DON’T INTIMIDATE OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS: MURIC TELLS AMOTEKUN

 

14^th January, 2021

                

PRESS RELEASE:

DON’T INTIMIDATE OTHER ETHNIC GROUPS:

MURIC TELLS AMOTEKUN

      

The Nigerian Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the South West regional security outfit, Amotekun of intimidating other ethnic groups. MURIC accused the security organization of profiling and intimidating Northerners traveling down south. The group also claimed that Amotekun is engaging in extra-judicial killings of Yoruba people.

 

 

This was contained in a press statement issued by the director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday, 14^th January, 2021.

 

 

“Reports reaching us indicate that the South West regional security outfit, Amotekun, has been engaging in extra-judicial killings. Among those killed without proper recourse to law were Akolade Gbadebo, a 400 level student of the University of Ibadan, who was killed on 26^th December, 2020. Seven Fulanis were also reported killed at Ayete in Ibarapa North Local Government area of Oyo State on Monday, 11^th January, 2021.

 

 

“We also have reports that vehicles coming from or going to the North are being stopped by members of the Amotekun corps. They order Hausa-Fulanis to disembark, search them and almost strip them naked.

 

 

“MURIC strongly condemns this act of stereotyping of a particular ethnic group. It is not only provocative and counter-productive, but also illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. It may provoke angry reactions against Yoruba people who also travel to the North as well as those who are currently residing there. Amotekun should not put Yorubas in other places at risk.

 

 

“The intimidation of Northern travelers violates the spirit and letter of Section 41 of the 1999 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…’ The profiling of Northerners at Amotekun roadblocks therefore encroaches upon freedom of movement.

 

 

“It should also be noted that the dehumanization of people of other ethnic groups by Amotekun is a denial of the right to the dignity of the human person which is entrenched in Section 34 (b) & (c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended (2011) which says, ‘Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly…(b) no person shall be held in slavery or servitude and (c) no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.’

 

 

“The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Article 4, Clause 1 & 2 also says, ‘Human beings are inviolable. Every human being shall be entitled to respect for his life and the integrity of his person.’

 

 

“We believe that Amotekun can be useful in stemming the tide of insecurity in the South West without targeting any particular ethnic group. We remind Amotekun leaders that any threat to the lives and livelihood of other ethnic groups in the South West is an invitation to threat to the lives and livelihood of Yoruba residents and travelers in the North. We therefore call on governors in the region to call Amotekun to order.

 

 

“For the avoidance of doubts, we are not opposed to security measures being taken by state governments in the South West but those charged with the task must be properly trained. Professionalism will make Amotekun more effective. Amotekun should therefore deal with all criminals, whether they are Yoruba, Hausa-Fulani or Igbo without considering their tribes.”

 

 

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

 

PLACE TRAVEL BAN ON TRUMP, CRONIES - MURIC

 

11^th January, 2021

                

PRESS RELEASE:

PLACE TRAVEL BAN ON TRUMP, CRONIES - MURIC

      

The Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has been urged to place a travel ban on Donald Trump, the outgoing president of the United States of America. Also to be sanctioned with him are his key allies for their ignoble roles in the US 2020 presidential elections particularly the storming of the Capitol.

 

 

This advice was given in a press statement issued by an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), on Monday, 11^th January, 2021. The press release was signed by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The group said:

 

“We strongly denounce the role played by President Donald Trump in the last US general elections. Trump’s refusal to acknowledge defeat shows acute desertification of the spirit of sportsmanship. His insistence on electoral fraud despite several court declarations to the contrary is a manifestation of selfishness, overambition and inordinate lust for power. Above all, his incitement which led to the storming of the Capitol is despicable, repulsive and preposterous. Trump has stained America’s reputation as a great democracy.

 

 

“MURIC calls on the Federal Government (FG) to speak up on the American debacle. America’s condemnation of African and other third world countries has been deafening enough to attract a tornado of backlashes at this moment. We are not happy that FG has remained silent. China, Turkey and Iran have spoken up. The voice of Africa must also be heard and the continent is looking unto Nigeria to lead the way.

 

“We must tell America to its face that tyranny is colour blind and dictators can emerge from the least expected places on earth. There is no country which is occupied by angels only, least of all America. We call on FG to place travel ban on outgoing President Donald Trump and his key allies. It is hoped that other African countries will key into the idea. It just has to be on record that once upon a time, America produced a tyrant, a bully and an insurrectionist.

 

 

“The American tragedy has exposed the weakness in all man-made political and economic theories. Trumpism is the Archile’s heel of Western democracy just as perestroika and glastnost spelled doom for communism. In the same vein, socialism isnot different from a fake drug administered by a quack doctor.

