OfficialMURIC:
Sequel to the clamour for restructuring Nigeria, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has reminded the Federal Government and the general public of the six reliefs it enumerated and demanded for Nigerian Muslims since October, 2017.

The six reliefs were revisited in a press statement issued by the Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Tuesday, 5th October, 2020, exactly three years later.

The statement reads:

“We demanded six reliefs on behalf of Nigerian Muslims exactly three years ago. The reliefs were contained in a press release issued by MURIC on 9th October, 2017. We are aware that the present government is not positively disposed to restructuring and it has declared its determination to avoid it. Nonetheless, we have decided to represent demands which are of special interest to Muslims for the records.

“Let us make it abundantly clear ab initio that MURIC has zero tolerance for separatist and secessionist proclivities. We therefore reiterate our rejection of demands for Biafra, Oduduwa Republic and all other parochial, selfish and unpatriotic agitations.

“It is equally important at this juncture to state that this press statement is designed to remind those who are agitating for the balkanization of Nigeria and restructuring that they are not the only ones who have grudges in this union. Just as there is no perfect marriage, there is no nation in the world without its headaches. In the same vein, just as couples manage their imperfections and try to understand their differences in order to avoid broken homes, so do stakeholders in nation-building sink their group interests for national cohesion.

“We reproduce below our press statement dated 9th October, 2017 and captioned ‘Restructuring Nigeria: Muslims seek Six Reliefs’ (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/245569-restructuring-islamic-group-muric-seeks-six-reliefs-nigerian-muslims.html). It should be noted that none of the six demands has been addressed hitherto:

“The Federal Government appears set for restructuring particularly with the setting up of a committee on this crucial matter by the ruling party, the All Peoples’ Congress (APC). Restructuring became popular after the South East, South South and a section of the South West complained about marginalization. Several politicians from both the opposition and the ruling party have since spoken in support of this clamour.

“However, we of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) dissociate ourselves from all agitations for secession. We condemn all irredentist movements rearing their ugly heads in Southern Nigeria, particularly the agitation for the creation of Oduduwa Republic. We affirm clearly, unambiguously and unequivocally, that Muslim leaders in Yorubaland were not carried along before those demands were tabled. Nonetheless, just as some ethnic groups have complained of disaffections, we contend that Nigerian Muslims also nurse serious grudges bordering on marginalization against the Nigerian state.

“We must start from the lanes of history because today was born from the wombs of yesterday. Islam has been in Nigeria since the 11th century and the British met Islam on ground when they arrived in the 19th century (800 years later). The British did not deem it fit to observe the rules of natural justice when they colonized the country as all Islamic landmarks were eliminated and supplanted with a wholly Christian system.

“This injustice may have been at the root of frequent religious crisis in Nigeria because successive governments after independence refused to listen to the agitations of Muslims for a review of the status quo. The issues being raised by Muslims are listed in the following paragraphs so that the authorities may address them when restructuring eventually begins.

One: Nigerians enjoy a total of eight ( public holidays in a year. These are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy. Five (5) of the eight holidays belong to Christians (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 1st January, i.e, New Year Day, Good Friday and Easter Monday). Only three (3) holidays belong to Muslims, viz, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy.

“Restructuring should give Muslims 1st Muharram. This will bring the total number of Muslim holidays to four while Christian holidays remain five.

“Two: Christian marriages contracted inside churches or registries are held sacrosanct everywhere in Nigeria whereas Muslim marriages (nikah) are not recognized for any official purpose. Muslim couples find themselves in a cul de sac each time they presented their Islamic marriage certificates for official purposes. It is paradoxical that in a democracy, one marriage conducted by a religious group is acceptable while the other is not. What kind of constitution is Nigeria using?

“Islamic marriages should be recognized in all official circles where Christian marriages are recognized. The Nigerian Marriage Act (1990) should therefore be revisited.

“Three: Nigeria has a two-day weekend, viz, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was a half day during the colonial era and Sunday was the only full day at the weekend. However, Saturday was made a full day to favour the Seventh Day Adventists, a Christian denomination during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, a Christian military ruler. It is very clear, therefore, that the two weekend days recognized in Nigeria belong to Christians while Muslims have none since Friday, the Muslim day of worship, remains a working day.

