9th
September, 2024
PRESS
RELEASE:
FRIDAY PRAYER INCIDENTS NOT DELIBERATE: FUOYE MUSLIM
COMMUNITY EXONERATES VC – MURIC
Officials
of the Muslim Community of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), have exonerated
the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Sunday Abayomi Fasina, who
was recently accused by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) of disallowing Muslim
staff from attending Jumu'ah prayer. The group therefore appeals to the
National Universities Commission (NUC) to discontinue any action it may have
planned or embarked upon based on its first report.
This
was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday, 9th September, 2024 by the
Executive Director of the Islamic human rights organization, Professor Ishaq
Akintola.
The
full statement reads:
"Officials
of the Muslim Community of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), have exonerated
the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Sunday Abayomi Fasina, who
was recently accused by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) of disallowing Muslim
staff from attending Jumu'ah prayer.
"In
a conference call initiated from their campus, they attested to the VC's
friendliness towards all without discrimination. According to them, the VC had
not been standing in the way of projects initiated by the Muslims and he was
always ready to help them.
"They
also testified that although it is true that the two reported cases of delay in
releasing staff of the university for Jumu'ah prayer actually occurred, they
were not deliberate but circumstantial.
"The
conference call involved the chairman of the Muslim Community, its secretary,
the University Imam and other members of the executive. The officials
spoke glowingly of the Vice Chancellor.
"Although
our complaint against the VC was based on reports of what actually happened in
the university (as a policy, MURIC does not reveal the identity of its
informers) and the Muslim officials who spoke with us recently have not denied
it, we support their intervention because we have full confidence in them. They
are Muslims of good pedigree, rock-solid credibility and unquestionable
integrity.
"Neither
does our upholding of their testimony mean that those who reported the matter
to MURIC headquarters lied. No, they did not. But the officials of the Muslim
Community are in a better position to know the nitty-gritties, particularly the
VC's real disposition towards his Muslim staff and students. Afterall they are
the ones who meet him regularly on behalf of the Muslim Community.
"With
this clean slate given to the VC of FUOYE, we appeal to the National
Universities Commission (NUC) to discontinue any action it may have planned or
embarked upon based on our first report. We take responsibility for the report
and we appeal to the NUC for understanding.
"MURIC
will not witch-hunt anyone on account of their creed or tribe. We urge other
Vice Chancellors who are not Muslims to emulate the VC of FUOYE in liberality
and inclusiveness. Transparency, fairness and justice to all will create a
conducive atmosphere for centres of excellence that universities are known
for.
"As
a responsible member of civil society, we assure NUC and all vice Chancellors
that MURIC will not condone acts of indiscipline on the part of any Muslim
individual or group within the campuses.
"University
authorities only need to know that Nigerian Muslims have come of age and no act
of discrimination or injustice, no matter how infinitesimal, can go unnoticed
and unreported particularly now that MURIC has branches in all the 36 states of
Nigeria except Anambra."
#NUC
#FUOYE
Professor
Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive
Director,
Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC).