 

 

“The only enduring system is the one made by Allah, the Supreme Creator, who knows the nature of man and how best he should be governed. This is why Islamic political thought posits at-taohiid, al-khilafah, ash-shurah and al-akhirah. At-Taohiid is the principle of oneness of all existence: all are a miniature representation of a whole and a microcosm in a macro, which is Islam, a complete way of life.

 

 

“Al-khilafah affirms the representative nature of man. The leader holds his position in lieu of the divine physical presence. He is a shadow of Allah on earth. Just as the shadow cannot afford to live in isolation of its substance, a leader must always be conscious of Allah.

 

 

“Ash-shurah is consultation with the people. It is a reflection of Islamic democracy. But whereas Western democracy (government of the people, by the people, for the people) lays emphasis on people only, the focus of Shurah is Allah, the Creator of the people. Islamic democracy is therefore government of Allah, by the people created by Allah, for Allah’s own creatures. The leader in Islam must relate both vertically (with Allah) and horizontally (with the people). Whereas the leader only relates horizontally with the people in Western democracy, he interfaces both vertically and horizontally in Islamic political thought.

 

 

“The concept of al-akhirah evokes the fear of Allah in the heart of politicians as they weigh the consequences of their actions on the Last Day before taking them. Al-akhirah is about leaders being held accountable on the Day of Judgement. This is what is lacking in Western democracy, including communism and socialism. This is why Donald Trump made a mess of the American written constitution which is based on George Washington’s Boston Tea Party, and Mikhail Gorbachev swept the rug off the feet of Lenin, man of steel and Stalin in a single sweep.”

 

 

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

 

 

774,000 JOBS: MURIC DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY

 

9^th January, 2021

                    

PRESS RELEASE:

774,000 JOBS: MURIC DEMANDS TRANSPARENCY

      

The Federal Government (FG) flagged off one of its job creation projects for the employment of 774,000 Nigerians in all the 774 local governments in the country on Wednesday, 6^th January, 2021. Already, Delta State has received the sum of N1.59 billion for beneficiaries in the state.

 

 

Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has demanded transparency in the implementation of the project. The human rights group spoke through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Saturday, 9^th January, 2021 via a statement circulated to pressmen.

 

 

“We warmly welcome the flagging off of the pilot Special Public Works Programme which is domiciled in the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) for implementation. We have no doubt that the project will pull out thousands of Nigerian youths from the streets and reduce crime.

 

 

“MURIC commends the Federal Government (FG) for resuscitating this age-long initiative of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). We see the project as one of the effective means of redistributing wealth and eliminating poverty in the country. The gigantic pilot project is expected to cost N46.44 billion or N52 billion when the costs of administration and logistics are added. Already, Delta State has reportedly received the sum of N1.59 billion for the scheme.

 

 

“However, we wish to warn against the hijack of the project by greedy officials, political shenanigans and religious demagogues who may be tempted to arrogate large percentage of the job slots to their cronies, court-jesters and boot-lickers. We demand absolute transparency, fairness and balanced representation.

 

 

“NDE must exhibit zero tolerance for the ghost worker phenomenon. The agency in charge must therefore ensure that accuracy in quoted figures and physical presence of those recruited for the job. Names of those employed and paid must be displayed in local government headquarters on a monthly basis.

 

 

In view of the fact that transparency necessitates accountability, we call on the anti-corruption agencies in the country to set up adequate machinery for the purpose of monitoring the exercise. Those found wanting must be held accountable.

 

 

“In particular, no religious group should be allowed to dominate the operation at the expense of another. In this regard, we warn those who are usually inclined to shortchange others in the sharing of our common patrimony to keep off as we will not hesitate to expose any attempt to play hanky panky in any local government.”

 

 

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

 

NEW YEAR MESSAGE: ADDRESS GRIEVANCES OF MUSLIMS - MURIC

 

2^nd January, 2021

                

NEW YEAR MESSAGE:

ADDRESS GRIEVANCES OF MUSLIMS - MURIC

      

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has asked the Federal Government (FG) to address the grievances of Nigerian Muslims. The Islamic human rights group linked such grievances with deradicalisation and traced religious violence to the denial of Islamic fundamental human rights. The group also reiterated the six reliefs being sought by Nigerian Muslims.

