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MURIC , CAN In War Of Words Over El-rufai
*Says CAN Missed The Point
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
A faith-based human rights organisation, the “Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)”, and it Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday slammed CAN for attacking El-Rufai.
Recalled that the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), two days ago attacked the immediate past governor of the state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.
CAN spoke through its state chairman, Reverend Joseph Jobn Hayab.
MURIC, reacting, insists that what happened during the elections in Kaduna was the actualisation of core democratic principles. The Muslim group added that CAN missed the point by accusing the former Governor of Islamization.
The full statement reads:
“The chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Joseph Hayab, attacked the immediate past governor of the state, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, two days ago. He accused the former governor of Islamisation over the Muslim-Muslim ticket
“On the contrary, however, we assert clearly, emphatically and unequivocally that what happened during the elections in Kaduna was the actualisation of core democratic principles. CAN missed the point by accusing the former governor of Islamisation.
“A simple illustration will expose Reverend Hayab’s ignorance. America has a predominant Christian population.
However, there are pockets of Muslim communities in the same America. But can any sane American Muslim accuse President Biden of Christianisation simply because both himself and his vice are Christians?
Ditto for countries like Britain, France, Germany. Can Muslims accuse those countries of Christianisation? Hayab should go back to school.
“We reiterate that the Muslim-Muslim ticket which came into effect during the elections in Kaduna in 2019 and 2023 was the actualisation of core democratic principles.
The Christians who are a minority in Kaduna State actually pushed the Muslims to showcase their demographic importance. They did this by always asking for too much and demanding far more than they deserve. They always insisted on taking the deputy governorship slot and half of cabinet positions.
“They continued to have their way until El-Rufai came on board. Then the bubble burst. Being a shrewd politician and a genius among revolutionaries, he enlightened the Muslim population and called the bluff of the impertinent Christian minority.
The sleeping majority became conscious of the true political architecture in the state. The result was a crushing defeat of an overbearing Christian minority in two consecutive gubernatorial elections (2019 and 2023).
“Thus came the end of the tyranny of a vocal and politically conscious minority against a silent and apolitical majority. Their power rested in the possession of the paraphernalia of propaganda. El-Rufai’s only crime was that he woke up the sleeping majority Muslims and made them conscious of their civic and political responsibilities. Is that why Joseph Hayab is on fire? Is anything wrong with majority Muslims in power in Kaduna or Nigeria when majority Christians are in power in the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, name it?
“Renowned political scientists like Almond and Verba acknowledge the association of popular participation with democracy. Jack Lively laid emphasis on ‘situation of equality’ being the bedrock of true democracy. Margoli called majority rule in a democracy ‘equal opportunity to participate’. So why should CAN complain if Muslims who are the majority are in power?
“El-Rufai taught the silent majority who hitherto had no voice how to weaponise their voters’ cards and that proved to be the game changer. El-Rufai liberated Kaduna Muslims in 2019. He repeated the same feat in 2023 and went ahead to emancipate Nigerian Muslims in 2023 by mobilising the Noble Dozen (i.e. the twelve Northern governors who insisted that power should shift to the South).
“Is that why Joseph Hayab is demonizing El-Rufai? If achievement is the parameter, El-Rufai’s name should be in the Guiness Book of Records for breaking a jinx. Muslims, particularly those in Kaduna State and the rest of Nigerian Muslims in general, were in shackles. El-Rufai came to liberate them. The good thing is that he did all that without firing a single shot. Perhaps that is why Hayab has not called him a terrorist.
“Hayab should apologise to El-Rufai for accusing him of Islamisation. Who has El-Rufai Islamised? How many are the Christians of Kaduna State? Why should an infinitesimally small minority seek to dominate a predominant majority? It is Hayab and his co-travellers in CAN who are guilty of practising tyranny of the minority. Islamisation is a myth, a mirage and a sham.
They are experts at noise-making even when they are the culprits. They are a grandstanding minority keen on intimidating and coercing a silent majority. Well, the sleeping giant is now fully awake, never to fall asleep again.
“Is it not a misnomer for Hayab to label El-Rufai as someone seeking relevance? Is El-Rufai irrelevant in the scheme of things in this country? How can a two-term governor be irrelevant? Who is more important: Hayab or El-Rufai? Infra dignitatem.
“Joseph Hayab has not recovered from the shock of defeat. He is still bitter and he is engaging in scape-goatism instead of licking his wounds in absolute solitude. But picking El-Rufai as a scape goat is a gross miscalculation. He should look below him for a suitable scape goat, not above him. He will only succeed in adding salt to his injury if he continues like this.
