2015 POLLS: FOR NIGERIA, NOT FOR PARTY

27^th March, 2015

PRESS RELEASE:

2015 POLLS: FOR NIGERIA, NOT FOR PARTY

Nigerians go to the polling booths tomorrow Saturday, 28^th March, 2015, with excitement mixed with trepidation. This is because the political campaigns and rallies have been characterized by hate speeches, blackmail, calumny, threat, violence and even murder.

We observe that the political class have thrown caution to the winds in the past three months and allowed primordial sentiment to rule their emotion. Nigeria’s political culture as manifested in the preparations for the 2015 poll cannot be described as chaste and civilized.

The concomitant ‘migration’ of Nigerians in large numbers from their workplaces to their states of origin as D-Day approaches merely helps to confirm the depth of the citizens’ fear and their total lack of confidence in the system. The allegations and counter allegations between the ruling party and the main opposition have also added fuel to the conflagration. Even at the eleventh hour, there are still accusations concerning plots to rig the election and suspicion about an interim national government or a military coup.

With this at the back of our minds, we of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) hereby express huge disappointment in the attitude of Nigeria’s leaders and some of the politicians. The only institution which we find deserving commendation is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Though it found itself in an entirely hostile environment, it has remained committed to professionalism and impartiality.

MURIC invites politicians to approach tomorrow’s election with a high sense of integrity and patriotism. Only thus can they shun the temptation to rig either for the purpose of perpetuating themselves in power or to wrestle power from the incumbent at all cost. We also urge politicians to avoid making wild, unsubstantiated and dangerous speculations before the results are officially announced by INEC. We appeal to Nigerian youths to distance themselves from politically motivated acts of violence.

We invite the security agencies to emulate the principled stand of INEC and avoid compromising their integrity. Only thus can they gain the respect of the citizens and the outside world in a post-election Nigeria. We remind them that not only are international election observers watching their behaviour, the floodlight of the whole world is now beamed on our country. They should not turn Nigeria into a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

The rainbow behind the clouds is the joint statement issued by President Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) in which they both agreed to accept the results of the election as declared by INEC. We urge all candidates to accept results in good faith.

No party must be seen as winning or losing. There shall be no victor, no vanquished. Nigeria must be the sole winner. Tomorrow’s election is designed to move our dear country forward. It is about Nigeria, not any political party.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

AVOID PRE-ELECTION ARRESTS

22^nd March, 2015

PRESS RELEASE:

AVOID PRE-ELECTION ARRESTS

Seven days to the commencement of the 2015 polls, there is palpable fear in the opposition camp that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) plans to clamp its leaders in detention using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    

In pursuance of our age-long advocacy for free and fair elections and the promotion of sustainable democracy which we started one year after the June 12, 1993 election, we are constrained to intervene again following the alarm raised yesterday by the main opposition party that FGN plans to embark on the plot mentioned above.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) takes a peep into history to remind FGN, the good people of Nigeria and the international community of a similar general clampdown of the opposition on the eve of elections which led to the first military coup in 1996. Nigeria never really recovered from the ricochets of that military putsch.

Goats were tied overnight outside the homes of members of the opposition as the latter slept. They were woken up by policemen in the morning and accused of stealing goats.

Other trumped-up charges were leveled against them. Many were clamped in jails across the country. This tyrannical suppression militarized the opposition and forced them to launch a fierce resistance. Violence erupted in several parts of Nigeria and this prompted soldiers to stage the coup.

This scenario is frightening because of its impact on the average Nigerian. When the hen perches on a rope, neither the hen nor the rope will remain stable.

The streets will no longer be safe for children to go to school. Workers may stay at home for their own safety. Markets may shut down leading to hunger and starvation. There will be general topsy-turvy. Our hospitals may find it difficult to cope with the likely high casualties. The rest is better imagined than experienced.

  

MURIC appeals to President Jonathan to resist the temptation to use the power of incumbency in an arbitrary fashion. The current government has demonstrated the capacity for such action against members of the opposition. We recall the arrest of the spokesperson of the main opposition, Alhaji Lai Muhammed and many others during the last gubernatorial election in Osun State.

This must not happen again. FGN must not re-enact the 1965 clampdown on opposition which led to the first military coup. Such arrests can only be politically motivated and it is capable of plunging the country into pandemonium. It is simply an anachronism in 21^st century democracy. FGN should show Nigerians good intention this time around.

In the same vein, we appeal to the opposition to be less aggressive. FGN has accused the opposition of setting up an illegal radio station. An unregistered radio station elicits several possibilities, none of which is palatable. Nonetheless, we note that the opposition has denied any knowledge of the radio station.       

We urge members of the international community, particularly Western powers, to avoid contributing negatively to the Nigerian electioneering process. In this regard, we strongly condemn the comment attributed to a former envoy of the United States who warned yesterday that a vote for the main opposition candidate is a vote for calamity in Nigeria. This statement is reckless, irresponsible and undemocratic. It exposes the envoy as a square peg in a round hole.   

