MUSLIM PERSONALITY 2020: MURIC CONGRATULATES PANTAMI

 

21^st February, 2021

                

PRESS RELEASE:

MUSLIM PERSONALITY 2020: MURIC CONGRATULATES PANTAMI

      

Muslim News, a popular Nigerian Islamic newspaper, has picked Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the winner of the 2020 Nigerian Muslim Personality of the Year Award. organised by Muslim News, Nigeria’s most authoritative Islamic newspaper. This was announced by Mr. Rasheed Abubakar, publisher of Muslim News and the organizer of the prestigious Muslim News Awards (#MNAwards) in a press statement issued on Friday, 21^st February, 2021.

 

 

In the meantime, the Nigerian Islamic human rights organization has congratulated the minister, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami for the award. MURIC’s congratulatory message was issued on Sunday, 21^st February, 2021 and signed by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

“We congratulate Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami on his emergence as the winner of the keenly contested Muslim Personality of the Year 2020. This is no doubt a well-deserved honour. It is a reward for hard work, timely initiative and devotion to search for solutions to the nation’s problems.

 

 

“We give kudos to the organisers of the award for its fairness and clarity of judgement. Nobody can fault the choice of Dr. Pantami as the winner in view of his outstanding achievements since he became the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy.

 

 

“In the year 2020 alone, the minister came up with the 112 toll-free number, the virtual federal executive council meeting and the National Identity Number (NIN) which is a mobile application which links NIN to the individual SIM. Pantami also proved himself as a minister with vision when a few weeks ago he solved the NIN registration headache by asking network providers to register subscribers for the NIN. Pantami comes across as a minister with far-reaching vision and an Islamic scholar with a huge difference. No wonder, therefore, that the organisers found him worthy of the prestigious award.”

 

    

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

 

S.O.S TO GOV ABIODUN: STOP ILLEGAL ORO CURFEW IN IPOKIA NOW -MURIC

 

19^th February, 2021

                

PRESS RELEASE:

S.O.S TO GOV ABIODUN: STOP ILLEGAL ORO CURFEW IN IPOKIA NOW -MURIC

      

An Ipokia-based Muslim group, the Concerned Muslim Network of Ipokia Local Government Area, has raised alarm over the illegal curfew imposed by the Oro cult in Ipokia. The illegal curfew is due to start on Saturday, 20^th February, 2021. The group has promised to meet force with force if the Ogun State Government and the state Police Command fail to intervene.

 

 

Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has sent a Save Our Soul (S.O.S) message to the governor of Ogun State to stop the illegal curfew in order to avert violent confrontation between the cultists and the Concerned Muslim Network of Ipokia. MURIC’s S.O.S was contained in a press release issued by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Friday, 19^th February, 2021.

 

 

According to MURIC, “Trouble is looming in Ipokia, Ogun State as a Muslim group, the Concerned Muslim Network of Ipokia Local Government Area is warming up for a bloody confrontation with Oro cultists who have declared an illegal curfew on all inhabitants of the town.

 

 

“The group’s statement on the matter which we believe is self-explanatory, is quoted below:

‘The cultists have chosen Saturday 20th February, 2021CE as the date for the commencement of curfew and the restriction of movement that will last for seven days.

 

It should be recalled that similar acts was challenged by both Muslims and Christians in Ipokia High Court and in the judgement delivered on 30th January, 2018. The Chief Judge ruled that the Oro cultists have no constitutional rights to impose any curfew on the general populace and such action is illegal and should never be allowed to take place again.

 

 

‘After the judgement, the Oro worshippers signed an agreement with Christians and Muslims at a religious stakeholders’ meeting held at the Conference Room of Ipokia Local Government Secretariat on 21st August 2019. The said meeting was presided over by the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) in Ipokia, Engr Babatunde Odunlami where representatives of Christians and Muslims were in attendance.

 

‘The Security agents were not left out also. They all signed an agreement restricting the celebration of Oro festival to midnight from 12 am to 4 am. The signed document also indicated that there should be no restriction of any form to non-members of Oro cult within the period

 

 

‘It was equally agreed that Christians and Muslims must conduct their services inside churches and mosques respectively. Outside procession with loudspeakers are also forbidden during Oro festivals while no religious group should, in their preaching or songs, call traditional worshippers derogatory names and no one should infringe on the fundamental human rights of citizens as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution. In addition, any religious group that intends to organise a festival must inform the local government, police and other security agencies in writing beforehand.

 

The agreement was signed on behalf of Muslims by the Imam of Idi Iroko, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and two others: Faruq Tiamiyu and Yahya Ajibola. Christians were represented by Joseph Arogunyo, John Jayeola and Adesina Sunday while Ojo Alade, Gafar Waidi and Suuru Adeyemi signed on behalf of Oro worshippers.

