EL-RUFAI DESERVES JUICY POST – MURIC

 

16^th May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

EL-RUFAI DESERVES JUICY POST – MURIC

 

A non-governmental organization and Muslim rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has thrown its weight behind Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State for a juicy post in the incoming Tinubu administration.

 

In a statement issued by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday, 16^th May, 2023, the group hinged its position on the role played by El-Rufai and eleven governors from the North in ensuring that the South gets the mandate during the primaries as well as the support given by the same group to the President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the new naira saga.

 

The group’s statement in full :

“As the days inch closer to the inauguration of the new administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian political spectrum has been inundated with power struggle intrigues and post allocation schemes. This is not new to us since we know that failure is an orphan but winners are always surrounded by all and sundry.

 

 

“However, we deem it germane to remind the President-Elect of the need to pay debts owed and appreciate those who made his current status a fait accompli. This is important in order to start sowing the seed of success for the incoming administration as well as to secure a strong foothold for 2027.

 

 

“Gratitude is a major characteristic of a good Muslim. Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an, “If you are grateful, I will increase my favours on you…” (Qur’an 14:7). If the President Elect shows appreciation to the ‘Noble Dozen’ from the North, he will enjoy more of their solidarity.

 

 

“It is noteworthy that the ‘Noble Dozen’ (i.e. the twelve governors who insisted that power must shift to the South) was led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State. There is no Nigerian who is unaware of the unique support and unequalled solidarity given by this Northern group to the President-Elect. El-Rufai in particular left his palatial office in Kaduna to spend days in Abuja.

 

 

“His contribution to our victory, the victory of the Muslim-Muslim ticket is unquantifiable. He became the mouthpiece of the Muslim-Muslim ticket camp, moving from one media house to another. We must not allow all these to go in vain.

 

 

“In particular, we must remember the risk El-Rufai took as he stood between those in the corridor of power and their inglorious choices. We must not forget his bold confrontation of the central bank governor over the latter’s misguided, ill-fated and accursed naira discolouring.  

 

 

“It will beat all imaginations and expectations, particularly among Muslims, if El-Rufai is not considered for a juicy post in the cabinet of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We have played national politics the way it should be played. But now is the time to be focused. Choice positions should not be allowed to go to political chalatans, fairweather friends, hypocrites and parasites. El-Rufai is a different cup of tea. He is tested and trusted. He is the icon of Northern dignity.

 

 

“To the President-Elect we have this to say: guard very jealously the good relationship and the alliance between the North and the South West. It is a union steeped in historicity. Compensate the North for its dignity and integrity without being unfair to the rest of the country. We bequeath to you the burden of Nigeria. Your road will be rough, no doubt about that, but with prayers and your well known administrative acumen and political sagacity, Almighty Allah will clear the bumps and roadblocks for you.”

 

#Tinubu   #RewardElRufai   #CompensateTheNorth

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

STOP LOOTING TARABA TREASURY – MURIC TELLS GOV ISYAKU

 

15^th May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

STOP LOOTING TARABA TREASURY – MURIC TELLS GOV ISYAKU

 

A faith-based human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused Governor Darius Isyaku of wasting the state’s resources few days to the end of his administration. The group raised the alarm after the governor approved N2 billion for the purchase of vehicles for himself and his deputy.

 

 

The allegation was made in a statement circulated among jounalists on Monday, 15^th May, 2023 by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads :

 

“The executive governor of Taraba State has reportedly approved a whopping sum of N2 billion for the purchase of vehicles for himself and his deputy.

 

 

“MURIC strongly condemns this anti-people action. Exotic vehicles are being purchased at the twilight of Isyaku’s administration. This is sheer waste of the tax payers’ money. It is lootocracy at its worst.

 

 

“The looting spree is coming at workers’ expense. Darius Isyaku is owing local government workers who are presently at the very base of the pyramid of poverty in the state. The governor cannot deny it because those who should know have cried out. The state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Peter Jediel, confirmed in March this year that the state is owing workers (https://guardian.ng/news/nlc-counters-taraba-govs-claim-of-not-owing-workers/).