“It is pertinent to note that Friday was a work-free day until the British brought Christianity and stopped Muslims from enjoying their Allah-given fundamental human right. The relief we are seeking through restructuring is that Friday should be declared free to assume parity with the Christians’ Sunday. While we are not seeking anarchy, we are confident that the Federal Government (FG) has all the paraphernalia of administration to work out the modalities.

Four: Immigration officials engage in regular stereotyping of Muslims who apply for international passports. They intimidate Muslims particularly at the point of taking pictures. Muslim males are ordered to remove their caps; Imams are coerced into removing their turbans; bearded Muslims are compelled to shave or trim their beards; hijab-wearing Muslim women are made to remove their hijabs or ordered to draw their hijab backwards to reveal their ears. The same scenario plays itself out in driving licence, national identity card offices and during registration for elections.

“In the process, thousands of Muslims have been denied international passports, driving licences and national identity cards while millions have been disenfranchised during elections. The authorities must find a way of stopping the persecution and profiling of Muslims.

“Five: Uniformed groups in Nigeria, including the army, police, uniformed voluntary groups, nurses, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), students of primary and secondary schools, etc, use uniforms designed by the Christian colonialists. These uniforms should have been reviewed after independence because they only suit the Christians. Some of them constitute breaches to Islamic dress code and offend the sensibility of Muslims who are compelled to wear the uniforms regardless of their inner feeling of resentment.

“In view of the fact that Western countries like Britain, Canada and the United States have designed uniforms with hijab for their female Muslim police, soldiers, students, etc, Nigeria’s restructuring authorities should borrow a leaf from those countries.

“Six: There is no single Shari’ah court in South Western Nigeria where Muslims constitute the majority. This is contrary to what obtained in Yorubaland before the advent of the British. There were Shariah courts in Ede, Iwo, Ikirun, Ibadan, etc. Yoruba Muslims are now compelled to take their civil matters like inheritance, marriage, etc to Christo-Western courts. This is preposterous and unacceptable

“We demand the establishment of Shariah courts in all South Western states including Edo State where there is a significant percentage of Muslims.

“We call the attention of FG and the restructuring committee of the APC to the above six reliefs. Muslims are in bondage in this country and we believe that restructuring should emancipate people in captivity. APC promised change. This change can only be meaningful to us if it breaks the shackles around our necks. We have begged enough for the restoration of our Allah-given and fundamental human rights. We are tired of begging. Restructuring is about reapportioning the dividends of democracy such that it goes round and it is not restricted to one section.

Colonial administration was grossly unfair to Muslims. Nigeria was Christianised by Britain and Muslims bore the brunt. We suffered forceful conversion, denial of rightful employment and even worse forms of persecution. But what is most disappointing is the policy of exclusion adopted by post-independence governments.

“On a final note, we demand full integration and full recognition as bona fide citizens of Nigeria, not second or third class citizens. We are the aggrieved party. The British most brutally and most unjustly took all we had from us, giving us nothing in return and offering no relief. It has continued to give us a feeling of rejection, marginalization, denial of the dividends of democracy and lack of a sense of belonging. The time for redress is now and our six-point relief is here for all to digest.


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

http://muslimrightsmuric..com/2020/10/restructuring-muslims-seek-six-reliefs.html?m=1

[s] One: Nigerians enjoy a total of eight (cool public holidays in a year. These are Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy. Five (5) of the eight holidays belong to Christians (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 1st January, i.e, New Year Day, Good Friday and Easter Monday). Only three (3) holidays belong to Muslims, viz, Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr and Maulud an-Nabiyy.

“Restructuring should give Muslims 1st Muharram. This will bring the total number of Muslim holidays to four while Christian holidays remain five. [/s]

“Two: Christian marriages contracted inside churches or registries are held sacrosanct everywhere in Nigeria whereas Muslim marriages (nikah) are not recognized for any official purpose. Muslim couples find themselves in a cul de sac each time they presented their Islamic marriage certificates for official purposes. It is paradoxical that in a democracy, one marriage conducted by a religious group is acceptable while the other is not. What kind of constitution is Nigeria using?

