MURIC SLAMS ADELEKE UNIVERSITY FOR DISRUPTING FASTING

 

20^th March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC SLAMS ADELEKE UNIVERSITY FOR DISRUPTING FASTING

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has alleged that Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, has been disrupting Ramadan activities of its Muslim students. The organization also accused the tertiary institution of forcing Muslim students to attend church programmes.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, 20^th March, 2025 by the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

He said:

“The headquarters of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has received several complaints of attempts to tactically de-Islamise and forcefully christianise Muslim students in Adeleke University, Ede.

“The methods adopted by the university to achieve this objective include compelling attendance of all students (including the Muslims among them) at the university’s church programmes. The supererogatory prayer held in Ramadan evenings (tarawih)  was reportedly disrupted two days ago and the students were warned never to try it again.

“These are signs of religious intolerance. We have said it times without number that Christians in the South weaponize education to convert Muslims. As far back as year 2019, MURIC leveled serious allegation of religious persecution against Adeleke University. We also asked the National Universities Commission (NUC) to investigate the allegation.

“We said, ‘Adeleke University is a serial violator of Allah-given fundamental rights of Muslim students. This institution forces Muslim students to attend church on Sundays. It makes it mandatory for students living in the hostel to attend church every Wednesday and Saturday.

“We continued, ‘The practice of any other faith on campus except Christianity is banned. Muslim students must not be seen observing Salat. Hijab is a taboo in Adeleke University. Yet all these Islamophobic practices are smartly hidden from prospective students of the institution until they have paid the exorbitant school fees and can no longer withdraw.’

“‘In particular, we invite NUC to take a look at the students’ handbook of this institution, especially pages 7, 49, 50, 56 and 60. These pages, to our mind, contain rules that infringe on the religious freedom of Muslim students. As a regulating body, NUC has a duty to intervene in this matter as part of its oversight function on Nigeria’s universities’, our 2019 statement added (https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/18/adeleke-university-accused-forcing-muslims-attend-church/).

“We are deeply worried that five years down the line, Adeleke University continues to victimize, stereotype and traumatize Muslim students. Though not all, other private universities in the South are also neck deep into these obnoxious and ignoble practices and MURIC has cried out against them before.

“In other climes, mere exposure of this kind of inhuman and denigrating treatment in the media is enough to spur the relevant agencies to action. Why is that of Nigeria different? What are the public affairs of those agencies doing? What is NUC waiting for? This issue is already in the public domain and NUC is part of this larger society. The Muslim parents who reported are taxpayers. They want this investigated.

“We remind Muslim parents and Muslim students of our warning issued in 2022 asking them to avoid Christian private universities (https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/muric-warns-muslims-to-avoid-christian-owned-private-universities/).

“We are aware that Christian private universities deceive Muslim students into committing themselves to their institutions by hiding their religious prejudices until the Muslim students pay school fees and are fully registered. This is an area in which oversight authorities should show interest. Private universities must manifest transparency and this should begin from showing their religious inclination.”

#AdelekeUniversity

#NationalUniversitiesCommission

#WakeUpNUC

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

THOSE WHO SABOTAGED EL-RUFAI UNDERMINED OUR MISSION TO LIBERATE YORUBA MUSLIMS – MURIC

 

17^th March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

THOSE WHO SABOTAGED EL-RUFAI UNDERMINED OUR MISSION TO LIBERATE YORUBA MUSLIMS – MURIC

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has revealed that it solicited for the help of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, to mobilise the North towards the realization of the presidential ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  

The group alleged that those who sabotaged the attempt to make Mallam Nasir El-Rufai a minister in the present administration undermined MURIC’s mission to liberate Yoruba Muslims from economic impoverishment, social ostracization and political marginalization. It also called on President Tinubu to create an enabling environment for constructive dialogue between him and the former governor.

The statement reads:

“Recent events on the political front has compelled us to speak up once again on the involvement of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, in the political campaigns that preceded the 2023 presidential election.

“We affirm that the Executive Director of MURIC was part of a team of Islamic scholars who visited the former governor and solicited for his help to mobilise the North towards the realization of the presidential ambition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We know the North listens to El-Rufai. Therefore, we decided to reach out to that strategically important region through him.

“We were also convinced, at the time, that South West Muslims needed a Yoruba Muslim as president in their struggle against the persecution of the Yoruba Muslim majority by an elitist Christian minority who took control of the paraphernalia of authority in all sectors in the region from the colonial masters.

“Although our first objective was realized as a Yoruba Muslim, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, won the election, those who sabotaged the attempt to make Mallam Nasir El-Rufai a minister in the present administration undermined MURIC’s mission to liberate Yoruba Muslims.