 

 

“Governor Isyaku also proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he cares little about transparency, probity and accountability when he went out of his way to commission an uncompleted housing project last week (https://www.legit.ng/politics/1534230-17-days-handover-pdp-governor-commissions-uncompleted-housing-estate/).

 

“That assignment was needless. It is ridiculous to commission an unfinished job. It only massages the governor’s ego and portrays him as someone living in the world of fantasies.

 

 

“The governor also named the 500 housing units which was begun in 2017 after himself as Darius Dickson Isyaku (DDI) Housing Estate. This is highly repulsive and exceedingly deplorable. It is self-serving.

 

 

“We call on the incoming administration of Lt. Col. Kefas Agbu to rename the project after the Late Dandaba Suntai, the Taraba governor who died in office in June 2017. It will serve as a lesson to office holders that incumbents should not arrogate projects funded with tax payers’ money to themselves.”

 

#Taraba   #StopTheLooting  #RenameDDIEstate

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

MURIC TO TINUBU: GIVE MUSLIMS IN MUSLIM-MAJORITY STATES FOUR MINISTERS EACH

 

11^th May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO TINUBU: GIVE MUSLIMS IN MUSLIM-MAJORITY STATES

FOUR MINISTERS EACH

 

An Islamic civil liberties organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has told the President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to give Muslims in Muslim-majority states at least four ministerial appointments each after his inauguration.

 

 

In a statement issued on Thursday 11^th May, 2023 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group condemned marginalization of Muslims in such states in political appointments.

 

The full statement reads:

 

“As Nigeria warms up for the inauguration of a new administration under the able, tested and trusted leadership of President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we remind the

incoming president and other Nigerians of past political marginalization of Muslims in Muslim-majority states since independence.

 

 

“We are deeply disturbed that it is only in the core North where we have states like Sokoto, Borno, Katsina, etc that the right of Muslims to be included in governance is respected. Former Christian military heads of states and civilian presidents have deliberately marooned Muslims from the political architecture of Muslim-majority states.

 

 

“Christians who were appointed governors over Muslim-majority regions and states were secretly given instructions to either turn or shake the demographic table in favour of Christianity. Unfortunately this happened at a time when Muslims were still suffering from paucity of political consciousness in those regions and states.

 

 

“Examples of past denial of Muslims in participatory democracy can be found in the appointments of Col David Bamigboye as military governor of Kwara State, a predominantly Muslim-majority state (May 1967 – July 1975) by General Jack Gowon (rtd). Lt. Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi was also appointed military governor of the Western Region by General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi.

 

 

“The South West had earlier been led mainly by Christian political leaders featuring Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola and Chief Victor Babaremilekun Adetokunbo Fani-Kayode. The christianisation agenda of the South West had also been championed by Christian military administrators and governors like Lt. Col. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, Mobolaji Johnson, Christopher Oluwole Rotimi, Navy Cap Akintunde Aduwo, Col. David Jemibewon, etc.

 

 

“Obasanjo and Jonathan out-Heroded Herod. All the six ministers appointed by them from the South West were Christians and Muslims were totally excluded from federal appointments under them. Worse still, they appointed Christians as ministers from core Muslim states like Bauchi, Kwara and Kaduna.

 

 

“This policy of total political blackout for Muslims in Muslim-majority states is contrary to the principles of participatory democracy. It is heartless political exclusion and the height of religious apartheid. We condemn it in the strongest terms.

 

 

“Therefore, as the new dawn of political inclusiveness promised by President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu approaches, we demand total departure from the past tortuous political marginalization of Muslims to complete political integration of Muslim citizens in all geo-political zones.

 

 

“In particular, MURIC demands at least four ministerial appointments each for competent Muslims out of the six ministers earmarked for every geopolitical zone where Muslims command majority after Tinubu’s inauguration. We urge governors in Muslim-majority states to avoid marginalizing Muslims in nominations for ministerial posts. We refer specifically to states like Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi, Lagos, etc.

