterior motives. Instead of allowing the president and his health managers to manage his period of recovery in a professional manner, cynics insist on sighting the president while hypocrites and parasites shed crocodile tears in the day but plot and conspire in the night.


MURIC affirms that Buhari is fighting for the youth. While many younger politicians are stealing Nigeria dry, Buhari who is already 74 is seizing their loots and returning it to the treasury for today’s youth to enjoy it in future. We therefore charge Nigerian youths to pray for the president and rally behind him because they will be the real beneficiaries of a better Nigeria which he is trying to create through the war against corruption. This is because Buhari is already advanced in age and the youths of today are the ones who will enjoy the infrastructural facilities being put in place now.


The huge cash being recovered from many hideouts and the gargantuan loot being seized from corrupt politicians belong to the Nigerian youth. Buhari is trying to secure the future of their tomorrow by transforming them from a wasted generation to youths of a better tomorrow.


Those calling on Buhari to resign should borrow a leaf from the Americans. US citizens did not tear their country apart because their president was sick. At least five American presidents have been sick while in office and they did not resign.
These include Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921) who suffered a severe stroke that left him incapacitated throughout his presidency. Yet He remained in office till the end of his term. Others are Franklin D Roosevelt (1933-1945), Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961), John F Kennedy (1961 - 1963) and George Bush (1989 – 1993).


Cynics who insist they must see the president by paying him a visit or by arranging teams to visit him should hold on and allow the man to rest properly. Abuja will be jam-packed if all of us queue up to visit Buhari in Aso Rock. The real purpose will be defeated if the man receives too many visitors.


Before we round up, we reiterate that it is natural for homo sapiens to fall sick. It is only Allah who can never be sick (Qur’an 2:255). In the case of President Buhari it is even more natural because of his advanced age. But the problem here is what we make of the situation. Those who think the president should not be sick should ask God to come and rule them by Himself.


Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)