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2023: MURIC rejects CAN’s call for Christian president
Nigeria’s Muslim human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has rejected a recent statement issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in which it called for a Christian president by 2023.
The MURIC director and founder, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, stated this in a statement on Monday.
According to him, while MURIC is not opposed to the idea of a Christian president for Nigeria, CAN must wait for its turn.
The full statement reads: “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) last week demanded a Christian president come 2023. But we believe that it is not yet the turn of a Christian to be the president of Nigeria if we want to go by mathematical exactitude from the time Nigeria began civil rule in 1999.
“Chief Mathew Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian, spent eight (8) years as president (1999 – 2007). Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan also spent five (5) years (5th May, 2010 – 29th May, 2015). That brings the total spent by Christian presidents in Aso Rock to thirteen (13) years.
“Meanwhile Alhaji Musa Yaradua, a Muslim, spent three (3) years as president and the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, will be completing his eighth year in office by the good Grace of Allah on 29th May, 2023. By simple arithmetic, this will bring the total spent by the two Muslim presidents to eleven (11) years.
“MURIC is being generous, otherwise it would have towed the line of those who argue that Jonathan spent six (6) years and that will bring the total number of years spent by Christians to fourteen (14). In the same vein, we would have supported those who said Yaradua spent just two (2) years and that would have reduced the number of years spent by Muslims in power to ten (10) years.
“Muslims will be shortchanged by two or four years if a Christian becomes president in 2023. The ideal thing is to allow another Muslim to spend only one term from 2023 to 2027. There will be no doubt about who takes the reins of power from 2007 because a Christian must be installed as president at that time. All controversies would have been removed but there is controversy now.
“For the avoidance of doubts, we reiterate our readiness to accept a Christian as president but it must be at the right time. It will be unfair to install a Christian president in 2023 when Muslims still have a shortfall of two or four years. It is the group that has a two-year or four-year shortfall that should be given the chance for a make-up, not the group that has a two-year advantage.
“We advise CAN to wait for its own time and to stop heating up the polity with untimely demands. CAN should also take a retrospective look at its attitude towards the incumbent since 2015 when a Christian president left the stage.
“Nigerians are already comparing CAN’s weekly visits to Aso Rock in the days of Jonathan, a Christian president, to turn on the tap of gold and its extremely hostile stance to the incumbent, a Muslim president, since 2015. We really sympathise with CAN but facts are sacred. Figures and dates are sacrosanct.”
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has congratulated Alhassan Yahya on his election as National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Yahaya, in a congratulatory message issued to newsmen on Thursday in Gombe, expressed joy over Yahya’s ‘resounding victory’ at the just-concluded 8th Triennial Delegates’ Conference in Owerri, Imo.
The governor, in the statement issued by his Media Aide, Mr Ismaila Uba-Misilli, described Alhassan’s victory as a remarkable achievement and source of immense pride for the state and the entire journalism community.
He praised Alhassan’s journey and impressive rise in the NUJ leadership.
“From your humble beginning at the chapel level, to the state, zonal and now the national level, you have showed consistency, demonstrated unmatched courage, integrity and passion for journalism and the welfare of journalists.
“Your election as the national president of NUJ is a reflection of the trust journalists across Nigeria have in your capacity to lead.
“Your commitment, integrity and vision have made you a shining example of what it means to be a leader in the field of journalism and I commend you for these sterling attributes,” he said.
Yahaya, while expressing confidence in Alhassan’s ability to unite and lead the union toward progress and professionalism, assured him of the support, solidarity and goodwill of the government and people of the state.
“We are confident that under your leadership, NUJ will witness a new era of progress, unity and professionalism that will further elevate the role of journalism in promoting national development,” he said.
The governor acknowledged the vital role of a united and committed press in advancing democratic ideals and national development.
He also praised journalists for the peaceful conduct of the election, while wishing the new NUJ leadership a successful and impactful tenure.
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has congratulated Alhassan Yahya on his election as National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Yahaya, in a congratulatory message issued to newsmen on Thursday in Gombe, expressed joy over Yahya’s ‘resounding victory’ at the just-concluded 8th Triennial Delegates’ Conference in Owerri, Imo.
The governor, in the statement issued by his Media Aide, Mr Ismaila Uba-Misilli, described Alhassan’s victory as a remarkable achievement and source of immense pride for the state and the entire journalism community.
He praised Alhassan’s journey and impressive rise in the NUJ leadership.
“From your humble beginning at the chapel level, to the state, zonal and now the national level, you have showed consistency, demonstrated unmatched courage, integrity and passion for journalism and the welfare of journalists.
“Your election as the national president of NUJ is a reflection of the trust journalists across Nigeria have in your capacity to lead.
“Your commitment, integrity and vision have made you a shining example of what it means to be a leader in the field of journalism and I commend you for these sterling attributes,” he said.
Yahaya, while expressing confidence in Alhassan’s ability to unite and lead the union toward progress and professionalism, assured him of the support, solidarity and goodwill of the government and people of the state.
“We are confident that under your leadership, NUJ will witness a new era of progress, unity and professionalism that will further elevate the role of journalism in promoting national development,” he said.
The governor acknowledged the vital role of a united and committed press in advancing democratic ideals and national development.
He also praised journalists for the peaceful conduct of the election, while wishing the new NUJ leadership a successful and impactful tenure.
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ibadan on Thursday ordered the remand of a 52-year-old man, Taiwo Olaniyan, in Agodi correctional facility for allegedly causing the death of his unborn child.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, who did not take the defendant’s plea for lack of jurisdiction, ordered his remand in Agodi correctional facility, Ibadan.
Ogunkanmi held that the defendant would remain in custody pending receipt of advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till Dec. 12 for mention.
Earlier, the Prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye, had arraigned the defendant, who resides at Apata area of Ibadan, on a three-count charge bordering on assault and causing death of an unborn child.
Akinloye told the court that the defendant had, on May 2018, assaulted his wife, Rukayat Babajide, by inflicting injury on her.
He said that the defendant caused the death of the foetus due to his assault on his wife during pregnancy.
The prosecutor said that the couple had been married for 14 years, with two children.
According to him, the offences contravene Section 316 and punishable under Sections 319, 328 and 355 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
NAN reports that if found guilty of the charges, the defendant maybe sentenced to three years imprisonment under section 355, while section 328 stipulates life imprisonment and section 319 death sentence for any convicted offender.
Gombe gov. congratulates new NUJ National President
Gombe gov. congratulates new NUJ National President
Court remands man for allegedly causing death of his unborn child
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