TheNewsGuru

Tag: MURIC

  • Muric accuses Lagos of ‘Christianizing’ school entrance exams

    Muric accuses Lagos of ‘Christianizing’ school entrance exams

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has lamented the insertion of Bible knowledge questions in the 2022 entrance examination for Lagos State public schools.

    This accusation was brought forward by the director of the Islamic body, Prof. Ishaq Akintola via statement signed and issued by him on Tuesday.

    He said the development gave Christian candidates an edge over their Muslim counterparts and put Muslim candidates at disadvantage as they are certain to miss those questions, even as they were also made compulsory.

    “Our office has been inundated by reports of strange questions in a general paper set for the Lagos State Primary Six Placement Test into JSS 1 in Lagos secondary schools held on Saturday, 23rd July, 2022. The reference number on the question paper was LSA/PT/2022.

    “Although the paper was captioned English Studies/Verbal Reasoning/General Paper, questions 12 and 14 were from the Bible and only Christian candidates could have made head or tail of them. These two questions were designed for Muslims to fail,” Akintola said.

    According to him, the questions were designed to upset Muslim students and make them lose confidence in themselves thereby leading to confusion, frustration and ultimate failure.

    “The caption of that paper should have been ‘Common Entrance in Lagos State…Muslims Come and Fail’. Question number 12 which is an objective, says, ‘Paul was born in a city called …Tarsus…Jerusalem…Jordan…Bethel. Candidates were expected to pick one of the four options. But how on earth is a Muslim candidate expected to know what to pick?

    “Ditto for question number 14 which reads ‘The English Bible was translated into Yoruba language by …Pastor Joseph Ayo Babalola…Bishop Benson Idahosa…Pastor Enoch Adeboye … Bishop Ajayi Crowther.

    “This is parochial, provocative and unacceptable. This is another proof of the Christianisation of the education sector in Lagos State. How can anyone defend this? It is scandalous. Who set these obnoxious questions? Who proofread and supervised the examination? Who approved the questions? Heads must roll,” Akintola said.

    He lamented that this was not unexpected especially that all the six tutor generals in the state are Christians and the state government refused to listen to appeals from Muslims to stop its exclusivism.

    He said, “We had three Christians and three Muslims in the days of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Raji Fashola. Muslims were removed under Ambode and the incumbent has refused to listen to complaints from the Muslim Community.

    “The Muslim candidates have been put on a tight rope because the instruction on top of the question paper says ‘Attempt all questions.’ This means that anyone who jumps those two biblical questions does so at his or her own risk.”

    He also said that Lagos Muslims pay tax like their Christian counterparts, wondering why they are being “relegated as third-class citizens”.

  • Bishops at Shettima’s unveiling are genuine – MURIC replies CAN

    Bishops at Shettima’s unveiling are genuine – MURIC replies CAN

    Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared that all the Christian clerics who attended the unveiling of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Vice Presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola stated on Friday in reaction to the dissociation by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

    Akintola posited that many Christian  Bishops attended Shettima’s unveiling despite CAN’s disposition towards the Muslim-Muslim ticket.

    MURIC accused the Christian leadership of shying away from reality and living in self-denial.

    “Going by the findings, it is now very clear that leaders of CAN have distanced themselves from reality,” it said.

    “How low can a religious body descend? What does CAN stand to gain by deceiving its followers?

    MURIC also listed some of those it maintained are genuine clergymen that graced the APC event.

    Akintola said Bishop Kamoru is “a real cleric from Peace Chapel, Mararaba”, in Nasarawa State.

    “A picture has emerged where he was seen conducting a wedding in the church. Some members have come up to say that they knew him personally.

    “Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, of Gboko Catholic Diocese, Benue State, is also the APC Governorship candidate.

    “Pastor Prince Ugokwe, also confirmed that he is a real pastor and not fake”, the Islamic group added.

    MURIC noted that CAN “is not to be trusted” for CAN disowning “but knowledgeable bishops and pastors”.

    “This shows that a caucus within the leadership of CAN has unleashed tyranny of the oligarchy on Christendom in Nigeria”, the statement added.

    Ugo Ugokwe, an APC member and one of the clerics, responded to critics in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

     

  • Muslim-Muslim Ticket: We warn CAN to leave Tinubu alone – MURIC

    Muslim-Muslim Ticket: We warn CAN to leave Tinubu alone – MURIC

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has frowned at the position taken by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN over the Muslim-Muslim ticket the ruling All Progressive Congress is flying for next year’s general elections.

    The Islamic human rights organization has accused the Christian body of heating the polity with its comment on Tinubu’s choice of former Borno State Governor, Senator Kashim Shettima as running mate.

    “Nigerians should not allow themselves to be deceived by CAN’s spiritual banditry. We warn CAN leave Tinubu alone.”

    This development was contained in a statement signed and issued on Tuesday by MURIC’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola in Lagos.

    The statement reads in part: “Tinubu is under CAN’s hammer for picking a Muslim, Senator Kashim Shettima, as his vice-presidential candidate and Rev. John Hayab of Kaduna State chapter of the organization is the ax man for CAN,” MURIC said.