 

 

This was disclosed in MURIC’s new year message which was circulated on Saturday, 2^nd December, 2020 by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The message reads:

 

“Nigerians celebrated the first day of the Gregorian calendar yesterday, 1^st January, 2021. Thus we heralded the new year and bid farewell to year 2020 which many people around the world would wish had never come. It was a year of trauma particularly with the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, the attendant prolonged lockdown and #EndSARS commotion.

 

 

“It was equally a year of tumult for Nigeria as insecurity reigned supreme with Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers striking at will. Above all, Nigerians from all walks of life experienced disruption of socio-economic life which compelled them to raise both old and fresh grievances with the Federal Government (FG).

 

 

“Nigerian Muslims also articulated six grievances which they called on FG to address during the year 2020 but FG has not attended to any of our requests. This is not good enough. It is our belief that the war against Boko Haram is prolonged because FG is not adopting the carrot and stick technique. Government must not rely on the use of force alone. As Nigerian soldiers fight Boko Haram on the battle field, it must engage in genuine dialogue with Muslim leaders and groups in the country.

 

 

“Deradicalisation will remain a farce until all Allah-given fundamental human rights are willingly rendered to Nigerian Muslims. FG must muster enough political will to address the lopsidedness in the Nigerian socio-economic landscape, particularly those that have religious colouring. Nigeria as at today is a Christianised colony where Muslims are held in agonising bondage.

 

 

“There is every likelihood that those who have taken up arms will turn repentant if they see government introducing reforms which conform with the yearnings of Muslims in the country. This is the carrot. But a situation whereby Muslims continue to suffer excruciating pain everyday without any hope in sight is the major cause of the protracted insurgency in the North East. The perception of insurgents seeking the forceful establishment of an Islamic caliphate is that Nigeria is being run along Christian line and all Islamic landmarks have been eliminated. FG owes it a duty to correct this erroneous and dangerous perception.

 

 

“Exempli gratia, FG declared national holiday yesterday which was 1^st January, 2020 in recognition of the Christian Gregorian calendar. But the same FG has ignored the age-long demand of Nigerian Muslims for the recognition of the first day of the Hijrah calendar (1^st Muharram) by declaring a holiday on that date. This is in spite of the fact that 1^st Muharram has been recognised at state level by some states around five years ago and had started declaring holidays for it.

 

 

“FG is thereby giving us the impression that Nigeria only recognises Christianity at the national level but Islam is non grata. This is gross injustice and it is a major grievance nursed by conscious Muslims against the Nigerian state. A father who has two or three children but displays open preference for one has invited disharmony. FG has a duty in loco parentis to balance this lop-sidedness by giving the same official recognition to 1^st Muharram in the name of justice.

 

 

“In the alternative, FG should withdraw recognition for any first day of the year thus leaving the decision to states to handle. In that circumstance, any state that wishes to recognise 1^st January or 1^st Muharram or both will be free to do so. This is what should obtain in a true federation. It is part of what FG should consider in its restructuring project. Those who are clamouring for restructuring should prepare their minds for this. Restructuring should not be a one way affair. Nigerian Muslims are also demanding restructuring.

 

 

“The Hijrah holiday question is just one of the six reliefs being sought by Nigerian Muslims. In summary, the remaining five are : recognition for Islamic marriages; the Friday question; acceptance of caps, turban, hijab and beards for identity cards, driving licences and international travelling passports; acceptance of beards and hijab in uniformed organisations like the army, police, NYSC, etc and, finally,  establishment of Shariah courts in all states where there is significant number of Muslims.

 

 

“It is our contention that no true deradicalisation of extremist religious groups can take place without addressing the grievances of Nigerian Muslims. Denial of the rights of Muslims tantamounts to depriving them of what Allah gave them freely. We assert that all human rights were first guaranteed by the Supreme Creator, Allah, before homo sapiens sought to incorporate them in man-made laws. Any infringement on the right of man is therefore a sin before Almighty Allah and a violation of the laws made by men.

 

 

“Almighty Allah says in Qur’an 17:70, ‘We have honoured the son of Adam. We elevated them both on land and the sea. We also provided good things for them and preferred them above many of our creatures.’ It is therefore a desecration for any government, institution or individual to deny Muslims their Allah-given fundamental human rights.

 

 

“MURIC appeals to all Islamic organisations, groups and Muslim individuals to eschew bitterness, rancor and violence in the pursuit of their religious and civil rights and liberties. We urge all stakeholders to give the FG, state governments and institutions more time to study and fully understand the plight of Muslims in the country. In particular, we appeal to groups like Al-Qaedah, Boko Haram, ISIS and ISWAP who have already embarked on violence to rescind their decision, surrender their weapons and give peace a chance.”

 

 

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