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  • BBNaija Show is the devil’s incarnate. It must be stopped – MURIC

    BBNaija Show is the devil’s incarnate. It must be stopped – MURIC

    The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has supported calls of the Director-General of the National Council for Art and Culture (NCAA), Segun Runsewe, for members of the House of Representatives to give the body a legal framework to go after the organizers of Big Brother Naija (BBN) over nudity displayed on the show as well as powers to arrest and prosecute crossdressers in the country.

    Runsewe made the appeal during an investigative hearing by an ad hoc committee of the House on Tuesday, October 4. Read here.

    In a statement released by its group director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola on Sunday, October 9, MURIC backed Runsewe’s calls, stating that the reality TV show is “demonic.”

    “The Director General of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Segun Runsewe on October 4 called on the National Assembly (NASS) to give his agency powers to go after BB Naija in order to stop nudity in the reality TV show.

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) supports Runsewe’s call and we see no reason why the NASS will hesitate to give him all necessary backing. Big Brother Naija’s reality TV show is the devil incarnate misleading Nigerian youth.

    MURIC has been consistent in its condemnation of BB Naija. We can recall two separate statements issued on the reality TV show. On July 12, 2019, we made a statement titled ‘Ban BB Naija.

    Again on Oct. 8, 2020, we issued another statement under the caption ‘MURIC Chides Ogun Governor Over BBNaija Gifts’.

    That was when the governor gave a bungalow and N5 million cash to the winner of the reality TV show.

    We saw the governor’s action as idolising immorality and demonising discipline. We described his action as ‘disappointing, disgusting, misplaced and myopic.

    We call on the NASS to listen to Runsewe. It is the voice of reason. BBNaija is forcibly dragging our youths to a world of nudity, debauchery and shamelessness. BBNaija constitutes a potent threat to every home. It is open rape on our cultures, values and norms. BBNaija is lactiferous.

    The NASS will have its name indelibly carved in letters of gold if it hearkens to the plea made by Runsewe. His appeal has revealed the weakness in our legal system.

    It has revealed that there are no extant laws powerful enough to stop romance and sex on our television channels. The time to give the law the teeth to bite is now.”

  • Why you can’t be president in 2023–MURIC tells Osinbajo

    Why you can’t be president in 2023–MURIC tells Osinbajo

    By Joyce Babayeju

    The Muslim Rights Concern has tackled Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on his alleged presidential ambition.

    The Vice President was quoted on Monday as denying that he intended to declare his presidential ambition for 2023.

    However, MURIC has told the VP that it was the turn of Muslims in the South West because three Yoruba Christians have occupied the presidency, whereas no single Yoruba Muslim has been military head of state, president or vice president.

    This factor, according to MURIC, has given Yoruba Christians both political and economic edges and subjected Yoruba Muslims to political marginalisation, social segregation and gross economic disadvantage, leading to abject penury among Muslims in the sub-region.

    This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, on Monday.

    The statement reads: “The Nigerian Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has denied planning to declare his presidential ambition. The Vice President spoke through his spokesman, Laolu Akande on Monday, 7th February, 2022 (https://dailypost.ng/2022/02/07/2023-osinbajo-denies-planning-to-declare-for-presidency-after-apc-convention/).

    “Nonetheless (the denial notwithstanding), we will like the Vice President to know that it is not his turn yet. Neither is it the turn of any other Christian from the South West. This is because three Yoruba Christians (Obasanjo, Shonekan and Osinbajo himself) have occupied the presidency whereas no single Yoruba Muslim has been either military head of state, president or vice president of Nigeria.

    “This factor has given Yoruba Christians both political and economic edges and subjected Yoruba Muslims to political marginalisation, social segregation and gross economic disadvantage leading to abject penury among Muslims in the sub-region.

    “Muslims in the South West will no longer remain onlookers in matters affecting our welfare and our collective destiny. Any Yoruba Christian or Muslim candidate seeking office will have to consult the Muslim community. Nobody will be allowed to take Muslims for a ride and get elected on a platter of gold.

    “All other things being equal, we would not have worried at all and we would not have brought the religious factor to the fore in Nigeria’s march towards 2023. But the brazen effrontery and undisguised persecution of Yoruba Muslims coupled with the criminal silence from those that matter among Christian leaders, civil society and Yoruba socio-cultural groups have made our stand necessary. Our stand is informed by an urgent need to liberate Yoruba Muslims from the shackles of religious persecution.

    “The last time we checked, the Vice President has not deemed it necessary to check the excesses of his fellow Yoruba Christians who are oppressing Yoruba Muslim women in government offices and persecuting female Muslim students in South West schools. Neither has he uttered a single word of condemnation or sympathy on the matter. What then will be the fate of Yoruba Muslims when Osinbajo becomes the president of Nigeria. Christians in the South West will garner more courage. They will out-herod Herod and for Muslims, it will be from the frying pan into the fire.

