Press Release: IDUL-FITR MESSAGE 22nd October 2006

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) felicitates with all Nigerians and all people of the world on the occasion of Idul-Fitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. It is a celebration of Allah’s blessings for Nigeria, a festival of forgiveness and a carnival of justice, equality and liberty.

LESSONS OF RAMADAN:
We charge Muslims to allow the sense of sacrifice, self-denial, peaceful and lawful behaviour as well as generousity which are the lessons of the month to manifest in their daily activities. Muslim public officers are reminded to treat government property with the same self-discipline with which they treated food and drinks during Ramadan.

PENURY OF THE JAMAHEER:
The latest declaration by President Olusegun Obasanjo that more than 60% of Nigerians live below poverty level reveals the extent of the economic enslavement of the Nigerian jamaheer (masses) by an infinitesimal capitalist bourgeoisie. It is regrettable that in spite of the colossal wealth of Nigeria, per capita income still lies below $300 while the average Nigerian lives on less than one dollar ($1) per day. Nigeria’s status as the 26th poorest country in the world is unacceptable and the ruling class has no excuse for failing to effectively mobilize the nation’s resources. Nigeria’s ranking as the 148th in the world in terms of economic strength makes ridiculous comparison to Libya’s ranking as the 64th in the same global system.  It is the shame of a nation once described as the giant of Africa.

DEMOCRATIC RASCALITY:
MURIC is disturbed by the recklessness of the political class. From Oyo to Anambra, from Plateau to Ekiti, the signpost is one of reckless brigandage. The ‘bolekaja’ mentality of  Nigerian politicians was adequately epitomized by the Assemblymen of Ekiti State who recently portrayed themselves as political terrorists. The impeachment of the state governor, Ayo Fayose and his Deputy, Mrs Olujimi, was short in due process but long in extra-parliamentary hocus-pocus. It is not only tragic but preposterous, ridiculous and alarming. The lawmakers have capitalized on a loose democratic license to unleash political terrorism on the rest of Nigerians.

There is substantial proof of greed for power and over-ambition in the actions of the lawmakers. They portrayed themselves as political parasites out to suck the state treasury to the last kobo. It was not only an assault on the highest democratic institution in the state, but an unprovoked aggression on the fundamental principles of liberty, decorum and the rule of law. Ekiti lawmakers clownishly set aside the voters’ mandate by sheer parliamentary abracadabra.  It is the most potent threat to our nascent democracy in recent times . President Obasanjo’s declaration of a state of emergency in Ekiti State is not only timely but sine qua non.

Nonetheless, MURIC notes that all hope is not lost as Nigeria still boasts of mature state assemblies in places like Lagos, Ogun, Sokoto, Maiduguri,  Rivers, Edo, etc. In the same vein, national figures like Mrs. Dora Akunyili of NAFDAC and Nuhu Ribadu of EFCC symbolize courage, altruism and hope for the future.

CONCLUSION:
MURIC calls on Nigerians to spend the Salah period in sober reflection. We charge Imams and clergymen to pray for the redemption of Nigeria. As Idul-Fitr is a celebration of Allah’s blessings for Nigeria, a festival of forgiveness and a carnival of liberty, we appeal to President Obasanjo to allow this to reflect in his attitude to the conflict in the Delta region and other trouble spots in the country by setting free all prisoners of conscience like Asari Dokubo and Gani Adams.

The President must forgive in order to teach Nigerians how to forgive; for if he does not forgive, neither will Nigerians learn how to forgive one another.

Finally, in view of the appalling situation of hunger and destitution in the country, we urge the Federal Government to immediately set up ‘Federal Feeding Centres’ in all cities where jobless and other under-privileged Nigerians can have access to meals three times daily. A hungry man, they say, is an angry man.

Dr. Is-haq Akintola
DIRECTOR