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Tag: MURIC

  • Islamic scholars describe Boko Haram’s action as treason

    Islamic scholars describe Boko Haram’s action as treason

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected the declaration of Gwoza as Boko Haram’s caliphate, describing it as a “mirage”.

    Islamic scholar Sheikh Dhikrullahi Shafi’I also described the action as treasonable.

    MURIC reaffirmed its faith in the unity and indissolubility of Nigeria.

    According to MURIC Director, Prof Ishaq Akintola, “Almighty Allah says, ‘Oh you who believe, obey Allah, His Messenger and those in position of authority.’ (Qur’an 4:59). Islam therefore commands obedience to constituted authority but Boko Haram has chosen disobedience to and belligerence towards the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Whereas Boko Haram members are aware that the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar is the indisputable leader of all Nigerian Muslims, they have refused to heed all his appeals. Instead of giving honour to Muslim leaders and Emirs, Boko Haram has killed some of them and attacked some others.

    “Whereas all-encompassing education is one of the basic tenets of Islam (Qur’an 96:1-5), Boko Haram forbids Western education. Whereas Prophet Muhammad commands education for all, Boko Haram seeks to alienate women from education. “Again, whereas the Prophet honoured the girl-child and commanded his followers to do same, Boko Haram kidnaps and enslaves young and innocent girls thereby exposing them to wild life and subjecting them to unimaginable psychological trauma.”

    Akintola, who described Boko Haram’s declaration as a statement of secession, said it must not be allowed.

    Gwoza, he said, must be liberated within days.

    “Boko Haram or no Boko Haram, we cannot compromise the territorial integrity of Nigeria to anyone, no matter how barbaric. We charge the Nigerian Armed Forces to be more focused from this moment. Boko Haram must be flushed out with microscopic accuracy from all the villages occupied in Borno State. But there is a caveat: it must be done professionally so that innocent civilians do not fall victims,” he said.

    MURIC reiterated that Boko Haram’s declaration is outrageous and unacceptable in Islam.

    Akintola said: “Gwoza Caliphate is definitely not the caliphate which we desire; the caliphate of Prophet Muhammad which he established in Madinah was based on justice, love and peaceful coexistence. MURIC therefore rejects Boko Haram’s caliphate. It is a mirage. It exists only in the figment of Shekau’s imagination. Like a good surgeon who will not hesitate to amputate a rotten limb from a patient’s anatomy, MURIC urges President Jonathan to immediately don the garb of a good surgeon.”

    He assured Nigerians that Muslims want to live in peace and tranquility with their Christian neighbours and their traditionalist brothers and sisters in one and indivisible Nigeria.

    Sheikh Shafi’I the Mufti (Grand Sheikh) of Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) said the insurgents deserved death penalty once caught.

    He likened the latest statement of the sect to that of Islamic State in Iraq (ISIS) which declared an Islamic caliphate recently.

    According to him, the world Muslim scholars and bodies have also rejected ISIS because of its unIslamic declaration.

    “This is not the way to go about caliphacy; it has procedures. You do not wake up one day and declare caliphacy. Boko Haram action is about creating chaos in the polity and no right thinking scholar will support their evil action. Prophet Muhammad said whoever calls for disunity in a united environment should be killed, hence the insurgents have committed a treasonable offense that amounts to death penalty,” he said.

    Boko Haram, he said, has become a fitnah (trial) for the nation.

    Nawair-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria Lagos Missioner, Sheikh AbdulMajeed Ayinla, said the sect declaration is alien to prophetic teachings.

    “We, like other Islamic organisations disassociate ourselves from the false Islamic caliphate declared by the Boko Haram. Such declaration has no place in the history of Islam. We call on government to take decisive action to nip the criminal activities of the insurgents in the bud,” Sheikh Ayinla said.

    Chief Executive Officer, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib described the rise of Boko Haram’s criminal activities as unfortunate.

    Imam Shuaib said: “The ugly situation is getting from bad to worse and one hope it will end this way. No doubt, Boko Haram has transgressed all lawful boundaries and should be treated as criminals for their despicable actions. Their journey so far negates the teachings of Islam. Everything they stand for is evil and alien to Islam. We have a leader in the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, hence their caliphacy declaration holds no ground. We pray Boko Haram becomes history soon because they are extremists who are out to tarnish the image of Islam.”

  • Osun: Don’t set Nigeria on fire – Jakande

    Osun: Don’t set Nigeria on fire – Jakande

    The first civilian governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, has warned those in position of authority to be wary of actions that could lead to chaos in the country.

    Jakande bemoaned the “militarization of democratic process” as witnessed in Ekiti State and now in Osun, describing it as unfortunate.

    The veteran journalists said never in the history of the nation has election been so tense as the case of Osun governorship election.

    “Electorate should be allowed to freely choose their leader without molestation, inducement or harassment. The idea of deploying large number of security operatives is wrong and should not be encouraged. It discourage electorate from discharging their duty and gives room for impunity,” he said

    akande asserted that those heating the polity do not love Nigeria.

    Nigerians, he warned, should beware of desperate politicians who want to win election at all cost.

    He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to maintain its neutrality at all times, saying that allegations of connivance with particular political party is not good for the integrity of the commission.

    Meanwhile, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described as appalling, soldiers’ appear in hoods in Osun State at a time when the state is soaked in election tension.

    MURIC said, “Soldiers in hoods can be anybody – fake security officials, political thugs, Boko Haram insurgents or Niger Delta militants. Anything is possible.”

  • Gawat disappearance mysterious, says don

    Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Prof Is-haq Lakin Akintola has described the circumstances that led to the disappearance of front line Television presenter, Alhaji Rasak Aremu Gawat, as mysterious.