“These powerful forces have so far made it impossible to emancipate Yoruba Muslims from educational backwardness, economic impoverishment, social ostracization and political marginalization.

“While the latter (i.e. political marginalization) holds the key to the rest, it is sad that it is even worse in the present dispensation as the same elements who sabotaged the attempt to make El-Rufai a minister, ensured that the names of true and practicing Yoruba Muslims do not get to President Tinubu for political appointments.

“As a result of this, it is the names of Yoruba Muslims who have converted to Christianity (either willingly or unwillingly) but who retained their Muslim names in their official documents that are allowed to reach the president. Only two or three real Yoruba Muslims have succeeded in getting political appointments.

“Yoruba Christians are stealing the identities of Yoruba Muslims, usurping the roles of Muslims and swapping slots meant for Muslims. It is fraudulent but religious impersonation has always been the stock in trade of those who believe in going all out to use fair or foul means to achieve their objectives. The end justifies the means. Niccolo Machiavelli could not have done better.

“As matters stand today, most Islamic organisations in Yorubaland (including MURIC) have no access, direct or otherwise, to the presidency. Neither do we have any minister with whom we have established rapport. We have been shut out.

“For mobilizing the whole North to support the incumbent, for going to court to challenge the emefialisation of the naira (which was aimed at sabotaging the emergence of Tinubu as president), efforts should be made to close the gap between El-Rufai and the president.

“We therefore call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to create an enabling environment for constructive dialogue between him and the former governor. It is crystal clear that a caucus is bent on edging out El-Rufai and the widening gulf between the two is being encouraged by the same people.

“Finally, Mr. President is advised to review the methodology for identifying true Muslims with the right qualifications to fit into the president’s vision. Cross-checking with the right quarters will go a long way in stemming the incident of identity stealing and religious impersonation.”

#BridgeTheGap

#StopStealingMuslimIdentity

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

ERUWA: MAKINDE HAS NO RESPECT FOR RULE OF LAW – MURIC

 

11^th March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

ERUWA: MAKINDE HAS NO RESPECT FOR RULE OF LAW – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has tackled Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for re-appointing Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola as the Eleruwa of Eruwa after the Supreme Court had removed him from the throne. The Islamic human rights organization accused Makinde of showing no respect for the rule of law.

This was revealed in a statement issued on Tuesday, 11^th March, 2025 by the Executive Director of the organization, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

He said:

“The governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, recently re-appointed Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola as the Eleruwa of Eruwa (https://gazettengr.com/makinde-approves-re-appointment-of-adegbola-as-eleruwa-of-eruwa/) despite a Supreme Court judgement which deposed the latter about six years ago (https://punchng.com/just-in-supreme-court-dethrones-first-class-oyo-monarch-eleruwa/).

“It must be noted that the Eruwa ruling house rejected Makinde’s executive abracadabra (https://thenationonlineng.net/eruwa-ruling-house-rejects-reappointment-of-deposed-monarch-faults-oyo-govt/) in the same manner that the Oyomesi rejected Makinde’s imposed candidate in Oyo town and went to court to challenge the governor.

“Makinde has disappointed the June 12 movement. Those who paid the supreme sacrifice to ensure that military dictators return to the barracks are turning in their graves as Makinde continues his reckless onslaught on Muslim kings and the judiciary.

“History is replete with stories of rulers who forget the lessons of history. Makinde’s greatest achievement will be his inclusion on the list of these unpopular despots. The governor has allegedly installed 11 kings and 40 Baales in a reckless bid to replace every existing Muslim king. Makinde is a spoiled ambassador of democracy.

“A governor who cannot be tied to his campaign promises, a governor whose state is among the lowest in educational ranking is thinking only of the next Muslim monarch to remove. Oyo State is ranked 25^th in terms of education quality and 17^th in educational attainment (https://fij.ng/article/school-children-in-oyo-state-not-learning-because-of-rain-dilapidated-school-buildings/). Students are unable to learn because of collapsing walls yet the governor is busy hunting for the next victim king.”

#MakindeTheKingmaker

#ExecutiveLawlessness

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

OUTCRY OVER RAMADAN HOLIDAYS: IT IS ACROBATIC HYPOCRISY – MURIC

 

5^th March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

OUTCRY OVER RAMADAN HOLIDAYS: IT IS ACROBATIC HYPOCRISY – MURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused critics of the Ramadan holidays given by four Northern states of acrobatic hypocrisy. The group cited the examples of two Christian governors who extended Christmas holidays in the past without attracting comments.