    The group accused CAN of never being satisfied with a Muslim president

    “CAN is simply hungry for power. We know CAN. The group has been canvassing for a Christian running mate, not for the benefit of Nigerians but for parochial ends.

    “The idea is to milk the Christian vice presidential candidate if his party wins in the end by claiming that the Christian umbrella body fought for him. It is for political influence, contracts, and power. We advise CAN to form its political party.

    “It is not written in the constitution that a candidate must not pick a running mate from his religious group.

    “Nigerians should not allow themselves to be deceived by CAN’s spiritual banditry. We warn CAN leave Tinubu alone.”

  • NECO replies MURIC on Eid-el-Kabir day examination

    NECO replies MURIC on Eid-el-Kabir day examination

    The National Examinations Council (NECO) says it has not scheduled any examination for July 9, contrary to insinuations in some quarters that it scheduled examination date on Eid-el-Kabir (Sallah) day.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) had appealed to NECO to postpone any exams scheduled for Saturday, July 9, as it clashed with the first day of eid-el-Adha (Sallah).

    However, in a swift reaction, the council in a statement by the Head Information and Public Relations Division, Mr Azeez Sani on Monda, doused the fears.

    Sani said the council was conscious of the importance of religious festivals and had as such, always made adequate provision for such in fixing examination dates.

    “The council has given a whole examination free week, beginning from July 8, to July 13, in the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for school-based candidates.

    “This is to enable Muslim faithful to have enough time to celebrate the festival,” he said.

    Recall that the 2022 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for School based Candidates began on June 27, and will end on Aug.12.

  • MURIC calls on NECO to postpone exam fixed for Salah day

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has appealed to National Examinations Council (NECO) to postpone the exam scheduled for Saturday, July 9, as it clashed with the first day of eid-el-Adha (Sallah).

    This appeal was made by the MURIC director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola through a statement he released on Sunday.

    NECO has scheduled Data Processing (Practical) from 10am to 1pm this Saturday.

    Akintola admitted that the Islamic group believes NECO did not intentionally fix the examination that day.

    “We are fully aware that the clash was not deliberate as NECO had actually demonstrated goodwill by setting aside a whole week for Salah celebrations (Monday, 11th July to Friday 15th July) and this reflected in its timetable,” the statement read.

    He added, “We, therefore, appeal to the NECO authorities to kindly shift the examination of that day alone (Saturday 9th July, 2022) to another date in order to enable its teeming Muslim candidates sit for their examinations.

    “The paper which was originally fixed for Salah day may be taken on Thursday 14th July, 2022 which is one of the days set aside by NECO for the Salah holiday. MURIC wishes NECO authorities and staff as well as all Nigerians a happy Salah.”

  • 2023: MURIC warns Atiku against picking Wike as running mate

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has issued out warnings to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer Alhaji Atiku Abubakar,against picking Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike as his running mate ahead of forthcoming general election.

    MURIC has accused Wike of being a Christian bigot who had been blacklisted by Nigerian Muslims over his anti-Islamic activities and rants.

    MURIC made its views known via  a statement signed and circulated by its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

    The group said it had come to its knowledge that Wike is among those being considered by the PDP and Atiku as a possible vice presidential candidate and deemed it necessary to warn the party and its flagbearer against such a move.

    “Wike is an open enemy of Islam, a Muslim-hater primus inter pareil and an unrepentant mosque destroyer,” the statement alleged.

    “The extremist remarks of Wike are still on record. He declared Rivers State a Christian State contrary to the constitution,” the group’s statement reads in part.

    The Islamic rights group expressed the fears that the Rivers State Governor may create a worse situation and an unconducive environment for Muslims in Nigeria if he becomes a vice president of the country.

    According to the MURIC, “Wike should not be allowed to hold any post at the federal level.”

    The group claimed that “Wike hates the sight of mosques” and is ready to use his office as the number two citizen of the country to destroy all mosques in Nigeria.

    MURIC said that the Governor “is intolerant, unpredictable and violence-inclined” and does not have the trust of Muslims in Nigeria.

    The rights group believes that Wike, who came second in the PDP’s presidential primary election, “will definitely be a bad market for Atiku.”

    MURIC said that Wike does not have electoral value at the national level and for that reason should be overlooked by the main opposition party.

    “We, therefore, advise Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to avoid Wike by all means,” MURIC said.

  • APC 2023: MURIC advises Tinubu on Muslim-Muslim ticket

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has advised Tinubu to consult with the Northern Governors before choosing a running mate for the 2023 presidential election.

    The Islamic group explained that ‘Noble Dozen’ is the name it gave to the twelve Northern governors who insisted that the South should be given the opportunity to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.

    MURIC made the suggestion in a statement signed by its director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, on Saturday.

    “We will like to advise that apart from ensuring that the position of vice president in 2023 goes to the North, Senator Tinubu should consult the ‘Noble Dozen’,” the group said.