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

CARD READER CONTROVERSY: STOP INTIMIDATING JEGA

19^th March, 2015

PRESS RELEASE:

CARD READER CONTROVERSY: STOP INTIMIDATING JEGA

Some media sources reported yesterday that intimidation featured prominently in the meeting between service chiefs and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega.

The service chiefs allegedly asked Jega to withdraw the card readers. Two ethnic militia groups have also held demonstrations against the use of card readers. Many of the demonstrators openly brandished guns and other dangerous weapons. 

Interestingly too, the ruling party has been rooting for holding the elections without using the card readers while the main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), supports the use of card readers. 

Putting all these together, Nigerians are beginning to ask questions. They are worried about the fast approaching elections. If the card reader is meant to stop rigging, why should anyone object to its use? Also, did INEC acquire the card readers without informing the Federal Government? 

If FG knew about the card readers prior to the procurement, why are the ruling party and the service chiefs vehemently opposed to its use? Again, if FG would not allow its use, why waste huge sums of money on its purchase?

We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) are constrained to observe that all the above have created a tension-soaked environment. This is contrary to a conducive atmosphere for holding elections.

MURIC charges all stakeholders to soft-pedal at this crucial stage before Nigeria is plunged into chaos. Extreme position on the left or the right at this material time is an ill wind that will blow no one any good.

The status quo has also compelled MURIC to envision the worst case scenario in which the chairman of INEC Jega’s security details could be withdrawn. He might be asked to resign or the youth corpers whom INEC intends to use for the elections might refuse to work for fear over their personal safety. 

INEC may also be sabotaged either from within or from outside the electoral institution. Withdrawing Jega’s security details will imply open intimidation. It will also backfire because it is bound to incriminate FG. This must not happen.

We advocate caution in all these scenarios. The international community is watching. We invite all stakeholders to recharge their patriotism. Elections come and go, Nigeria must remain. Let us all drop thoughts of embarking on unconstitutional acts, sabotage, violence or secession.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

JONATHAN’S ADMISSION ON MOROCCAN STANDOFF: A MORAL LIABILITY

14^th March, 2015

PRESS RELEASE:

JONATHAN’S ADMISSION ON MOROCCAN STANDOFF: A MORAL LIABILITY

President Jonathan yesterday admitted that he did not speak personally with the Moroccan king as claimed by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry had claimed one week ago that the Nigerian president spoke on telephone with his Moroccan counterpart.

The claim was immediately denied by the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nigeria retorted with an affirmation of her claim. The ensuing diplomatic row resulted in Morocco recalling its ambassador to Nigeria.

Like many other patriotic individuals and groups in the country, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is seriously embarrassed by this avoidable diplomatic conundrum into which the Federal Government (FG) has driven Nigeria. It reflected our infantile diplomacy, administrative ineptitude and irreversible leadership failure.

The Jonathan-led administration has been characterized by a litany of lies and broken promises. It only recently became too clever by half when its local propensity to mislead gullible Nigerians assumed an international dimension. The manufacturers in FG’s factory of lies simply overreached themselves by taking on foreign countries.

Morocco is not alone in rebuffing Nigeria in recent times. American security officials allegedly clashed with their Nigerian counterparts two days ago because the Americans were angry that Nigeria lied by claiming that America supported the postponement of elections.

It is rather unfortunate that President Jonathan is yet to appreciate the full implication of his admission that he actually did not have a telephone conversation with the Moroccan king. It means that Nigeria lied and if Nigeria lied it means our president lied. This is what Mr. President underestimated.

The underestimation syndrome has eaten deep into Mr. President’s character. Afterall he shocked Nigerians by saying that stealing was not corruption. He underestimated the kidnapping of the Chibok girls and for weeks he did not believe any girl was abducted. The girls are yet to be found to date.

He also underestimated the Boko Haram insurgency. He reportedly admitted this much. It cost us thousands of lives and untold suffering. Yet Mr. President said the Moroccan saga in which his government has been caught lying was “less important”. He considered drawing the opposition into the gay debate as more important. It is nauseating.

Yet the Moroccan affair is yet to take its full toll. Nigerians in the diaspora may soon start facing the music. It has happened before. They may be subjected to contempt and dehumanization. Nobody is going to trust citizens of a country whose government takes pleasure in telling lies to both its citizens and the international community.

In the meantime President Jonathan owes us an explanation. The Presidency always reacts with the speed of light to statements made by opposition parties, why did it take him a full week to refute the allegation?

Will he say he was in total darkness regarding the raging controversy between the Nigerian Foreign ministry and its Moroccan counterpart? Was he also unaware of the recall of the Moroccan ambassador?

We urge FG to urgently discard its garb of deceit. The international community will address Nigeria the way the country is dressed. Nigerians deserve transparency. We are a people rich in the culture of integrity. This government is an embarrassment and President Jonathan has become both a political and moral liability on Nigeria.

MURIC appeals to Nigerians at home and abroad to bring back the nation’s glory by dint of hardwork, honesty and high moral standard. We urge the international community not to judge Nigerian citizens by their leader’s yardstick but by individual merit.

Professor Ishaq Akintola,

Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)