    “Even Professor Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo cannot claim that he is unaware of the sufferings of Muslim women and female Muslim students in the South West whose conditions can be compared to that of blacks in apartheid South Africa. Perhaps his silence can be due to his position as a pastor of the Redeemed Church whose declared objective is to plant churches within few meters of each other throughout Nigeria. The starting point may be the forced conversion of Muslim students in Yorubaland. This of course will not be a new development in the sub-region. It happened to our parents and grandparents.

    “We urge the Vice President to come out openly and put an end to the state of confusion. For the avoidance of doubts, we have nothing personal against Vice President Osinbajo. In actual fact, we are among his secret admirers and this can be traced to his loyalty to the President Muhammadu Buhari particularly because of the way he stood by the latter in his trying times.

    “But MURIC is on a mission to liberate Nigerian Muslims from exclusion, isolation and discrimination in all their ramifications. We cannot compromise this principled stand and supporting any Christian from the South West for the 2023 presidency no matter his position or relationship with us will jeopardise this noble objective.

    “Another microscopic clarification which is necessary to preempt professional confusionists and merchants of fake news who may want to mischievously misinterpret this message is that MURIC has not said and will never say we do not want a Christian to be president of Nigeria.

    “This is a democracy, not a theocracy and our society is multi-religious. Both religions should therefore be allowed to lead. However, we are being specific about the South West this time around. This means that any political party can pick a Christian as its presidential candidate from any other zone for 2023 so long as it is not from the South West.

    “It would have been a horse of another colour if no Yoruba Muslim has shown any interest in the presidency come 2023. But fortunately the crème de la crème among Yoruba Muslim politicians have indicated interest. Vice President Osinbajo is therefore advised to allow sleeping dogs to lie.”

  • 2023: We won’t oppose a Christian President – Islamic Group reveals

    2023: We won’t oppose a Christian President – Islamic Group reveals

    The Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, on Monday assured that it would not oppose a Christian president in Nigeria.

    MURIC, an Islamic human rights organisation, made the remark while clarifying its call for the Southwest to produce a Muslim presidential candidate in 2023.

    The Islamic group had said 2023 was the right time for the Southwest to produce a Muslim presidential candidate. 

    The group said its demand is hinged on the condition that political parties zone the presidency to the South West.

    A statement signed by the body’s Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola , said it would not oppose a Christian presidential candidate if the position is zoned to any other zone.

    Stressing that its remark was misunderstood, MURIC explained that it would not undermine a Christian president if he respects the rights of Muslims across the country.

    The statement reads: “Some stakeholders have misunderstood our statement concerning our demand for a Yoruba Muslim president come 2023. They wrongly assume that we do not want a Christian president at all. That is not correct. We have therefore seen the need for us to clarify our statement.

    “Our true position is this. We want a Yoruba Muslim to be the next president if the presidency is zoned to the region by political parties. So there is a provision, and the keywords ‘if’. MURIC is not a fanatical group. We do not have a problem with a Christian president. This is a democracy and Nigeria is a multi-religious nation. So we are not opposed to a Christian emerging as president at any time so long as he respects the rights of Muslims.”

    MURIC, however, lamented that Christians dominate the leadership sphere in the Southwest.

    The body lamented that Christians dominate the civil service and education sector while Muslims enjoy the majority among artisans in the Southwest.

    “Our grouse is with the system in the South West. It is an open secret that Christians dominate the education sector in the South West.

    “That is why the civil service is fully in the hands of the Christians while the Muslims are an overwhelming majority among the artisans and traders in Yorubaland,” the statement added.

  • Hate speech: Igbo Muslims Fleeing Their Homes

    Hate speech: Igbo Muslims Fleeing Their Homes

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to authors of hate speech and fake news to rewind, soften up and show remorse. The group argued that deradicalisation is necessary in order to douse tension in the country and avoid nationwide pogrom. MURIC fingered prominent pastors and opposition politicians among those behind hate speech. The group blamed some media houses and irresponsible social media activists for fake news.

    The appeal was made on Monday, 15th March, 2021 by the director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

    The statement read:

    “The world holds its breath as Nigeria passes through difficult times. Hate speeches and fake news fly around at the speed of light. Already, fiery, combustible and inflammatory speeches have led to the killing of Muslims and Northerners in some parts of the South East and South West.

    “Many Muslims of Igbo extraction have fled their homes to safer places after receiving death threats from fellow Igbos for daring to convert to Islam. Several mosques located in the South East have been set on fire. Yet all these began after the commencement of hate speech and fake news just about four years ago.

