OUR STAND ON THE COMPOSITION OF DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), which is the umbrella body of all Muslim Students in all educational institutions in Nigeria from primary to tertiary levels including students from Arabic educational settings and with members across all states of the federation, is using this medium to express our strong reservation and displeasure with the composition of the delegates to the National Conference even as they are been inaugurated. First and foremost, WE may wish to recall that similar observations were made in respect of the composition of the Advisory Committee which was considered as faulty and bias as it excludes Muslims from the South especially South-West which is predominantly Muslims with more than sixty percent (60%)of the population. It was further observed that without any fear of contradiction that there are more than enough competent Muslim intellectuals, community leaders, politicians, professionals and seasoned administrators who would function appropriately as members of the committee in the South-West. With the above antecedents, it is not only disappointing but also a slap on the integrity of the Muslims in this Country that only thirty –eighty percent (38 %) Muslims makes the list of the entire delegates to the proposed National Conference. In other words, out of the Four Hundred and Ninety -Two delegates, only One Hundred and Ninety are Muslims. To make the matter worse ,the author of the list of the delegates concluded that there are not enough competent Muslim intellectuals, community leaders, politicians, professionals , seasoned Administrators, Elder Statesmen, Retired Military Officers ,Youths and Students, men and women from the geo-political zones, etc. to participate in the Conference. To paint the picture clearer, the information on the table below which is a representation of the list is relevant: DELEGTES LIST TO THE PROPOSED NATIONAL CONFERENCE S/N DESCRIPTION OF MUSLIM NON MUSLIM TOTAL REMARKS REPRESENTATION 1, ELDER STATESMEN 15 22 37 BIAS 2, RETIRED CIVIL 2 4 6 NOT CONSIDERATE SERVANTS 3, YOUTHS AND STUDENTS 7 11 18 UNREALISTIC 4, WOMEN 10 14 24 UNREALISTIC ORGANISATIONS 5 SOUTH-WEST GEO- POLITICAL ZONE - 15 15 DELIBRATELY BIAS 6, SOUTH-SOUTH GEO- 2 13 15 NOT CONSIDERATE POLITICAL ZONE 7, SOUTH-EAST GEO- - 15 15 NOT CONSIDERATE POLITICAL 8, NORTH-EAST GEO- 11 4 15 FAIR POLITICAL 9, NORTH-WEST GEO- POLITICAL 13 2 15 FAIR 10, NORTH-CENTRAL 5 10 15 DELIBRATELY BIAS AND UNREALISTIC GEO-POLITICAL The above table shows that there are no Muslims in the South-West, minority Muslims in the North-Central. If it is possible for the author to identify non-Muslims in the North – West, North East and North-Central Geo Political Zones of this Country, an objective and real statesman should have identified same in the South- South, South-East and given majority slots to Muslims in the South-West Geo-Political Zones. With the present situation, the Muslims cannot but believe that there is deliberate and calculated plot to not only marginalize them but also negatively redefine their real status to justify the ulterior motive of the authors of the list of delegates to the Conference. Moreover, the composition of the delegates to the Conference is undemocratic because the minority would now have their way contrary to the fundamental principle of democracy that the majority must have their way while the minority must have their say. If the present situation is allowed to stand, the outcome of the conference would not reflect the wishes of the people and would not be acceptable. In view of the above, for the conference to reflect the wishes of Nigerians and for the outcome to be acceptable, the Society wishes to state as follows: • That the entire list of delegates should be completely overhauled to reflect sixty percent (60%) Muslim population in the Country; • That the list of South-West delegates should be totally overhauled to allot at least ten (10) slots to the Muslims in the zone; • That the list of the South-South and South-East delegates should contain five Muslims each; • That the list of North –Central delegates should have at least ten (10) Muslims; • Above all, for any meaningfull and acceptable resolutions to come out of the proposed National Dialogue, the Muslims in this Country particularly North-Central, South-South, South- East, and South-West Geo-Political Zones of the country must not only be adequately represented but must be given fundamental roles in the conference. Thanks and long live the federal republic of Nigeria. Abdulazeez Sirajudeen Folayemi MSSN National President
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 08:30:35 +0000
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