    Akintola, a senior lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU),  spoke a special prayer organised for Alhaji Gawat by the Muslim Media Practitioners in Nigeria (MMPN) Lagos State Chapter, at NTA Mosque, Tejuosho, Lagos.

    The popular Television presenter/Master of ceremonies was declared missing since two years ago and efforts to find him have remained unsuccessful.

    A visibly troubled Akintola, said it is sad that the whereabouts of eloquent TV presenter is still unknown.

    He said: “It is mysterious. Mysterious in the sense that it is very unusual for a human being to just disappear without any trace. This is a minor on the part of the security agency; unfortunately, no information about his whereabouts till date.”

    According to him, those who abducted Gawat did it because of his (Gawat) activities, thereby urging journalists and clerics to be conscious of what they write, say and where they say it.

    The special prayer, which lasted for hours, was graced by Muslim journalists in Lagos state. Friends of Gawat were not left out as they turned out to honour him.

    MMPN Coordinator AbdulWarith Solanke thanked the participants, saying: “We are here because of our brother, Gawat, who was declared missing two years ago. We are here to pray for him, and we believe, with prayers, everything is possible. We are also here because of ourselves. Whatever we do for Gawat today, we do it for ourselves and we will be rewarded for it.”

    Shaykh Sulayman Adangba led the prayers with recitation of selected portions from the Qur’an and supplication.

    Shaykh Sulaiman Adangba, the National Missioner of Al-Fatiu Quareeb Society of Nigeria said: “What happened to Gawat would definitely visit anyone that always says the truth. In as much as we are conscious of what we say, there is need for us to radicalise our lectures for people to understand our message.”

    Gawat’s close friend and partner, Alhaji Tajudeen Uzamot hailed MMPN for the idea, saying, “I am optimistic that my friend is not dead, and I believe that through prayers, Allah will bring him back.”

    Uzamot described Gawat as a pleasant and God fearing person.  “He is also man of the people, who loves his family dearly,” he said.

  • MURIC warns politicians: Don’t demonise Islam

    MURIC warns politicians: Don’t demonise Islam

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described as parochial and myopic a statement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in which it called the All Progressives Congress (APC) an agenda for the Islamisation of Nigeria.

    MURIC in a statement by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said that the view that APC is an Islamic agenda exists only in the figment of the imagination of dreamers who lack drive and that the PDP statement could only have been meant for “a few gullible Nigerians” as the majority of Nigerians “will not allow themselves to be hoodwinked by self-serving politicians.”

    It asked the PDP to call its spokesperson to order, stressing that religion “is a very sensitive issue in this country and no political party should attempt to turn Islam into a pawn in its political chess game.”

    It also warned that “any political party which attempts to drag the name of Islam into the murky waters of Nigerian politics will have the Muslims to contend with.

    “Instead of crying wolf where there is none, we advise PDP’s spokesman to engage in critical self-examination. PDP’s political woes are self-inflicted and they should blame none but themselves. X-rayed with microscopic accuracy, PDP will find that the raison d’etre for its current dwindling fortunes are not unconnected with complacency, executive impunity, managerial ineptitude, moral bankruptcy, poverty of integrity among its leadership, etc, etc.

    “Above all, PDP must trace its present calamity to the arrogance of its political leadership and the failure of its ruling arrowhead to honour pledges. Even the Glorious Qur’an assures that “Those who break Allah’s covenants after it has been ratified, those who put asunder what Allah has ordered to be joined and those who do mischief on earth: these are the people who cause loss unto themselves” (Qur’an 2:27).

    “Nigerian politicians must know that the promise of Allah often starts its manifestation in this world. The Qur’an also affirms that men will be held accountable for their promises (Qur’an 17:34). This accountability may have begun in present-day Nigeria for some political parties and their leaders. All three signs of the hypocrite as enumerated by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in his hadith are now manifest in Nigeria’s leaders: lying, breaking their pledges and betraying trust.”

    The group asked the PDP leadership to withdraw the statement, apologise to Nigerian Muslims in particular and all Nigerians in general and seek Allah’s forgiveness.

    It said that while Muslims have no anointed political party they “cannot afford to be partial or parochial.”

  • Emulate the nationalists, MURIC urges politicians

    THE Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on politicians to toe the line of the nation’s nationalists in piloting the affairs of the country.

    Its director Professor Ishaq Akintola, reminded Nigerians of the main purpose of Ramadan fast, namely, to refill man’s cup of piety. Akintola called their attention to signposts of piety and the effect it can have on the Nigerian body polity.

    His words: “Whereas the founders of the Nigerian nation neither amassed wealth nor did they misappropriate public funds, the leaders of today sleep on beds of gold with public funds stashed inside their pillow-cases. Whereas Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo are not known to have stolen one kobo, Nigerian politicians of today have the noun ‘thief’ and the verb ‘to steal’.

    “Today the Nigerian proletariat is overworked, underpaid and overtaxed. Workers’ take-home pay cannot take them home. The price of food items have skyrocketed. Hundreds now sleep under the bridge. Most Nigerian hospitals are sheer public mortuaries. The education sector is in crisis. Power supply remains epileptic.”

    MURIC appealed to Nigerian leaders to seize the opportunity of the Ramadan period to change their ways.

    Ramadan, he said, offers the opportunity for sober reflections.

    “This is the time for leaders to adopt altruism. Nigeria’s proverbial milk and honey belongs to the working class and to those who have toiled for this nation, namely, the retirees. It is also the period for the citizenry to look inwards and show remorse. Nigerian must change their mindset. We must rise up again to promote those values that are capable of turning our country around: Honesty, transparency, accountability, diligence, tolerance, forgiveness and love,” he said.