    “Unfortunately, the Federal Government’s (FG) attempt to bring the situation under control was rebuffed by those behind the plot to destabilize Nigeria. They killed the hate speech bill and gave unbridled license to the spread of fake news. Among the most active authors of hate speech were prominent pastors and opposition politicians and the latter played a major role in the rejection of the hate speech bill in the last National Assembly (NASS). Besides, some media houses and irresponsible social media activists were behind the spread of fake news.

    “We observe that the present state of insecurity in the country is due mainly to abject poverty in the North and hate speeches in the South. MURIC is closely monitoring the situation particularly regarding hate speeches and fake news. Our archives are full of audio and video clips of hate speeches of popular pastors and prominent politicians. Every single evidence has been syndicated with instructions to act on them at the appropriate time.

    “This will ensure that all those who have incited their people against others will be made to pay for their crimes unless they retrace their steps. It is not too late to do that. Authors of hate speech know themselves because the audio and video clips went viral and they also received copies. We therefore advise these people to begin a process of deradicalisation. It is time to rewind, soften up and show remorse. Load your sermons and speeches with messages of love for humanity and the need for Nigerians to forgive one another.”

  • Kankara students: Nigerians should show understanding on Insecurity issues – MURIC

    Kankara students: Nigerians should show understanding on Insecurity issues – MURIC

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the successful rescue of the abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State.

    Prof Ishaq Akintola, MURIC Director in a statement in Lagos on Saturday said that the rescue was prompt.

    “The 344 boys were kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State on Dec. 11, and rescued on Dec. 18, exactly one week after their abduction.

    “The successful rescue operation adds another feather to President Muhammadu Buhari’s hat.

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    “We note with every seriousness that the early return of the boys was made possible by the president’s prompt action,” he said.

    Akintola also commended the security agencies for swinging into action and mapping out a successful rescue plan.

    “The fact that the pursuit began very early made it possible for the army to locate the position of the kidnapped boys and their abductors.

    “It also enabled the army to surround the area. The hoodlums had no option than to surrender after a few days having realised the hopelessness of their ill-fated attack,” he said.

    He called on Nigerians to exercise patience and show understanding on the security challenge facing the country, particularly insurgency and kidnapping.

    “There is need to realise that it is easier for the army to face a known enemy than a faceless foe.

    “Boko Haram is into guerilla warfare and that is the most difficult insurgency to stamp out.

    “Their target is to rubbish government’s efforts and cause her much embarrassment as possible.

    “No nation has been known to successfully and single-handedly eliminate guerilla fighters without engaging them in negotiations,” he said.

    He urged Nigerians to put on their thinking caps once again in retrospect.

    “For the avoidance of doubts, we are not saying the security situation is good. It is not. What we are saying is that we should show understanding.”

  • #EndSARS: MURIC warns Muslims to desist from impending protest

    #EndSARS: MURIC warns Muslims to desist from impending protest

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has cautioned Nigerians, especially the Muslim faithful, against any new protest.

    MURIC Director, Ishaq Akintola, said this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

    READ ALSO: Kano State Government Called Upon To Rehabilitate Waziri Gidado Hospital

    “The attention of MURIC has been drawn to subterranean rumblings as precursors of demonstrations.

    “We like to remind Nigerian Muslims in particular and all citizens in general that the last experience we had during #EndSARS protests was very bitter as it pushed the country to the edge of the precipice.

    “ Protests are legitimate as long as they are peaceful but the last one was hijacked, there is undisputable evidence showing that funds for the protest were provided by people who lack integrity and whose sources of income lack credibility.

    “These are people who have been engaging in criminal activities and their topmost wish has always been to get rid of all signs of law enforcement agents,” he said.

    Mr Akintola said that he expected the protests to abate the moment government accepted all the five demands made by the protesters but expressed regret that that did not happen.

    “The demands were expanded until they became frivolous, ridiculous and irrational.

    “The ensuing destruction of property during the protest was too massive, enough to discourage another protest so soon.