 

 In the agreement signed on 21st August, 2019, the then DPO of Idiroko police station, CSP Opebiyi Sunday  was in attendance and he signed as a witness while the then DPO of Ipokia was represented by CSP Oluku Sunday. Also, the Department of State Services (DSS) was represented by B. E. Bassey, while the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was represented by DRC Garba Dare.’

 

 

“It will appear, therefore, that Ipokia cultists are not only reneging on the 2019 agreement but also acting in contempt of the 2018 court judgement by declaring a new curfew. This is tantamount to total disregard for the rule of law, unbridled impunity and blatant disrespect for law enforcement agencies.

 

 

“As advocates of dialogue, rule of law and equal rights for all, MURIC calls on the executive governor of Ogun State to do the needful. There should be no breakdown of law and order in Ipokia in view of the fragile state of affairs in the country. Governor Dapo Abiodun has a duty to stop Oro cultists who have usurped the governor’s power by illegally imposing a curfew.

 

 

“It is becoming clearer day by day that traditionalists in the South West are growing wings as their level of intolerance keeps rising. It is well known that Christians and Muslims do not impose any curfew on traditionalists at any time at all. What right, therefore, do traditionalists have to restrict the movement of Christians and Muslims?

 

 

“Chapter 4, Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended 2011) stipulates that every Nigerian is entitled to move freely throughout the country. Only the state government on the advice of the state commissioner of police can impose curfew but even then, the curfew must be based on negative security report.

 

 

“MURIC urges the state governor to act without delay in view of the declaration of the Ipokia Muslim group that ‘If they (i.e. Oro cultists) go ahead to impose curfew and declare Saturday, 20th February, 2021CE as a day when our sit at home must commence, then, we will order all Muslims to go out and consequently dare their so called invincibility by the special grace of Allaah (sic)’”

 

 

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

 

 

MURIC CONDEMNS ETHNIC KILLINGS IN IBADAN

 

17^th February, 2021

                

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC CONDEMNS ETHNIC KILLINGS IN IBADAN

      

Media sources have reported about six casualties in the ethnic clash which occurred at Shasha, Ibadan, three days ago. Several houses were razed while dozens were injured. The clash was triggered by a fight between a Northerner and a Yoruba man. The state governor had to impose a curfew while the army was called in before the situation was brought under control.       

 

 

Meanwhile the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the ethnic killings. The Islamic human rights organization called on law enforcement agents to fish out those responsible for the killing and arson. It also called on the Oyo State government to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the crisis. MURIC spoke through a press statement issued on Wednesday, 17^th February, 2021, by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

“We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) strongly denounce the ethnic killings which occurred at Shasha, Ibadan on Friday 12^th and Saturday 13^th February, 2021. That ugly and unfortunate incident is a manifestation of barbarism in its highest form. We reiterate our condemnation of all killings and violence in all its ramifications, whether perpetrated by criminal herdsmen, by tribal jingoists against Nigerians of other tribes or by citizens exercising jungle justice.

 

 

“Nigerians should learn to coexist peacefully. This country belongs to us all and we have no other place we can call our own. We should therefore be prepared to tolerate and to forgive one another. In addition, we should always remember that others are playing host to our kith and kin just as we are hosts and landlords to others. Southerners live in the North in their thousands just as thousands of Northerners live in the South.

 

 

“We should all control our emotions in times of anger because the actions of Southerners in the South may be used to judge Southerners in the North and vice versa. We are all stakeholders in the Nigerian project and ambassadors of our tribes and clans.

 

 

“MURIC appeals to Nigerians to eschew bitterness and vengeance. We remind true patriots that fifth columnists are still bent on causing confusion. Insurrectionists, rebellious subjects and enemies of peace want this government to fail. That is why they keep sending hate messages and fake news on both conventional and social media. They are inciting the populace against the government of the day. They are setting tribes against each other with the hope of setting off a huge conflagration which no fire fighter will be able to extinguish.

 

 

“We call on the Oyo State Government to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the hullabaloo with a view to bringing the culprits to book. This will act as deterrent to other agent provocateur. We appeal to traditional rulers to bring their weights to bear in forging more cordial relations between their communities and non-indigenes.

 

 

“It is interesting to note that our office has been inundated with calls from people of Yoruba extraction living in the North since the ugly incident in Ibadan. There is palpable fear in the air. We therefore advise the state government to compensate those who lost their bread winners and those whose properties were destroyed in the Shasha fracas in order to douse tension and avoid retaliations.

 

 

“More importantly, there are certain measures which the Buhari administration must take in order to douse tension and calm nerves throughout the country. One, farmers whose crops were destroyed by cows must be compensated. Two, herders with genuine evidence of loss of cattle due to attacks or rustling also deserve to be pacified. Three, the Federal Government (FG) should arrange a bailout fund for cow owners to enable them purchase land for use as ranches. Four, FG must also ban open grazing. Five, the Nigerian Police must officially proscribe the possession of arms like AK 47 by herders.