“The lesson El-Rufai has taught people like Hayab is that Kaduna was a micro, the Nigerian Muslim-Muslim ticket which produced Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the microcosm. CAN missed the point when it accused him of Islamisation. The Muslim population in Kaduna and Nigeria as a whole can only increase further, ceteris paribus. El-Rufai was therefore right when he said Muslim rule in Kaduna will be sustained beyond twenty years.
“We advise Hayab to find time to school some pseudo-magician Christian clerics whose pastime is false prophesy. They are the greatest tragedy that ever happened to Nigeria. True Christians are already tired of them.
“How can a pastor predict that there would be no election in 2023 and CAN felt no need to call him and other busy bodies to order after the election took place? There is a gaping lacuna between CAN and responsibility. Meanwhile we have a very strong suspicion that Joseph Hayab is suffering from minority complex psychosis”, it stated.
By Kassim Omomia
The House of Representatives Committee on Steel has assured that it will effectively oversight all subsidiaries, agencies, especially research and development centres conneted to Ajaoukuta steel company and Steel development in the country, in order fulfil the long dream of making Nigeria a global steel producer
Chairman of the House Steel Sub- Committee on National Metallurgical Development Centre, NMDC , Hon Abdulmaleek Danga, stated in Jos during an oversight and investigation of petitions of contracts allegedlly awarded, paid- for, but not completed
He stated that the current Committee on Steel in the National Assembly was committed to ensuring proper oversight of steel devevelopment related agencies and research institutions so as to make Ajaokuta work this time around
Hon Danga told staff and top management cadre led by the Director General of the National Metallurgiical Develoomemt Centre, Professor Linus Asuquo, that the Committee was at the Centre in Jos, to carry out a thorough oversight and investigation , following a petition
He reminded the management , staff and Unions of the NMCD of the importance of the establishment of the Centre as a critical support base to sustain Ajaokuta Steel company
“We are here. We will do a thorough job here to sustain Ajaojuta and make it work. This place, (NMDC) must work first before we go to Ajaokuta”
Adressing the petition, Hon Danga pointed that with the avalanche of petitions against the NMDC, the place cannot work
He noted that petitions without facts and figures are retrogresive and create backwardness and stunt growth of any organisation
He noted that even though petitions have become the order of the day in our public life, they are undesirable, create backwardness ,stunt growth and as well create impressions that government agencies are wasting resources, especially when the petitions are without facts and figures
He added that the House was set to ensure the sustenance of NMCD and other ancillary steel agencies. so that Ajaokuta which is so dear to the current government can come on full stream
The subcomittee oversighting NMCD,Jos, which also included Honourable Ayuba Danba, Hon Domimic Okafor,embarked on a facility tour of the massive centre after a thorough session with management, top Staff, contractors, visiting the various departments, laboratories and workshops and projects executed by contractors especially those disputed in the petitions currently investigated by the sub-committee.
The Committee also addressed some aggrieved union leaders, who laid siege on the committee members in one of the sections of the Centre to express their grievances and alleged mismanagement of the Institute by the Prof Asuquo management
Hon Danga, however, appealed to both sides to work harmoniuosly , so that the current efforts of reviving Ajaokuta are achieved by the House of Representatives Committee on Steel and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
According to the lawmaker, there is a noticeable lack of communication between the management and some critical stakeholders in the institute, which can result to misunderstanding, misconception about the Centre ,and thus, the avalanche of petitions
“Please work together, so that the current administration can revive Ajaokuta and make Nigeria a steel producing country, which is a dream long sought” he, advised
About 1000 Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, under the auspices of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations, CCSOs, on Saturday Faults President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Economic Team and called for immediate reconstitution.
Expressing deep concern and worry over the state of the economy and escalating fuel prices compounding the hardship of Nigerians despite the recent protest, the groups said Tinubu must act now to avert disintegration.
The groups said the current situation across the country has cast doubt on the competence of the Tinubu economic team and called for urgent review.
The CCSOs in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out that the plight of Nigerians is sinking low and their patience is wearing off following the deteriorating economy.
The statement reads in part, “The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the Nigerian economy, which is becoming increasingly unbearable for millions of citizens.
“It is evident that the recent hike in fuel prices and the unstable exchange rate are the direct results of economic mismanagement by those responsible for overseeing our nation’s financial policies. The ripple effects of these failures are being felt in every household across the country, worsening poverty and crippling economic activity.
“The floating of the Naira, which was initially sold to Nigerians as a means of stabilizing our currency, has done little to prevent the continued devaluation of the Naira. In fact, the exchange rate disparity has widened significantly, with the Naira losing value daily, impacting the cost of living, basic commodities, and inflation.
“While this policy was expected to ease foreign exchange pressure, it has instead deepened economic challenges due to poor implementation and lack of strategic foresight.”
The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as death trap of indebtedness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, which also they claimed had slowed down importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, hence the current shortage of PMS across the country.