A statement signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, gave the rationale for declaring this year’s Ramadan holidays.

The full statement reads:

“The extension of the first term holiday by four Northern States (Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi) to accommodate the Ramadan season has ignited massive hullabaloo in certain quarters with the apex Christian body, the Christian Association of Nigeria, leading the outcry.

“But the reality is that these critics are exhibiting acrobatic hypocrisy. They were all in this country when Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Iormem Alia announced an extension of the Christmas and New Year holidays from Tuesday, December 24, 2024 to Sunday, January 6, 2025 (https://thepapers.ng/2024/12/25/christmas-nigerian-governor-extends-public-holiday-for-civil-servants-reasons-emerge/).

“Governor Bassey Otu of Cross Rivers State also extended Christmas and New Year holidays by 14 days starting from 20^th December, 2023 and ending on 2^nd January, 2024. (https://www.thecable.ng/otu-declares-14-day-christmas-holiday-in-cross-river/)

“If that of Otu is one year old, what of Alia’s declaration which occurred just two months ago? Why is it that it is only when the Muslims do something that there is a Tsunami of criticisms but the Christians can do anything under the sun, no matter how queer, without anyone raising an eyebrow? It is a case of the pot calling the kettle black. This selective acts of mass amnesia will do Nigeria no good.

“Objective criticism should be for everyone, not one yardstick for the Muslims and another parameter for the Christians. It exposes those behind it as people guilty of gymnastic selfrighteousness.

“At this juncture, it may be germane to disclose other rationale for granting extensions for Ramadan holiday. Large scale absenteeism and poor perspicacity coupled with low academic performance have been observed for decades among students in some Northern states.

“This has been traced to their exposure to severe weather, poverty and subjection to inhuman conditions, particularly during Ramadan. For instance, the weather forecast for the Ramadan period in that zone this year has been put at 38 to 42 degrees Celsius. There is no doubt that this is hostile weather.

“In a situation where poverty and poor infrastructure has forced about 90% of the students to trek to and fro school over long distances, it is understandable that the authorities decided to shut down schools during Ramadan otherwise hunger and dehydration may spell untold disaster. We do not want to see students dropping dead by the roadsides.

“Who feels it knows it. Instead of ventilating clangorous diatribes and rancorous vitriols on the governors of those four states, Nigerians should commend them for adding a human face to governance. They extended the first term holiday on compassionate grounds and it is those who oppose the demonstration of mercy towards Muslim children who have chemical dislocation in their blood vessels.

“Both federal and state governments have been known to extend holidays. The Federal Government extended holidays of tertiary institutions in March 2023 when the governorship and house of assembly elections were postponed (https://thecandournews.com/breaking-fg-extends-students-holiday-announces-new-resumption-date/). Heaven did not fall at that time.

“The Christian Association should carry its members in academic institutions along in matters like this. Had CAN done this, such members would have supplied useful information. They would have told CAN that such extensions are often done in the interest of the students. The school calendars will be adjusted later.

“Interestingly enough, the four state governments also revealed that school calendars would be adjusted to cater for lost grounds but detractors conveniently elected to ignore this.

“Those four Muslim governors have also been wrongly accused of violating the rights of Christian students when even the Muslim students are also on holidays with their Christian counterparts and no separate academic exercise has been planned by the state governments for the Muslims at the detriment of the Christian students.

“Neither is the impression of neglect of educational pursuits of children correct. For example, the government of Kano announced scholarship for more than 1,000     students in foreign  countries just a few days ago. But none of these critics deemed it fit to applaud Kano for this action. That is inconsistency. It is prejudice. The credibility of critics will be enhanced if they balance their views.

“MURIC appeals to Nigerians to avoid spontaneous judgement. Such action is often based on emotions. It can lead to distorted assessment. Let us compare and contrast. Let us look at both the peripheral and tangential issues before coming to conclusions.

#AcrobaticHypocrisy

#StressFreeRamadan

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

SCHOOL CLOSURE IN RAMADAN: STOP PLAYING GOD IN THE AFFAIRS OF MUSLIMS – MURIC TELLS CAN

 

3^rd March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

SCHOOL CLOSURE IN RAMADAN: STOP PLAYING GOD IN THE AFFAIRS OF MUSLIMS – MURIC TELLS CAN

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has criticized the closure of schools during Ramadan in four Northern states. However, a faith-based civil liberties organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has told CAN to mind its own business.

In a statement issued on Monday, 3^rd March, 2025 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC accused CAN of double standard for encouraging breach of the rights of Muslims who are in the majority in South Western Nigeria while pretending to protect Christian children who are an infinitesimal minority in the North.

