Datti Baba-Ahmed Tackles MURIC Over Abdulsalami Abubakar

By Ayodele Oni

A former Senator representing Kaduna North and Vice Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed has observed that the Islamic body, Muslim Rights Concern, (MURIC) has become a partisan body, going by its reaction to the former Nigerian Military Leader, Abdulsalami Abubakar’s comment on hardship in the country

Baba-Ahmed described the comment credited to Prof Ishaq Akintola as “a careless show of unnecessary support to an evidently submerging Tinubu Presidency.”

He said: Professor Ishaq Akintola 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.

“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.

“In this regard, General Abdulsalami is just doing his bit like other highly placed Nigerians including other past rulers and 1statesmen 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 issued 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 Abdulsalami is the world renowned hero of the current democracy we are enjoying. General Abdulsalami can rightly be described as the architect of the present 4th Republic which President Tinubu and others are now enjoying.

“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, 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.”