“Islamic marriages should be recognized in all official circles where Christian marriages are recognized. The Nigerian Marriage Act (1990) should therefore be revisited.

“Three: Nigeria has a two-day weekend, viz, Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was a half day during the colonial era and Sunday was the only full day at the weekend. However, Saturday was made a full day to favour the Seventh Day Adventists, a Christian denomination during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, a Christian military ruler. It is very clear, therefore, that the two weekend days recognized in Nigeria belong to Christians while Muslims have none since Friday, the Muslim day of worship, remains a working day.

“It is pertinent to note that Friday was a work-free day until the British brought Christianity and stopped Muslims from enjoying their Allah-given fundamental human right. The relief we are seeking through restructuring is that Friday should be declared free to assume parity with the Christians’ Sunday. While we are not seeking anarchy, we are confident that the Federal Government (FG) has all the paraphernalia of administration to work out the modalities.

[s] Four: Immigration officials engage in regular stereotyping of Muslims who apply for international passports. They intimidate Muslims particularly at the point of taking pictures. Muslim males are ordered to remove their caps; Imams are coerced into removing their turbans; bearded Muslims are compelled to shave or trim their beards; hijab-wearing Muslim women are made to remove their hijabs or ordered to draw their hijab backwards to reveal their ears. The same scenario plays itself out in driving licence, national identity card offices and during registration for elections.

“In the process, thousands of Muslims have been denied international passports, driving licences and national identity cards while millions have been disenfranchised during elections. The authorities must find a way of stopping the persecution and profiling of Muslims. [/s]

[s] “Five: Uniformed groups in Nigeria, including the army, police, uniformed voluntary groups, nurses, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), students of primary and secondary schools, etc, use uniforms designed by the Christian colonialists. These uniforms should have been reviewed after independence because they only suit the Christians. Some of them constitute breaches to Islamic dress code and offend the sensibility of Muslims who are compelled to wear the uniforms regardless of their inner feeling of resentment.

“In view of the fact that Western countries like Britain, Canada and the United States have designed uniforms with hijab for their female Muslim police, soldiers, students, etc, Nigeria’s restructuring authorities should borrow a leaf from those countries. [/s]

[s] “Six: There is no single Shari’ah court in South Western Nigeria where Muslims constitute the majority. This is contrary to what obtained in Yorubaland before the advent of the British. There were Shariah courts in Ede, Iwo, Ikirun, Ibadan, etc. Yoruba Muslims are now compelled to take their civil matters like inheritance, marriage, etc to Christo-Western courts. This is preposterous and unacceptable [/s]

OfficialMURIC:
The problem remains what it always has been: oppression of Muslims by the Christians, and can only be resolved when the above issues are settled.

But after more than a century of trying to use force to forge a united country, now may be the time to try doing so through our consent. 

Until the government decides whether it agrees with our demands or not, the rows are bound to continue.

Seerade029:
You're saying rubbish, absolutely rubbish.Jan 1st is not a Christian holiday, it's a General holiday. And Osun state do give you guys holiday for your new year.Stop saying nonsense.
.....

Seerade029:


You're saying rubbish, absolutely rubbish.

Jan 1st is not a Christian holiday, it's a General holiday.

And Osun state do give you guys holiday for your new year.
Stop saying nonsense.

And we will never accept sharia court in SW.

How do you conclude that Muslims are majority in SW?

Ekiti, Ondo, Ogun are Christian majority.
Osun, Oyo are probably 50/50

Lagos indigenous are Muslims.
But Lagos is a mixed state with indigenes and none indigenes.
So Lagos is majority Christians.

