By Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, PhD, FSAN
In a careless show of unnecessary support to an evidently submerging Tinubu Presidency, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the spokesperson of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) threw caution and decorum in reacting to the gentle advisory of former Head of State General Abdulsalaam Abubakar on the prevailing hardships in the country occasioned by the ill-conceived socio-economic policies of the Tinubu administration.
First of all I would like to observe that MURIC’s latest observation is uncharacteristic of what I know it to be. The MURIC I have come to know is a non-partisan defender of the downtrodden across religious, social and ethnic divides for which it had garnered a mileage of goodwill and positive regard. Although it is by name and orientation a known defender of the rights of Muslims, on many occasions it has come to the defence of non-Muslims alike whose rights have been unjustly trampled upon. This is in keeping with the time honoured Islamic injunctions on doing and upholding Justice to all. Indeed there are several verses of the Holy Qur’an as well Hadiths that emphasise on the primacy of Justice in the Islamic religion.
It is therefore a matter of great surprise and concern that MURIC will chose to respond the way it did to the statement credited to the former military head of state on what just about everybody from the high and low in the country is talking about. Nobody in their right minds will not agree with General Abdulsalaam Abubakar that the country is in dire social and economic straits. The numbers bear this. The price of petroleum products keeps going up and the value of the naira keeps plummeting. Inflation by accounts of the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) is hovering around 34 per cent and counting.
Cumulatively these have negatively affected millions of households in Nigeria. As the general said, which I believe Professor Akintola is aware of many Nigerians cannot afford three square meals a day. Indeed in the prevailing circumstances it is the lucky family that can afford a meal a day. And in the coming days and months more and more families will become prostrate and incapable of even affording the one meal a day. This is the incontrovertible situation right across the country.
These are existential facts which Professor Akintola can verify if he wishes. In such situation, it behoves on well-meaning Nigerians to come out and tell truth to the authorities and admonish them to provide succour to the people pining under deprivation. Many Nigerians have done so in the abiding interest of the Nation.
In this regard, General Abdulsalaam is just doing his bit like other highly placed Nigerians including other past rulers and statesmen who have weighed in with their advisory and suggestions on how the government can alleviate the dire situation that Nigerians are presently grappling with. The general must have been pressed enough to come out publicly after having seen that President Tinubu has pointedly refused to even hearken to suggestions for him to soft pedal on his harsh economic policies. Is Professor Akintola not aware of the statement issuing from President Tinubu following the latest increase in the price of fuel that he will not relent even as Nigerians are groaning more as a result? General Abdulsalaam is exercising his constitutional right to speak out in addition to his status as a former head of state and statesman who people look up to in such situations for all kinds of assistance and to also weigh in with his honest assessment of the situation in the country so that the authorities can take heed.
Professor Akintola and MURIC are rather taking on the wrong man in their rather uncouth and irresponsible attempt to defend the failing policies of the Tinubu administration. General Abdulsalaam is the world renowned hero of the current democracy we are enjoying. He took over power following the demise of General Sani Abacha and the passing on of Chief M.K.O Abiola when the country was steep in dangerous uncertainty. It was to his credit that he courageously accepted the challenge and guided the nation through the stormy waters of the times and laid the foundation for the present democratic dispensation that has now lasted for over two decades. In doing this he kept his word as a gentleman general handing over within a year of his coming to office thereby etching his name indelibly in the pantheon of Nigeria’s great statesmen. General Abdulsalaam can rightly be described as the architect of the present 4th Republic which President Tinubu and others are now enjoying.
And in retirement he has continued his characteristic good works by helping to bring about peace and reconciliation in crises prone areas in Nigeria and Africa. His most telling contributions in this regard have been felt during elections in Nigeria with his National Peace Movement which brings together various candidates and political parties to conduct the elections peacefully.
Indeed if MURIC’s Professor Akintola will make issues with a man with such a remarkable profile of positive national achievements on account of his advisory to President Tinubu, I can only surmise that it is not the Professor Akintola I have come to know. Rather than take aim at General Abdulsalaam for his gentle and honest remarks, I will ask Professor Akintola to direct his gratuitous statements to President Tinubu who has truculently refused all entreaties to implement his policies with a human face.
If a former head of state who is known as a general and gentleman and not known for uttering flippant statements could break his well-known composure and decide to come out with such a compelling intervention on the state of the nation, then the situation calls for sober reflection and necessary introspection on the part of President Tinubu’s administration. This is what Nigerians expect of MURIC at this point in time not gratuitous sycophancy in support of an administration that has failed in its obligation to the people.
Let me endeavour to add that having a duo of same faith failing leaders is bad publicity for any system not to mention a religion. Indeed MURIC’s attempt to project or promote such a leadership is patently a negation of its stated principles. All over the world except war stricken nations, Muslim leadership has brought peace, stability and prosperity. Except as we saw under the previous leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world and his home state of Katsina fell to bandits.
It is legitimate to ask why Professor Akintola’s MURIC will want to cover up another failing leadership headed by not just a Muslim but two Muslims. For now Taju Akintola has failed in impressing anyone. Villa may compensate them with few more seats during Ramadhan but that will be all. Everyone knows that this ungodly act of holding Tinubu’s brief is no longer tenable, and must stop.
Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed was the Vice Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections