HAJJ 2021: NIGERIA WAS NOT BANNED - MURIC

 

21^st June, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

HAJJ 2021: NIGERIA WAS NOT BANNED - MURIC

 

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has added its voice to that of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) concerning the situation of hajj this year 2021.

 

 

MURIC’s interface was contained in a statement made available on Monday, 21^st June, 2021. The statement was signed by the director of the human rights organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

The statement reads:

 

“It will be recalled that the government of Saudi Arabia last week restricted all foreign countries from bringing their pilgrims to perform hajj this year 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. NAHCON immediately issued a statement on the restriction to keep Nigerians who had intended to partake in the holy exercise informed.

 

 

“Although NAHCON’s statement was self-explanatory, some Nigerians still find joy in twisting it to satisfy their own perception. We therefore find it mandatory to make some clarifications in view of wrong perceptions and the possibility of some mischief makers misleading Nigerian Muslims in particular and the general public as well.

 

 

“Of particular interest is the deluge of questions being asked on the development. But of serious concern to us are some strange and misleading questions asked by journalists of some media houses who want MURIC to react.

 

 

“One journalist said, ‘Recently Saudi Government barred Nigerian Muslims from performing hajj due to Covid-19…’ as if Nigerian Muslims were the only intending pilgrims who were not allowed to travel to the holy land.

 

 

It is necessary to disabuse the public’s mind about this kind of misconception. Saudi Arabia’s restriction of 2021 pilgrimage affected intending pilgrims from all parts of the world. They only allowed their own citizens and foreigners living inside their country to perform this year’s hajj. It is not a Nigerian affair. It is universal. Even Americans, Britons, French, Germans, etc who planned to perform hajj cannot go.

 

 

“A journalist even sent an outrageous question. He asked, ‘Can’t the worshippers look inward for an alternative within the country?’ In other words, he was suggesting that intending pilgrims and perhaps all other Muslims in Nigeria should find an alternative to those rites of hajj which are performed in the holy land. By inference, his question implied that Nigerian Muslims should stop going to Saudi Arabia for hajj once they are able to find an alternative.

 

 

“Devoid of any mischief that may have been intended, this kind of question arose from a total lack of understanding of the religion of Islam by many non-Muslims. Islam is a divine religion and there are scriptural rules and guidelines for Islamic religious rites. Hajj is no exception in this regard. It is the last of the five pillars of Islam and details of where and how it should be performed are contained in the Glorious Qur’an (22:26 – 33; 5:3; etc).

 

 

“This is why no country in the world or any Muslim individual or group can, or should, invent an alternative for hajj. There is just one Ka‘bah in the world and it is mentioned in the Qur’an (3:96). The Muslims did not just wake up one day and started dreaming about a holy house of Allah. No country has Safa, Marwah, Muna or the plain of Arafat. The Qur’an mentioned Safa and Marwah in 2:158. Even the lesser hajj, Umrah is mentioned alongside hajj per se in Qur’an 2:196.

 

 

“Neither do Muslims conjure religious rites to imitate any other religious group. There is a clear, unambiguous and indubitable instruction in the Qur’an commanding capable Muslims to perform hajj. Almighty Allah said, ‘Pilgrimage to the House is a duty for those who have the capacity.’ (3:97)

 

 

“Those who are contemplating the possibility of finding an alternative for the Ka‘bah, Safa, Marwah, Arafat, etc, should just bury the thought. All the gold in the world cannot build those holy places. They are not tourist attractions. They are divinely anointed places which no human intelligence can comprehend nor any material wealth construct.

 

 

“MURIC joins the National Hajj Commision (NAHCON) to appeal to Muslims who had planned to perform hajj this year to remain strong in faith as their dreams will be realised as soon as COVID-19 recedes and the Saudi authorities review their policy on admission of foreigners for the annual hajj exercise.

 

 

“We also commend NAHCON for being proactive. It is on record that the Commission has already told prospective pilgrims who wish to collect the money paid for this year’s hajj to come forward. To that extent, therefore, NAHCON is being transparent and accountable without being forced to do so.

 

 

“Finally, we reiterate our position that this is a postponement necessitated by COVID-19 pandemic. It is not a punitive measure against the Nigerian government or a disciplinary action against Nigerian Muslims. Hajj 2021 has been postponed the same way that several events of massive gathering of people have been postponed in many parts of the world on account of the Corona Virus pandemic. We urge all those affected by the postponement to strictly follow guidelines issued by NAHCON authorities from time to time.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 

 

KUDOS TO 9TH NASS AT 2 - MURIC

 

17^th June, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

KUDOS TO 9^TH NASS AT 2 - MURIC

 

The Nigerian National Assembly (NASS) which comprises the Senate and the House of Representatives marked two years of inauguration on Friday, 11^th June, 2021.

 

 

Meanwhile a member of the Nigerian civil society, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has given kudos to the 9^th NASS.

 

 

In a congratulatory message sent to the 9^th NASS by the director of the organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday, 17^th June, 2021, the human rights organisation described the 9^th NASS as forthright, progressive and people-oriented.

 

 

The statement reads:

 

“The Nigerian National Assembly (NASS) marked two years of inauguration on Friday, 11^th June, 2021.

 

 

“MURIC congratulates the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila and the entire members of the NASS on the auspicious occasion of the second anniversary of their inauguration.

 

 

“We note with immense pleasure the absence of any rigmarole, tension or conflict between the NASS and the executive arm of government since 11^th June 2019 when the 9^th NASS was inaugurated. This has engendered the smooth running of government as well as uninterrupted lawmaking process.

 

 

“The 9^th NASS has distinguished itself as a body of patriotic and hardworking lawmakers. For while its predecessor was known for footdragging courtesy of sarakisation from the Red House, the 9^th NASS has become synonymous with swiftness, business consciousness and concern for the plight of the Nigerian masses.

 

 

“For example, whereas the 8^th NASS introduced 2,166 bills and passed only 515 in its four years, the 9^th NASS has already introduced 2,002 bills in just two years and still counting. This can be attributed to the confrontational stance of the 8^th NASS in its relationship with the presidency and the divided interest of its members who took undue interest in shuttling between the courts and the NASS which is the place of their primary assignment.

 

 

“As a result of the confrontation with the executive, the 8^th NASS became a clog in the wheel of progress, blocking requests and rejecting the executive’s nominees. In the end, it was the Nigerian masses who suffered the consequences. Or what else could we have expected when budgets were delayed for months on end by the reactionary elements in the 8^th NASS?

 

 

“For instance, the 2016 budget of N6.06 trillion was not approved until 23^rd March, 2016. In 2017, the Federal Government’s budget of N7.441 trillion was delayed till 11^th May, 2017. The N8.612 trillion budget of 2018 suffered a similar fate in the hands of the Stone Age lawmakers of the 8^th NASS as it was approved on 16^th May, 2018. The N8.916 trillion budget of 2019 was approved two weeks earlier on 30^th April, 2019 perhaps because the presidency eventually allowed the lawmakers to add N86 billion to the original figure.

 

 

“The delay tactics and arm-twisting gimmicks of the 8^th NASS stands in contra-distinction to the businesslike approach of the present NASS. Nigerians could hardly believe it when the 2020 budget of N10.59 trillion was passed by the Lawan-Gbajabiamila progressive group of lawmakers on 6^th December, 2019. To cement the new trend, this dynamic assembly repeated the feat again as the 2021 budget of N13.588 trillion was given the green light on 21^st December, 2021.

 

 

“MURIC gives kudos to the 9^th NASS as a whole. We celebrate the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan for this remarkable feat. We commend Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila. These are exemplary leaders and true patriots of our land. These distinguished men and women have been sacrificing their time and resources to ensure that good governance and dividends of democracy are delivered to Nigerians at without tears.     

 

 

“It is therefore saddening to hear political chalartans, legislative shenanigans and conservative demagogues accusing the 9^th NASS of being a ‘rubber stamp’ institution. We reject such accusation in its entirety. It is false, malicious and untenable. The 9^th NASS is the people’s NASS. It deserves accolades, not knocks. It is cerebral.

 

 

“Before dropping the anchor, we appeal to the 9^th NASS to take a kind look at the plight of Nigerian Muslims. Islam has been in Nigeria before the 11^th century. The British colonial masters who were essentially Christians came in the 19^th century (1842) and subjected the Muslims to an environment which is totally alien to their faith. This situation should have been corrected immediately after Nigeria attained independence in 1960.

 

 

“We call on the 9^th NASS to set Nigerian Muslims free from neo-colonialism. The British designed army, police, paramilitary and school uniforms which suited adherents of the Christian faith and forced it on the Muslim population. Ditto for the nation’s common law which, of course, is Christian law.

 

 

“We appeal to the 9^th NASS to use its good office and seize the opportunity of the constitution amendment period to address the injustice done to Nigerian Muslims. The present uniforms used by the army, police and other paramilitary bodies do not allow the use of hijab. They are therefore an exclusive preserve of Christian women with its economic disadvantage to Muslims.

 

 

“This has resulted in a Christian-only female soldiers, policemen, customs, traffic wardens, etc. It rendered female Muslims jobless. All military and paramilitary uniforms should be made inclusive to accommodate female Muslim recruits, nurses, students, etc, by permitting the use of specially designed hijab with them. Other submissions and requests are contained in the memorandum submitted by MURIC to the Constitution Review Panel. It is our hope that the 9^th NASS will peruse and treat it alongside others.”

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) 

 

JUNE 12 : WERE NOT TEN CLEANSED? WHERE ARE THE NINE?

 

14^th June, 2021

PRESS RELEASE:

JUNE 12 : WERE NOT TEN CLEANSED? WHERE ARE THE NINE?

 

Some Nigerians in the Southern part of the country, particularly the South West marked Independence Day on Saturday, June 12, 2021 with demonstrations, thereby clashing with men of the Nigerian Police who were bent on maintaining law and order.      

 

 

However, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic human rights organisation, has frowned on the protests. The group referred to the protesters as certificated ingrates, rebellious subjects and articulated enemies of peace. MURIC argued that the protesters have no moral ground to protest on June 12 since it was President Muhammadu Buhari alone who gave official recognition to that day when all past rulers had refused to do so.

 

 

MURIC spoke on Monday, 14^th June, 2021, through its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

The statement reads:

 

“Some Nigerians in the Southern part of the country, particularly the South West marked Independence Day on Saturday, June 12, 2021 with demonstrations. Although in negligible numbers, the protests took place in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and a few other places.

 

 

“We commend the police for handling the protests with maturity and professionalism as no casualties or brutalities were reported. However, the protesters exposed themselves as certificated ingrates, unrepentant rebellious subjects and articulated enemies of peace.

 

 

“June 12 should be a day for all Nigerians to celebrate Chief M.K.O. Abiola for his sacrifices on the altar of democracy. He was the man who paid the supreme sacrifice after winning the presidential election held on June 12, 1993 which was criminally annulled by the military.

 

 

“The Nigerian civil society, including MURIC, had been clamouring for the official recognition of that day as Democracy Day but none of our past rulers listened, not even Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who hails from the same city of Abeokuta like M.K.O. The former had all the chance in the world to declare June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day having ruled for eight years (1999 – 2007) but he bluntly refused to do so.

 

 

“It was a Northerner, a Fulani, President Muhammadu Buhari, who eventually proclaimed June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day. It is our contention that for that alone, the people of the South West should show gratitude to Buhari. But what do we see?

 

 

“It was demonstrations galore. The most shameful, most reprehensible and most preposterous was the open participation of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who marched on the streets of Ibadan with protesters chanting ‘Buhari Must Go’. It is most naïve for a sitting executive governor who came into office riding on the back of democracy to join a group seeking the removal of a democratically elected president through undemocratic means. It was a great disservice to the memory of M.K.O. Abiola. Seyi Makinde is an ingrate nulli secundus. He should apologise to Nigerians for his immature behaviour.

 

 

“Those protesters definitely missed the point and lost their bearing because Nigerians, particularly people of the South West, should be showing gratitude to Buhari for declaring June 12 as Democracy Day instead of partaking in an unnecessary protest.

 

 

“The Qur’an gives immense honour to those who appreciate goodness. Allah says, ‘If you are grateful, I will increase my favours on you. But if you disbelieve, certainly my punishment is indeed severe’ (Glorious Qur’an 14:7).

 

 

“On his way to Jerusalem, while passing between Samaria and Galilee, Jesus (may peace be upon him) was met by ten lepers who begged him to heal them. Although he cured them all, only one of them, a Samaritan, a ‘foreigner’, came back to show gratitude and he was asked, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?’ (Luke 17:11-17).

 

 

“As if in response to this rhetorical question, a larger group of demonstrators gathered in Abuja to show solidarity with Buhari. They drummed, sang and danced. These are ‘the nine’ and we commend them for their wisdom boldness and patriotism.

 

 

“MURIC calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore those who are ungrateful to him. He should continue his good works. We ask him to reflect on the words of Allah where He said, ‘What does Allah stand to gain if you show gratitude and belief? Allah is the One who shows gratitude (i.e. Allah is the One who knows how to reward good deeds) and He knows everything’ (Glorious Qur’an 4:147).

 

 

“Therefore, our message to Mr. President is this: Just continue your good works. Expect no gratitude from some Nigerians. But many others appreciate you. Most importantly, Allah will definitely reward you here in this world and yaom al-Qiyamah (in the Hereafter).

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director, 

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)