MURIC Condemns Quit Notice, Provocative Utterances
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned all quit notices issued by separatist groups to their fellow Nigerians of other ethnic groups, saying the development is rash, parochial and unpatriotic.
MURIC, in a statement signed by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, commended Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State for his proactive directive issued to protect Igbos living in his domain.
MURIC said also worthy of commendation is the Inspector General of Police who issued orders for the arrest of Arewa youths behind the issuance of quit notice to Igbos in the North.
“In the same vein, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdul Mumin Kabir who pledged to protect Igbos with the last drop of his blood, deserves encomiums not only from Nigerians but also from the international community.
“We appeal to other emirs in the North to follow the example of the Emir of Katsina. Other efforts aimed at dousing tension should also be embarked upon. Imams throughout Nigeria but with emphasis on the North should preach the golden ideals of peace and unity on the minbar every Friday while Christian clerics do the same on the pulpits every Sunday.
“While the visit of the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruke, to Kaduna for a dialogue with Northern leaders facilitated by Al-Mustapha is heartwarming, the silence of governors of the Eastern states is disturbing. We expect governors and traditional rulers from that axis to be more proactive.
Statements similar to those issued by the governor of Kaduna State and the Emir of Katsina will go a long way in dousing tension nationwide. Likewise, Governors and traditional rulers in the South West should do the same thing.”
MURIC enjoined Nigerians to be wary of being used by looters and disgruntled politicians who they said having been frustrated by the altruistic, business-like and result-oriented actions of the present administration, and who are bent on plunging the nation into war.
“We remind discerning citizens of the serial threats publicly issued by certain people to the effect that they would destroy Nigeria if ex-President Goodluck Jonathan did not win the 2015 presidential election. Only a people suffering from collective amnesia will allow such threats to become a reality.
“While we acknowledge the progress being made by the Federal Government (FG) in ensuring the security of lives and property by defeating terrorist groups like Boko Haram; creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths through it’s N-Power programme; plugging loopholes through which looters steal our common patrimony through the introduction of the Single Treasury Account; the ongoing war against corruption and addressing the complaints of regions and ethnic groups through the commencement of the dredging of the Niger and the cleaning of environmentally devastated lands, we still urge the FG to accelerate its social welfare packages and address other perceived cases of marginalization of certain sections of the country”.