3rd May,
2019
ZAYNAB ALIYU & LEAH SHARIBU:
CAN GOT IT WRONG
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) two days ago compared
Zaynab Aliyu who was released by the Saudi Arabia authorities to Leah Sharibu
who is still in Boko Haram captivity. Zaynab was arrested in Saudi Arabia after
illicit drugs were found in her luggage. CAN used the comparison to demand
equal treatment of citizens in captivity by the Federal Government.
Commenting on this development, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC),
has faulted CAN’s stand. The human rights organization made its opinion known
in a press statement issued on Friday 3rd May, 2019 by its Founder
and Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
“CAN got it wrong”, MURIC insisted. “There is no basis for
comparing the two. Firstly, Leah Sharibu is a completely innocent Nigerian
citizen who was criminally abducted by terrorists while Zaynab Aliyu was, until
recently, a drug suspect apprehended by the security agencies of another
sovereign country acting under the laws of their land.
“Secondly, what is needed to set
Leah free is totally different from what is required to secure Zaynab’s
freedom. It is like comparing the case of a kidnapped person to that of another
who is in police detention. You cannot compare civilized authority to the rule
of hoodlums. The law was allowed to take its course in Zaynab’s case whereas an
entirely different scenario is playing out in Leah’s matter because terrorists recognize
no national or international law.
“It is therefore most uncharitable for CAN to ignore these facts.
It would have been a different thing entirely if FG had intervened in Zaynab’s
case even before the exposure of the drug-planting cartel at the Nigerian
airport. Again, it would also have been criminal abdication of responsibility if
FG had failed to intervene after the new evidence emerged.
“CAN’s question, ‘Are all Nigerians equal or some are more equal
than others?’ is therefore uncalled for unless CAN can convince us that
kidnappers who forcefully abduct innocent people are equal to policemen who
detain suspects for what they believe is illegal or judges who send criminals
to jail. CAN’s question is not semantics. It is mischief pure and simple. CAN
should stop playing on the emotion of gullible Nigerians.
“CAN should at least appreciate
FG’s worries and concerns about Leah Sharibu’s safety and its open and
subterranean manouvres to liberate her. We have no doubt that the leadership of
CAN is not unaware of the intricate issues involved plus a thousand and one raison
d’etre why government cannot reveal everything it is doing to secure the
innocent girl’s freedom.
“MURIC commends FG for promptly intervening in the case of Zaynab
Aliyu. We also appreciate the efforts made so far to secure Leah Sharibu’s
freedom. We urge FG to do more in this regard. Everyday spent by Leah in the
terrorist’s den is another day in the diary of Nigeria’s tragedies.
“We call on FG to spread
its dragnet to all airports within the country with the hope that the drug-planting
cartel are likely to exist in other airports as well. Those caught should be
dealt with decisively to serve as deterrent to others. In addition, the Zaynab
Aliyu treatment should not be limited to Saudi Arabia. It should be extended to
other countries, particularly Europe and Asia where many Nigerians are
languishing in jail or awaiting execution. The innocent ones should be saved. FG
should also ensure that CCTV cameras are installed in all our airports in order
to monitor the activities of criminals.
“As a parting shot, we advise
CAN to always take the pain to objectively and analytically examine issues
before making allegations. This latest insinuation is pregnant with malice,
devoid of charity and loaded with bad faith”.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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