Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)

By

Dr. Is-haq Akintola

DIRECTOR 

Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence)

Zone ‘E’, GRA, Iba Estate, Ojo, Lagos. Tel. 0803-346-4974 31st March, 2004 (20th Safar 1426 A.H.)

OBASANJO'S CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE

Down memory lane: in 1976 President Obasanjo as military head of state made lopsided appointments with overwhelming Christian majority into the Constituent Assembly. This was after late General Muritala's 50-man Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) had recommended the establishment of a Federal Court of Appeal and a Shari'ah Court of Appeal. Muritala died before these could be implemented. OBJ approved the establishment of the Federal Court of Appeal but threw the issue of the proposed Shari'ah Court of Appeal to his newly formed Constitution Assembly for debate and appointed more Christians than Muslims to discuss it. Smart, isn't it? The result was that the Christian majority rejected the proposed Shari'ah court of Appeal. Consequently, about eighty three Muslim delegates staged a walk-out in protest against the lopsidedness.

Now OBJ is back with his old game. It is all too clear to discerning minds. He had admitted that Shari'ah is in the constitution (See Post Express, 4th December, 1999, pp. 1-2; National Interest, 7th April, 2002, p.1). That was way back in year 1999. Nigerian Christians have not forgiven him for that. But OBJ still has a magic wand: the 'OBJ-Christian-majority-abracadabra'. The on-going conference is a tabula rasa for the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). In the script, the conference is to emerge with the Shari'ah expunged from the constitution. The steering of the conference has been squarely placed in the hands of Christians to the disadvantage of Muslims. Both the Chairman and the Secretary are Christians. OBJ gave Christians 233 seats. Muslims have 160 only. When Muslims protested, OBJ appointed a Muslim as Co-secretary. But he did nothing about the under-representation of Muslims.

We condemn this disrespect for the faith of more than half of Nigeria's population. Appointments in a country like Nigeria are expected to take cognisance of ethnicity and religion. Most of the crises which have taken heavy tolls in this country have been caused by either factor. No objective appointment made anywhere should therefore ignore these sensitive correlates. Available data proves that our leaders are the cause of most riots and President Obasanjo's approach is most alarming. We reject claims that OBJ mobilized support for the launching of Abuja Mosque. What has that got to do with official marginalization bordering on religious cleansing? Of what use is Abuja Mosque if Muslims are relegated to underdogs fit only for crumbs from Baba Iyabo's table? Away with sentiments!

In year 2003 OBJ made about 100 appointments from the South. None of them was a Muslim! As usual, OBJ gave the Muslims one minister after they protested. Of the twenty delegates appointed into this on-going conference by the President from the South-West, none is a Muslim. When the Muslims protested, he made one of their delegates a co-secretary. Haba! It is all too glaring. There appears to be a calculated scheme to subject Muslims in this country to perpetual serfdom.

Look at the governors in the South-West. They took a cue from their master. Oyinlola gave Muslims only three commissioners out of eleven. Oyinlola himself, his deputy and his chief of staff are all Christians. Yet the Muslims are in a majority in Oshun State. The same applies to Ekiti and Ondo states. Can anybody blame the Muslims if they start playing religious politics in future by refusing to vote for non-Muslim candidates? Why can't our leaders live above marginalization in any form?

We are constrained to believe that OBJ is determined to build a 'strong' Nigeria without any input from the Muslims. He has robbed us of the all-important sense of belonging. After subjecting them to Presidential impoverishment, the pauperized Muslims can all pack their bags and baggages inside stinking nylon bags and go to Gadafi's Libyan Jamahiriyyah for all he cares.

We call the attention of the international community to the religious cleansing that is going on in Nigeria. Where are the human rights groups and the rest of the civil society? We demand a hearing. We demand attention from rights activists and civil crusaders. Copies of this will reach their offices. We ask them to tell us if Muslims do not deserve human rights. They have never defended Muslims. We demand that they speak today. If they choose to be silent as usual in the face of the persecution of Muslims, then they would have aided Muslims in redefining their true nomenclature. Is it human rights or Christian rights? That is the question.

MURIC demands redress from Obasanjo. The President must find a way of leveling up. We reject this slave-master relationship between Muslims and Christians which Obasanjo wants to force on the nation. This oppression must stop. However, we assert clearly and unequivocally that we have no quarrel with ordinary Christians, not even with CAN. MURIC's philosophy is anti-violence and anti-terrorism. But we will use every constitutional means at our disposal to protect and promote the Allah-given and fundamental human rights of every Muslim. Every religion must be given equal treatment. That is the way to avoid violent upheavals, bitterness and ill-feeling. Both Christianity and Islam teach love, tolerance and peaceful co-existence. But the official policies of our leaders often bring confusion. Obasanjo must change all these if he wants Muslims to continue to respect him. Respect begets respect. Period.

Dr. Is-haq Akintola

DIRECTOR                  

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