Press Release: 2007: MUSLIMS URGED TO MOBILIZE 3rd July, 2006

Nigerians are warming up for the first transition from one civilian government to another. The planned general election which will take place in 2007 is therefore very crucial for our emergence as a true democracy. Every hand must be on deck to ensure a free, fair and peaceful election. All stakeholders, the Federal Government, the political parties, individual politicians, the press, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its agencies have important roles to play.

The religious community which includes Christians, Muslims and traditionalists have a most vital role to play in the area of re-engineering of our political culture. Muslims constitute a substantial portion of the population of Nigeria and no realistic assessment of the electoral exercise can be done without taking the Muslim population into consideration. It is also a fact that Muslims are in all segments of the political field both as leaders and followers. This is true of the present and past political experiences. As a result Muslims have been in leadership positions where they were either seen as tyrants or redeemers.

There is no gainsaying the fact that those who have been adjudged tyrants have constituted unmitigated embarrassments to the rest of the Ummah (Muslim community) just as Muslim leaders who performed well in office have remained a pride. But in view of the fact that governance is about service to humanity, the guarantee of human welfare and the maintenance of the rule of law which are the same goals of Islam, we are constrained to call on Muslims to prepare and mobilize themselves for the 2007 elections.

Every mosque and madrasah (Quranic school), must be involved. Every shaykh, mallam, Imam, alfa, almajiri and alasalatu must be conscripted. The reformation of the Muslim political elites must be total. Every Muslim involved in politics must be conscious of the philosophy of Islamic political thought.

From now on, the Imams must use Friday sermons during Jumuah service to teach ordinary Muslims as well as Muslim politicians that governance is sacrifice. It is service to the people and not an avenue for self-enrichment. They must be reminded that a Muslim who occupies a position has become a representative of Allah and he must be conscious of his responsibility to Allah. The Imams must lay emphasis on probity and accountability not only in this world but also in al-Qiyamah (Day of Ressurection).

The mosques and officials therein must desist from giving undue recognition to those who stole public money. Chieftaincy titles must be strictly on merit and the criteria must be piety, sincerity and commitment to Islam. The reform of the Nigerian society must begin from the mosque.

MURIC warns that Muslims eyeing political posts in 2007 must be people of unquestionable character. They must also be Muslims who understand the culture of Islam and know what the Muslims want. We will not vote for half-baked Muslims who do not identify with the aspirations of the Ummah. Any attempt to impose such Muslims as candidates will be resisted with every constitutional means at our disposal. We advise Muslim aspirants who do not meet these criteria to shelve their ambitions or face exposure and disgrace. We want practicing Muslims, not carriers of nomenclature or Muslim caricatures! We would rather be ruled by God-fearing non-Muslims than face the calamity of Muslims whose Islam is made in Moscow, bred in Tokyo, marmaladed in Rio-de-Janeiro.

MURIC therefore calls on Muslim youths throughout the country to mobilize themselves for the electioneering exercise. We urge them to join political parties of their desire and participate in every political process. We advise Islamic organizations to encourage morally upright members among them to contest as candidates. MURIC attests to the candidature of General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), Ahmad Sani, present Governor of Zamfara State and Muhammad Buba Marwa  as presidential candidates in whom we have full confidence. We urge all political parties to produce Muslim candidates worth their salt.

Dr. Is-haq Akintola                                                   Mallam Yaqub Ahmad
DIRECTOR                                                       SECRETARY GENERAL