“Of equal concern is the precarious position of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which finds itself in a debt trap, with global suppliers of petroleum products losing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to honour its obligations.
“Reports have shown that NNPCL has accrued debts totalling over $6 billion, causing petrol supply shortages. International suppliers are now reluctant to continue providing fuel on credit, exacerbating supply chain issues and pushing up the price of petrol at the pump”, they claimed.
The CSOs also asserted that, “We hold the managers of the Nigerian economy responsible for these disturbing developments. Their inability to provide sound policies and long-term solutions has left the nation in this predicament.
“It is clear that there is no cohesive strategy to address the rising debt, the growing imbalance in the foreign exchange market, or the country’s heavy reliance on importation for petrol supply. The recent hike in fuel prices reflects the collapse of responsible economic management and accountability.
“Nigerians are left to bear the brunt of these failures. Businesses are shutting down, transportation costs have skyrocketed, and citizens are spending an increasingly larger percentage of their income on basic necessities. This state of affairs is unacceptable.”
The group therefore placed some demands; Immediate intervention from the government: There needs to be a comprehensive and transparent plan to stabilize the Naira, restore confidence in the petroleum supply chain, and negotiate a restructuring of NNPC’s debts to ensure continuous fuel supply.
“Accountability for economic mismanagement: Those responsible for the reckless management of our foreign exchange policies and NNPC’s debts must be held accountable. The government must also disclose its plan to mitigate the rising fuel costs and economic burden on Nigerians.
“A return to sound financial policy: The floating of the Naira has proven ineffective under current conditions. We call for a re-evaluation of monetary and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investment.
“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations reiterates that without immediate corrective measures, the economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leading to further hardship for the average Nigerian. The government must act decisively and responsibly to reverse this downward spiral”, they added.
…..Says They ‘re Bunch of Hypocrites,
By Sim Omo
A group known as Patriots of Nigerian Democracy has lambasted the 2023 Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and other leaders of the party for saying they will take over Lagos State in 2027.
It will be recalled that Rhodes-Vivour while speaking to journalists in Umuahia, Abia State capital at the end of LP’s extended stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday said that they will take over Lagos.
“LP is now well structured, not just to win but to take power in 2027. What we have come to do here in Umuahia is to bring everybody on the same page. We are set for new victories in 2027.
“I believe Labour Party will win Lagos State more convincingly in 2027. Since after the 2023 elections, work has not stopped; we have not gone quiet. Every day, we are getting stronger and stronger.
“So, we are not just going to win but stand up and take power”, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour had said in Umuahia.
Reacting to the statement, the group said that LP leaders are a bunch of hypocrites who pretend to be on the side of the people but neck deep in their selfish interests.
The statement jointly signed by the President of the group, Comrade Olaolu Esan and the Secretary, Engr. Abdullahi Rabiu recalled that LP and its supporters recently attacked the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu for urging the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC), vowing that the ruling party will win the State in 2027 in a viral video.
“All hell was let loose recently when the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu in a video that went viral called on the Governor of his own Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti to rejoin APC.
“Kalu came under heavy criticism and attacks by LP and its supporters. They criticized him for speaking his mind. They made Nigerians to see him in bad light as if what he said was a taboo.
“But here we are. Just about one or two weeks afterwards, the same LP leaders assembled in Umuahia, the Abia State capital to issue a quit notice to APC in Lagos.
“So, where is their nobility? Where is their shame? They abandoned governance for politics of 2027. How does that make them the “Saints” of the Nigerian politics? Are they for the people or against the people?
“We had thought that the LP leaders gathered in Umuahia to discuss the biting economy and the solution. We had thought they gathered to tell Nigerians how they will entrench good governance in Abia State but didn’t know their meeting was about strategies to take over Lagos, an APC controlled State. We have waited for Abia Governor, Dr. Alex Otti to call Rhodes-Vivour to order or to at least tell him, it is not yet time for politics but more than 24 hours, none of the LP’s leaders has done that.
“We want to say that this is very unfortunate. It simply means that politicians irrespective of their political parties and leanings are all one and same. They always think about the next election and not about good governance. They are always after their personal agenda and selfish interests.
“If this will be tolerated, it simply means that the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Kalu is vindicated. Labour Party supporters owe the Deputy Speaker a collective apology for attacking what he said and saying what they attacked. This is hypocrisy.
“Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour’s comment indicates and gives a feeling that the media attacks on Kalu were actually sponsored even though it was highly unnecessary. LP leaders can’t be a bunch of hypocrites.
“Our concerns are good governance and the welfare of the Nigerian people. While we are not saying that politicians should not “battle” themselves over 2027, they must ensure that Nigerians get the dividends of democracy. Good governance should not be sacrificed on the altar of politics. Nigerians should not be shortchanged in anyway rather their lives should be improved by every means possible. That is our position”, the statement stated.
