The Muslim students’ society of Nigeria is the apex body representing the interest of the millions of Nigerian Muslim students in secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria and abroad, including Muslim students in Non-formal Arabic and Islamic institutions as well as vocational studies centers. The leadership of the society having keenly listened to the Independence Day broadcast of the President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has concluded to make the following observations on the committee on National Conference: WE REJECT THE CONSTITUTION AND TIMING OF THE COMMITTEE Even though after studying the developments in Nigeria under the present democratic dispensation especially under the shade of Christian leadership right from the time of chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, the society see a very strong need for a Sovereign National Conference to discuss among other issues, the stake of Islam and Nigerian Muslim in a democratic government lead by a Christian president. Right from the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo, Muslim in this country have been victimized, traumatized and subjected to serious marginalization. All political calculation had been geared towards the elimination of Muslims in this country. Any attempt to raise the banner of Islam or a bid to defend the Muslim right when infringed upon is seen as barbaric and undemocratic, which should be fought using government tools. above all, Muslim students society of Nigeria having keenly observed, the way Muslim are been slaughtered in the name of hunting boko haram, and worst using the government agencies and the security outfit to label average Muslim in this country as boko haram sympathizers or suspect, feel strongly that for once, progressive minded stake holders in the country should come together to discuss our togetherness as one and united nation in a Sovereign National Conference. But MSSN as a major stake holder in the education and future prosperity of the Nigerian Muslim, reject the constitution of the 13-man committee by Mr. President as announced during his independent day broadcast because, it is bias, insultive and further expose the determination of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to marginalize the Muslim in this country and destroy them politically. We wonder the criteria used by Mr. President, in the selection of the committee members that produce a Christian as the chairman and more than 50% of the membership as Christians. Looking at the constitution and membership of the committee, we are more skeptical of what will likely be the result of this dangerous committee, if it will not be the final burial of the Muslims in Nigeria The worst part that put the sincerity of Mr. President to question is the timing of the committee and the time frame given to them to submit agenda and modalities for the National Conference. Any progressive minded Nigerian will agree that this is not the right time if actually Muslims are conceived to be part of this all important National Conference. This is so most especially when most of the Muslim major stake holders are presently on hajj for spiritual exercise and even by the expiration of a month given to the committee, some of the pilgrims which include major Muslim stake holders would not be back in the country. OUR DEMAND • Based on the above mentioned, the members of the Muslim students society of Nigeria demand for the immediate reconstitution of the committee to sixteen members, which will include two co-chairmen, two co-secretaries and six members each from Christian and Muslims alike. This we believe without prejudice will reflect the true status of Nigeria, religiously and geographically and will not portray the government of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as one that have come to lord the Christian over the Muslims in a country that is predominantly Muslim with more than 60% of its population. • We demand that the time that will be allocated to the committee, if it must be constituted now, should be two months, so that it will avail the Muslims stake holders presently in Saudi Arabia for hajj operation to be back and made our voice and mind known in the all-important agenda and modalities for the National Conference. • Above all, we call on all Muslim organizations in the country, individuals and stake holders to come out and reject this move by the administration of Goodluck Ebele jonathan aimed at nothing but final elimination of the Muslim in this country. We pray that Allah destroy the enemy of the Muslim and Islam, may Allah uplift our dear country. Abdulazeez Sirajudeen Folayemi National President Muslim Students Society of Nigeria
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 12:38:42 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015