Osaze007:


I laugh at the Yoruba Muslims who live under the illusion they are majority that there are lots of Yoruba Muslim politician is a sign of tolerance among yoruba Christians

Yoruba still remain a majority Christian group and nothing any MUMURIC can do about it
Unless he wants the Christian to impose theocratic law
Tieing western laws as Christain laws is incredibly mischievous
Lagos
Ogun
Ondo
Ekiti
Kogi yoruba are majority Christian
Oyo and osun is 50/50 or 60/40 Muslim and Christian
While kwara is majorly Muslim
May the Islamic element that made Yoruba lose Ilorin not end the great yoruba civilization

OfficialMURIC:
The problem remains what it always has been: oppression of Muslims by the Christians, and can only be resolved when the above issues are settled.

But after more than a century of trying to use force to forge a united country, now may be the time to try doing so through our consent.Until the government decides whether it agrees with our demands or not, the rows are bound to continue.

Racoon:

This Ishaq Akintola is on a mission.He is being sponsored by some powerful people in this failed nation Imagine, not even the Buhari govt, Sultan, NSCIA, League of Imam and Alfas, NASFAT or any prominent Islamic organisation have condemned all these his reckless vertuperations.

Seerade029:


Like seriously.
The Yorubas who are both Christians and Muslims and traditional are very versed in Law.
We have the best lawyers in Nigeria.

If the sharia law is introduced to SW, it will forced the Christians to introduce Mosaic laws, and the tradionals will also introduce their own laws.

Even if they later resolve it, that only Muslim towns should have it, Christians too will say only Christians towns should have there's.
While there are some towns that are 50/50 in religion.
This Muric people just wanna cos division and bring an end to Yoruba race.

Seerade029:
I'm beginning to feel like that.They want to use religion to enter our land.To use it to cause divisions and disunity

Racoon:

This Ishaq Akintola is on a mission.He is being sponsored by some powerful people in this failed nation Imagine, not even the Buhari govt, Sultan, NSCIA, League of Imam and Alfas, NASFAT or any prominent Islamic organisation have condemned all these his reckless vertuperations.

Osaze007:
At this point yoruba land might go the Indian way.Let Muslim majority state form their own country

We all know the Christain part will be the prosperous part and will be a bastion of freedom while the Muslims will be sending their kids to a yeye ile kewu.The silence from nasfat and co is making me suspicious too

Osaze007:


Yup the irony is they will be the one yo lose out cause they should be rest assured the Muslim dominance of Lagos politics will come to a quick end
There will be forever 4 Christian governors in SW states of Lagos Ogun Oyo and Ekiti
I don’t know about Oyo ans Osun
This thing muric wants to bring will end up consuming Muslims
I agree to the Friday work free day and marriage certificate but you see that sharia thing it’s not happening
Not even in my edo state
MURIC has 0 contribution
Unlike their Christian counterparts who are busy building schools creating employment
Muric is attacking those institutions and refusing to create its own
Muric will eventually start something it can’t control like Afonja
May the house of Oduduwa never fall o

Seerade029:


Amen.
Muric is starting what it can't control.
We all know what happened in Osun state the other time.
Aregbesola was unable to control it.
Like I said, both Yorubas who are Christians and Muslims knows the law. They will use law against each other if it escalates.

Osaze007:
As expected nothing related to development

EVILFOREST:

That's the USELESS ENTITY we have found ourselves.
When people say RELIGION kills more than CANCER, some bereft of Ideas wouldn't understand.

Osaze007:
Mr muric since you want to start religious identity what are we doing to do about Lagos state house of assemble where 28/40 of its members are Muslims despite Lagos being a Christian majority state
How can 70% belong to one religion ? When the religion is the minority in Lagos
Should we enter Lagos state civil service another one dominated by Muslims ?

https://www.lagoshouseofassembly.gov.ng/meet-our-members/

Biodun556:


Lagos is not a Christian majority state. Majority of the indigens are muslims.

Osaze007:


That is a fat lie most of the indigenes on island and that senatorial axis are Muslims while east area esp near Ogun are Christian Lagos central is mixed
Besides the yorubas in Lagos are majorly from Ogun /ondo and oyo 2 of which are majorly christains
And the majority of Yorubas non indigenes of Lagos outnumber the indigenes

And even if you claim is true 7 out of 10 Yoruba Lagosians are def not Muslim that I know for sure

Biodun556:


Get your facts right and make more research