 

 

“Nigerian Muslims demand fair representation. We demand inclusiveness and full integration into the Nigerian political space. This is without prejudice to the preference for competence. The records set by Professor Ishaq Oloyede and Professor Isa Ali Pantami in office remain indubitable proof of hidden administrative icons among Nigerian Muslims although only unbiased presidents and governors will find them.

 

 

“We are not asking Tinubu to sacrifice excellence on the altar of mediocrity. We have no scintilla of doubt that there are eminently qualified Muslims in all fields of human endeavour. We assert clearly, emphatically and categorically that failure to find suitable Muslims in any state of the federation for ministerial appointment is like failure to find coal in Newcastle.

 

 

“Of course it is only logical that ministers from states like Sokoto, Borno, Kano and Jigawa will all be Muslims while those from Enugu, Anambra, Rivers and Cross Rivers will be an all-Christian affair. The governors in those states may give one or two minorities appointments as commissioners and board members.”

 

#PoliticalInclusivenessNow   #Tinubu   #IntegrateMuslims   #Competence

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

 

 

MURIC BERATES EPILEPTIC POWER SUPPLY IN KEBBI STATE

 

5^th May, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC BERATES EPILEPTIC POWER SUPPLY IN KEBBI STATE

 

Recent happenings as regards power supply cut-off in Birnin Kebbi metropolis has been a subject of discuss by all and sundry at any available space and time. The power supply outage has meted untold hardships and has posed serious threats on the economic and social lives of the citizens. This trend has only reached its peak now but has been in existence for almost two months.

 

We all remember how the citizens were subjected to abysmal power supply during Ramadan despite the hot weather condition and the attendant dehydration occasioned during such period. Several complaints made by individuals and groups fell on deaf ears as the management of Kaduna Electric failed to respond to the yearnings of the people even through apology. This is in total violation of the rights of customers as provided by NERC Consumer Rights Regulations.

 

We are aware that the attention of the Area Manager has earlier been drawn by some stakeholders to the security implications of his (in)actions but he rebuffed all. The action of those military personnel (either legal or illegal) is only one of such implications. 

 

This necessitates the call for all the relevant power and security agencies to put to check the excesses of the Kaduna Electric management and staff on power supply in Birnin Kebbi metropolis in particular and the state at large vis-a-vis the security, economic, health and social implications of their professional negligence.

 

While we don't support jungle justice and individuals taking the law into their hands, we find it difficult and condemn in totality the rationale of throwing away the baby with the bath water.

 

MURIC has many questions begging for answers: What is the offence of the company's customers who have been paying their bills monthly (including those with prepaid metres) and have been subjected to unjustified epileptic power supply for over two months now? What differentiates homo sapiens from animal farm if a basic necessity like electricity is been denied to them in this era?

 

How can a trader be fighting and even punishing all his customers for an offence committed by a section of customers? What can they say on the rights of the talakawas that have been paying their bills and yet they only receive darkness? Are the Kaduna Electric aware that they are to be responsible for the damages incurred by their customers due to their failure to fulfill their own side of the bargain? 

 

We are calling on the federal and state governments as well as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to sanction whoever is responsible for this anti-masses decision so as to ensure prompt restoration of power supply as well as arrest such situation in future. Such will only serve as a lesson to other DISCOS and any other corporate body or individual that may cause any type of economic sabotage. 

 

Nigeria is not animal farm and as such, its citizens should not be subjected to untold hardships. Their economic, security and social lives must be guaranteed. Such is the primary function of government and its functionaries and any other individual or corporate body providing basic necessity whether public or private. 

 

We demand an immediate restoration of power supply and an apology from the management of Kaduna Electric for this brazen abuse of rights of the citizens as such attitude contradicts the ethos of a civilized society.