  • Presidential pardon: MURIC pleads pardon for 54 soldiers

    Presidential pardon: MURIC pleads pardon for 54 soldiers

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari on the presidential pardon of 2,600 inmates and appealed for the inclusion of the 54 soldiers serving 10 years jail term.
    Our correspondent reports that the Nigerian Army  had through separate General Court Martials in January and March  2015, sentenced to death by firing squad the 54 soldiers for mutiny, but in 2019, commuted the sentence to 10 years imprisonment.
    The soldiers are serving their sentences at the Kirikiri and Ikoyi correctional centres in Lagos State.
    The Director of the organisation, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday, described the president’s action as timely and humane.
    “We remind those who are to implement the presidential pardon to include the 54 soldiers of the Nigerian Army who are currently serving a 10-year jail term.
    “Some of the 54 soldiers are in Kirikiri and Ikoyi correctional centres. We urge the presidential team to visit those places.
    “We hereby appeal to the committee handling the implementation of the presidential amnesty to consider them,” he said.
  • MURIC calls on FG to criminalise child abandonment

    MURIC calls on FG to criminalise child abandonment

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a human rights organisation, on Monday called on the Federal Government to criminalise child abandonment by parents in Nigeria.

    The MURIC director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, who made the call in a statement issued in Lagos, said it would hold parents accountable and reduce incidents of child neglect.

    “We are worried about the large number of children roaming the streets. These are the leaders of tomorrow.

    “Our children are our strength but that is only if we give them proper upbringing through a balanced education otherwise they become a sword of Damocles hanging above our heads.

    Nigerian children North and South are not receiving necessary attention. Thousands are hawking wares on the streets. They hold bowls begging in traffic gridlocks.

    “MURIC calls on the National Assembly (NASS) and all state legislatures in the country to set the machinery in motion for criminalising child abandonment,” he said.

    He said men who failed to educate or train their children and allow them to roam the streets should be held accountable.

    “The Glorious Qur’an chapter 2 verse 233 charges parents (particularly fathers) to provide the basic necessities of life including food, accommodation and clothing,” he said

    He added that the Quran also compelled parents to educate their children.

    “It is therefore a gross dereliction of parental responsibility to send children to the streets to beg, hawk or engage in any form of child labour.

    “There is also the eschatological correlate in the issue of child bearing. Allah is going to ask parents how well they take care of their children,” he said.

    He said it was sad to note that the permission to marry more than one wife which was contained in Qur’an chapter 4 verse 3 was often abused and misunderstood.

    “Men ignore the proviso contained in the same verse that marrying more than one wife is only permitted if he has the ability to provide adequately for the extra wives and the children.

    “The existence of about 10 million almajiri children is an alarming phenomenon.

    “More so the gory sight of thousands of children and young hawkers running after vehicles for the purpose of making sales and thereby getting their daily bread is symptomatic of governmental failure.

    “These roaming youth are time bombs. We cannot solve the problem of crime proliferation without securing the future of our young ones,” he said.

    “It is not enough to arrest child-hawkers. Their parents, particularly the fathers, should be arrested, detained and prosecuted.

    “There should be a law that empowers law enforcement agents to take an almajiri to his father’s house for the purpose of arresting the father and making him face the law,” he said.

    He urged Imams to reform the Friday Khutbah (sermon) on the minbar (pulpit) to suit the needs of society.

    “Our Khutbah must be geared towards the fear of Allah and a better society. Conservative exegetical methods must be jettisoned.

    “The Minbar must target the reform of the Ummah (Muslim society). Imams must be prepared to look at their followers eyeball to eyeball.

    “The days of sentimentalities are far gone. Only frankness can save the Ummah.

    “This is the time for influential Islamic scholars to record lectures on parental responsibility and share the information through social media among their fans,” he said. (NAN)

  • MURIC condemns killing of CAN Chairman, Andimi

    MURIC condemns killing of CAN Chairman, Andimi

    An Islamic group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the murder of Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government area of Adamawa, describing it as horrendous, ungodly and barbaric.

    The MURIC director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement issued and signed in Lagos on Wednesday, said that anyone who kills innocent people does not represent Islam.

    “We are at a loss for words. This killing is horrendous, ungodly and barbaric.

    “We condemn it in the strongest terms possible.  We reiterate our earlier declaration that Boko Haram is not an Islamic group, rather it is a group of misled zealots.

    “Any group that kills at will and sheds the blood of innocent people cannot represent Islam,” he said.

    “We call on all Nigerians regardless of religious background to unite against Boko Haram. We must stand up together to fight the evil in our midst,” he said.

    “We charge the Nigerian military to leave no stone unturned in its efforts to eliminate the insurgents.

    “Our hearts are heavy as we remember the bereaved family. But we are assured in the global reach of God’s divine umbrella.

    “Only Him can console them. Only Him can heal. We pray that the Almighty God will give succour to members of the deceased’s family, his friends and associates,” he said.

    He commiserated with the leadership of CAN in particular and the Nigerian Christian community in general.

    He added that it was only patience and statesmanship that had kept Nigeria going in times like this.

    “We are all losing our loved and respected clerics, friends and family members.

    “We are all victims. Let us console ourselves and strengthen our position with prayers instead of resorting to blame game,” he said. (NAN)