    “Those we refer to as the Noble Dozen are those twelve (12) sincere Northern governors who disabused the minds of Nigerians concerning the myth of Northern hegemony and a nonexistent caliphate oligarchy by insisting that APC’s presidential candidate must come from the South. This was a great sacrifice and a noble idea.

    “They demonstrated statesmanship, patriotism and nobility of thought by that action

    Tinubu will slug it out with Atiku Abubakar of People’s Democratic Party and Peter Obi of Labour Party at the 2023 general elections.

  • MURIC reacts to killing of pregnant Hausa woman,kids in Anambra

    An Islamic group known as  Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has reacted to the killing of an Hausa woman, identified as Fatima, along with her four children in Anambra State.

    Recall that pregnant Fatima and her little kids were killed in cold blood on Sunday, 22nd May, 2022 by yet-to-be-identified men.

    The condemnation by MURIC was contained in a statement released on Wednesday by the group’s director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

     

    MURIC said, “We strongly condemn this killing. It is brutish, horrendous and barbaric. No family deserves to be wiped out in this manner.

    “We call on the security agencies to smoke out the killers and bring them to justice. At the same time, we ask all men of conscience to speak up and condemn this killing.

    “In particular, we ask the British Embassy in Nigeria and other Western sources to condemn this ugly incident with the same vehemence that they condemned other killings.

    “In the same vein, we charge all social critics who have condemned other killings to speak up against this latest brutality.

    “We call for fairness in comments on developments in Nigeria. Selective condemnation of evil cannot bring peace either to Nigeria or to the world at large.

    “In the meantime we appeal to Northerners not to retaliate. Vengeance will only ignite a cycle of violence. Nigeria needs peace at this crucial time. Therefore, nobody should embark on reprisal killing. It will only compound the problem.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Deborah Samuel: MURIC reacts to the lynching of female student

    Deborah Samuel: MURIC reacts to the lynching of female student

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has reacted to the lynching of Deborah Samuel a part two student of Shehu Shagari College of Education Sokoto state. TheNewsGuru.com can confirm

    The muslim group has condemned the killing of Deborah over the allegation of insulting prophet Muhammed (SAW)

    In a statement on Friday, Professor Ishaq Akintola, Director of MURIC, described the killing as outrageous, illegal and unlawful.

    He said those aggrieved by the student’s post should have reported her to the security agencies.

    Akintola said mob killing is archaic, bohemian, belongs to the Stone Age and that nobody has the right to take the law into his hands.

    “The Glorious Qur’an compares the killing of a single person to the killing of the whole of humanity just as it compares the saving of a life to the rescue of all homo sapiens (Qur’an 5:32).

    “In like manner, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) himself condemned all acts of violence and advocated peaceful conduct at all times,” he said.

    However, the group stressed the killing shouldn’t be condemned in Isolation

    MURIC stated that a recent trend whereby Nigerians now freely shed their brothers’ blood should be condemned by all patriots.

    “We frown at the recent burning last week of a truck fully loaded with cows in the South East as well as the killing of many Muslims of South East origin by their Igbo brothers in the same South East.”

    MURIC urged the Sokoto State Police Command to do everything within its power to get to the bottom of Deborah’s murder.

    The organization appeal to Nigerians to desist from insulting, deriding or abusing the prophets of other religions.

    “Muslims should continue to respect Jesus (peace be upon him) whom the Christians hold very dear. Christians should avoid casting aspersion on the person of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)”, Akintola added.

  • MURIC frowns at Lagos APC for endorsing governor Sanwo-Olu

    MURIC frowns at Lagos APC for endorsing governor Sanwo-Olu

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has frowned at the endorsement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his second term bid.

    The director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola issued a statement on Monday to express his displeasure with the Governor’s second term endorsement

    All Progressives Congress (APC), last week, endorsed the incumbent Governor of the State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for a second term in office for the 2023 gubernatorial election.

    MURIC through the statement argued that the endorsement violates the long standing unwritten rule on rotational governance between Muslims and Christians in Lagos state.

    He said the Christians have had their two terms and it is the turn of Muslims to produce a governor by 2023.

    According to him, “It is on record that ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, a Christian, spent four years in office and another Christian, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was brought in ostensibly to complete the Christians’ two terms which expires by May 2023 when a Muslim, ceteris paribus, is expected to take over the reins of office.

    “That is why Muslims in Lagos State regard the recent endorsement given to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to run for the Christians’ third term as unfair, unjust and provocative. It may not be known in official circles, but Lagos Muslims are grumbling and we have been under pressure for some time now to speak up,” he said.

    The MURIC director stated that the body rejects exclusivism in matters of governance, adding that the laws should have been adhered to.

    “Lagos Muslims are tax payers and key stakeholders in issues affecting the welfare of Lagos citizens. We must, therefore, be consulted on matters of governance.”

    “We refuse to be blindfolded on the way to the polling booth. Neither shall we be satisfied just as voters, we must also be voted for. That is the essence of democracy. It must be participatory. The choice of candidates and leadership must not be lopsided in a democracy. Every segment of society must be consulted,” he added