MSSN OASOS
PROFESSOR IS-HAQ AKINTOLA
ISHAQ AKINTOLA: Professor of Islamic Eschatology,
Muslim Activist, Human Rights Activist, Social
Commentator, Advocate of Dialogue. MY PHILOSOPHY: I
remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked
clothed,the sick healed and the homeless sheltered...
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Wednesday, August 26, 2015
WAEC EXAMINATION TIMETABLE IS AN INVITATION TO
CHAOS
26th August, 2015
PRESS RELEASE:
WAEC EXAMINATION TIMETABLE IS AN
INVITATION TO CHAOS
The timetable of the November/December General
Certificate Examination (GCE) of the West African
Examinations Council (WAEC) which is expected to begin
next week shows that some of the subjects will be taken
between 1 pm and 3 pm on Fridays.
The implication of this is that Muslim candidates are
likely to miss some of their papers unless they choose
to skip the Jum’ah services on those days. This is
tantamount to denial of Allah-given fundamental rights
of those candidates. It is a flagrant breach of Section 38
(i) & (ii) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) rejects this anti-
Muslim timetable released by WAEC. It is malicious,
baseless, illegal, and unconstitutional. It is also most
insensitive, parochial and provocative. This timetable is
designed to cause chaos.
We invite the Nigerian authorities to visit WAEC’s
website ( registration.waecdirect.org ) and click on the
timetable link to confirm our allegation. WAEC has fixed
its examinations between 1 pm and 3 pm of every Friday
from 11th September to 2nd October as shown below:
1. Friday 11th September, 2015: Forestry 2 (Essay) 13hrs
to 15 hrs
2. Friday 18th September 2015: Government2 (Essay) 13
hrs to 15 hrs
3. Friday 25th September, 2015: Further Mathematics 14
hrs to 15.30 hrs
4. Friday 2nd October, 2015: Applied Electricity2 13 hrs to
14 hrs
5. Friday 2nd October, 2015: Applied Electricity1 14 hrs to
15 hrs
We remind WAEC that Jum’ah service every Friday is not
a design of homo sapien. It has divine and scriptural
basis in Qur’an 62:9-11.
Any attempt therefore to circumspect it by any means
constitutes a challenge to divine authority. This is
bound to be counter-productive with its dire
consequences for our country particularly at this crucial
period when Nigeria needs prayers to survive.
We assert that WAEC’s sectional timetable is not likely to
affect candidates alone as all service providers who
happen to be Muslims are bound to be affected. We
wonder why no examination subjects were fixed for
Sundays if indeed WAEC is under any stress for time.
This development has again underlined the justification
for Muslims’ agitation for a workfree Friday.
It further exposes the social imbalance in the Nigerian
system today. Everything is in favour of Christians
because the colonial master was a Christian and he
bequeathed a legacy of a pro-Christian and anti-Muslim
culture to Nigerians on the eve of his departure in 1960.
Justice demands that this system should have been
reviewed long ago, at least to integrate Nigerian Muslims
and give them a sense of belonging.
MURIC charges the Federal Government (FG) to do the
needful. Nigerian Muslims have become endangered
species hounded from pillar to post. There is no freedom
of worship for them. Their rights are violated at will and
nobody says or does anything about it. Muslim victims
are called names and stereotyped when they try to
resist. All these must stop if indeed we are serious about
the change mantra.
FG should call WAEC to order. By the way, what is the
role of the Federal Ministry of Education in matters such
as this? Is it not expected to protect candidates from
this kind of abuse? Didn’t the ministry have any input
into WAEC’s timetable? Or did somebody somewhere fail
to perform his/her duty?
We appeal to members of the National Assembly (NASS)
to wade into the matter. WAEC must be invited to explain
the raison d’etre for this Islam-bashing timetable. NASS
is the voice of the voiceless and it should stand up to
be counted on a matter which is capable of causing
social pandemonium.
MURIC is a dialogue-loving human rights organization.
Therefore we will not issue threats. It is hoped that FG
and indeed WAEC will take this statement as an offer of
dialogue.
MURIC will not be held responsible if aggrieved
candidates, their parents and sympathizers hold peaceful
protests in WAEC offices should WAEC go ahead with
this abominable, archaic and contemptuous timetable
which is designed to compel Muslim candidates to sit
for examination during Jum’ah service.
MURIC will not stand akimbo while Nigerian Muslims are
being humiliated and treated with contempt. We are all
equal partners in the Nigerian project and we will
employ every available constitutional means to resist the
intimidation of Muslims in this country.
Unless it is a deliberate assault on the collective body of
the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, WAEC is seriously advised
to review the timetable before the commencement of
examinations. A stitch in time saves nine.
In the meantime MURIC appeals to Muslims nationwide
to eschew violence, to remain law abiding and to
patiently await FG’s reaction to this highly combustible
issue.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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