 

 

“Above all, we charge the National Assembly (NASS) to revisit the hate speech bill. It is our considered opinion that hate speech was remotely responsible for the Shasha imbroglio and the earlier we put a halt to it via legislation the better. NASS should ignore all attempts to blackmail it to submission.”

 

 

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

 

 

REGISTER CATTLE OWNERS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

 

11^th February, 2021

                

PRESS RELEASE:

REGISTER CATTLE OWNERS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY  

      

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has suggested that cow owners in the country should be registered in order to hold them accountable. The group argued that cow owners should register their businesses in the same way other businesses are registered. It further suggested that cow owners should approach banks and other financial institutions for loans to build ranches.

 

 

MURIC’s suggestions came in the wake of the discovery that the owner of the cows that strayed into Professor Wole Soyinka’s compound is a Southerner and a Yoruba man. This was revealed in a press statement circulated to the media on Thursday, 11^th February, 2021 by the director of the human rights organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

 

 

According to the statement, “We strongly condemn the incident in which a cow strayed into Professor Wole Soyinka’s compound at Kemta Estate, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, 9^th February, 2021. It is a desecration of a hallowed space. The respected professor needs peace to be able to contribute intellectually (as usual) to the Nigerian debate. Nigeria still needs his rich interventions.

 

“But the incident has thrown up another dimension in the herdsmen saga. For instance, it has hitherto been assumed that all cattle are owned by Northerners and that all herdsmen are from the North. But the truth is beginning to surface. The owner of the cows that strayed into Professor Wole Soyinka’s compound happened to be a Southerner and a Yoruba. He was identified as Mr. Kazeem Sorinola, an indigene of Ijeun, Abeokuta. This is instructive.

 

 

“The movement of cows on our roads as well as in our farms has constituted a serious security breach leading to tension across the country. In our search for solutions to the herdsmen imbroglio, MURIC has forwarded two main suggestions within the past two weeks. We muted the idea that the Federal Government (FG) should give herders bailout funds to enable them establish ranches. Secondly, we suggested that FG should also compensate farmers whose crops were damaged by cows which invaded their farms. We still stand by these suggestions.

 

 

“It has now become necessary to add another suggestion. All cow owners in the country should be registered. Let us know who we are dealing with. It is becoming glaring that most of the cows we see in the South are owned by Southerners. Many important dignitaries in the South own hundreds of cows but they remain silent even in the face of this controversy. It has been alleged that some of the cattle owners are retired army generals, leading politicians, traditional rulers, etc, all from the South West, South East and South South.

 

 

“FG must set the machinery in motion to unveil the face of the masquerade. Nothing stops cow owners from registering their businesses the same way other businesses are registered. This will facilitate probity and accountability in cow business. State governments must enforce the ban on open grazing while cow owners must build their private ranches and stop constituting public nuisance.

 

 

“Therefore, our message to Mr. Kazeem Sorinola of Ijeun, Abeokuta, the owner of the cow which forayed into Professor Wole Soyinka’s compound and other cow owners like him is this :  ‘Source for funds to build a ranch for your cow. Stop hiding behind the Fulani façade. The movement of cows on our roads is a big threat to motorists while the free grazing of cows on our farms is a threat to food security. It impoverishes our farmers. Criminal herders also hide under the guise of tending cows to commit atrocities. Every cow owner must take responsibility for his herd. Take responsibility for your cows. Go to your bank and get a loan to build a ranch for your cows.’

 

 

“The problem of Nigeria is perception. We assume that every cow owner is a Northerner while every herdsman is a Fulani and a criminal. We must separate the wheat from the chaff, the criminal from his tribe. Oyenusi the armed robber was tied to the stake, not the entire Yoruba race. Anini was executed but his Edo tribe was spared the trauma. Evans the kidnapper was tried without stigmatising the whole Igbo people. None of the six kidnappers arrested in Abuja four days ago is a Fulani. They belong to Evan’s tribe but nobody referred to them as Igbo. That is how it should be. We must address the criminal, not his tribe.

 

 

“One major disadvantage of focusing on a particular tribe in our search for criminals is that it beclouds our sense of judgement and enables the real criminals to hibernate while the blame is shifted to innocent people of the persecuted tribe. We must therefore stop the Hausa/Fulani stereotype.

 

 

“The signals emanating from the North is reassuring. Northern governors are clamouring for a stop to the movement of cows southwards. Northern leaders are advocating for a ban on open grazing. Some are already calling for the sensitisation of herders on acceptance of ranching. In our own opinion, herders are not the problem in this regard, it is the cow owners. Let cow owners demonstrate the will to start ranching and everything else will fall into place.”

 

 

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