The statement reads:

“Four Northern states (Bauchi, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi) have extended the closure of schools in their states to give Muslim students a stress-free Ramadan period. But the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has criticized the action.

“CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, expressed grave concern over the impact of the closure on Christian students and accused the state governments of breaching their rights (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/ramadan-school-closures-breach-students-rights-can/).

“MURIC is bewildered by the insistence of CAN on playing the role of a meddlesome interloper in the affairs of Nigerian Muslims. Firstly, Ramadan is a completely Muslim issue. It involves no other faith. CAN should stay out of it.

“Secondly, Muslims are the overwhelming majority in those four states and the state governments in a democratic country like Nigeria  should not deny the majority Muslims what they wish. Furthermore, those four states have given the Muslim majority what they desire most based on the principle of ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’.

“CAN may want to learn more about allowing the majority to have its way from Jeremy Bentham’s ‘A Fragment on Government’ (1776) and his ‘Introduction to Morals and Legislation’ (1789). Those two books expatiated upon the principle of the greatest happiness for the greatest number. CAN may want to note that Muslim students are ‘the greatest number’ in those four states in this case.

“The phrase, ‘the greatest happiness for the greatest number’, is attributed to Jeremy Bentham, British philosopher, born February 15, 1748 and died June 6, 1832. ‘The greatest happiness for the greatest number’ is a principle that states the best action is the one that brings the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people. It is a core tenet of utilitarianism, a philosophy that emphasizes the usefulness of the consequences of actions. 

“The extension of schools’ closure by the governors of those states is based on the principle of the greatest happiness for the greatest portion of the populations of those states. Christian students have not been discriminated against in any form whatsoever by that action. So what is CAN’s headache here?

“CAN’s middle name is ‘double standard’. It encourages breach of the rights of Muslims who are in the majority in South Western Nigeria while it pretends to protect Christian children who are an infinitesimal minority in the North. Why can’t we protect all children and condemn all forms of discrimination against them anywhere in Nigeria?

“How have the rights of Christian students been infringed upon in this situation? Did those state governments threaten not to allow them to resume after Ramadan? Were the Christian students asked to come to school everyday during Ramadan to sweep and clean the classrooms? What exactly does CAN want? The apex Christian body should stop playing God in the affairs of Muslims.”

 

#Ramadan

#StressFreeRamadan

#SchoolClosureToReduceStress

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

MURIC TO KDSG: STOP PERSECUTING EL-RUFAI LOYALISTS).

 

2^nd March, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

MURIC TO KDSG: STOP PERSECUTING EL-RUFAI LOYALISTS      

An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has advised the Kaduna State government and its House of Assembly to stop persecuting loyalists of the former governor, Nasir El-Rufai.

This was contained in a statement circulated on Sunday 2^nd March, 2025 by the Executive Director of the faith-based civil liberties group, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

The group said:

“The dust is yet to settle on allegations of political witch-hunting leveled by former cabinet members of the administration of the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

“The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is miffed that formal requests for certified true copies of the Independent Legislative Report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly on the alleged missing N423 billion which was submitted on 5^th June 2024 are yet to be obliged.

“We are disturbed by revelations made by the former cabinet members. For instance, the group has alleged that contrary to the stand of the Kaduna State Government (KDSG) and the House of Assembly, many of the external loans listed in the report were either not drawn at all by the El-Rufai administration or were due for disbursement only after its tenure had ended.

“The group also claimed that the report even listed an external loan for a railway project that was never contracted let alone disbursed. The credibility of that report faces another challenge for listing the $150 million AfDB loan for the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZs) as expended even though the loan had not been disbursed as at May 2023.

“But what concerns MURIC more as a human rights group is the incarceration of members of the former cabinet like Bashir Saidu and Jimi Lawal. Nobody is saying the current administration of Kaduna State and the HoA should not pursue transparency, probity and accountability but in doing so, care should be taken to avoid the violation of Allah-given fundamental human rights as well as strict adherence to respect for the rule of law.

“Keeping suspects in prison after they have been granted bail by courts of competent jurisdiction appears more to us like gunning for political vendetta than seeking accountability. Nigerians are not fools. They know that the target is El-Rufai. But KDSG should tread softly.

“El-Rufai is one of the most brilliant minds the North has ever produced. He is presently the face of the North. We are constrained to advice the North not to destroy itself. The trajectory of KDSG’s actions and inactions tend to suggest this. It is high time Northern leaders in and outside Kaduna break their silence.”

#KadunaStateGovernment

#StopPersecutingElRufaiLoyalists

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).