 

 

Dr. Abdullahi Bello Umar

Chairman

 

Mal. Nasiru Muhammad Kwaifa

Secretary

 

TARABA NNPP CANDIDATE CHEATED FOR BEING MUSLIM –MURIC

 

2^nd May, 2023, 2023

PRESS RELEASE:

TARABA NNPP CANDIDATE CHEATED FOR BEING MUSLIM –MURIC

 

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has alleged that the gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP), Sani Yahaya, was cheated in the last gubernatorial election in the state. The group has therefore appealed to the state’s election tribunal to do justice to the petition filed by the candidate.

 

 

MURIC’s allegation was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, 2^nd May, 2023 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

The statement reads :

 

“The last gubernatorial election in Taraba State was characterized by loopholes, particularly overvoting. We also have every reason to believe that the candidate of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) won the election with a wide margin but he was robbed of victory because powerful Christian elements in the state, including the incumbent governor acting in concert with a money bag and retired general did not want a Muslim to rule the state.

 

 

“The body language of Governor Darius Isyaku was clearly allergic to the emergence of a Muslim as governor of Taraba State. There is more than enough evidence to prove that he had strangulated the Muslim community in the state throughout his eight year rule.

 

 

“Exempli gratia, all the twelve permanent secretaries appointed by him in November 2021 were Christians. To achieve his jaundiced and illegal all-Christian administration agenda, the governor ensured that all the Muslims on levels 17 and 16 who should have been made permanent secretaries were by-passed while Christians under them who are on level 14 were picked. 

 

 

“Darius cannot rationalize how the head of service, the secretary to the state government and the chief of staff are all Christians today in a state where the population is predominantly Muslim and the governor is already a Christian.

 

 

“In the same vein, Taraba State governor ensured that all the principal officers of Taraba State University are Christians. In like manner, the most senior person who qualified for the post of auditor general of the state was bypassed because he is a Muslim while a Christian who had little or no experience was picked.

 

 

“The issue is not their faith. What MURIC is interrogating is the criteria the governor used. The appointments lacked merit. Darius has sacrificed the latter on the altar of mediocrity.

 

 

“Darius Isyaku’s tyrannical, segregational and unjust style of governance led the Taraba Muslim Council to rise against him by holding press conferences and issuing press statements in which they accused their state governor of marginalization (https://www.nigerianewspapersonline.net/news/taraba-muslim-council-decries-marginalisation-by-governor-ishaku/).

 

 

“The above shows how far Governor Darius Isyaku has gone to out-Herod Herod. He also needed to bend the rules during the last election in order to sustain the tyranny and perpetuate Christian minority grip on an overwhelming Muslim majority which is not less than 69%.

 

 

“These discriminatory practices may have nothing to do with the election, but they can help to substantiate our allegation that the governor and some powerful elements within the state will do anything to retain power within Christendom in the state.

 

 

“Those who have followed the trend in Taraba political architecture will remember the game that played out when a former governor of Taraba, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, died in office. The controversy over the legality and eligibility of Deputy Governor Garba Umar stepping into his shoes is still didactic (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/143695-uncertainty-mounts-in-taraba-as-suntai-deputy-lay-claim-to-governorship-seat.html?tztc=1)

 

 

“A Christian governor in the state has also been quoted as allegedly saying, ‘I will not hand over to a Muslim.’ This has become a dogma in the Christian political circle in Taraba State. We contend that this Christian entitlement proclivity played a significant role in the tripartite conspiracy between Governor Darius Isyaku, ex-Governor Jolly Tavoro Nyame and a former Christian army general and oil blocks entrepreneur with too much money to throw around for the purpose of thwarting the wish of the electorate.

 

 

“The performance of Muslims in senate and house of representatives elections speak eloquently about Taraba being a state that boasts of majority Muslim population. Muslim candidates have consistently won two out of the three senate seats and four out of the six seats for the house of representatives in the state. This happened in 2015, 2019 and was replicated in 2023.

 

 

“MURIC calls on the Taraba election tribunal to critically look at the issue of overvoting which is the crux of the petition of the NNPP candidate. The margin between his opponent’s 257,926 votes against his own 202,277 may prove curiously interesting when considered against the backdrop of his claim of an overvoting to the amount of 102,000 votes.”

 

#ReturnTarabaStolenMandate

 

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)