TMC backs MURIC, says terrorism allegation designed to tarnish group’s image

The National Headquarters of The Muslim Congress (TMC) has joined the Muslim Community to condemn the recent allegation linking Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, to an international terrorist group, saying it was a lie designed by enemies of Islam to silence the Islamic organisation from defending the rights of Muslims in Nigeria.

Sahara Strategy Group (SSG) had earlier this week accused MURIC Director, Prof Lakin Akintola of receiving the sum of $200,000 from the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter faction of Boko Haram; a claim he has since dismissed as outright falsehood.

TMC, in a press statement signed by its Amir (President); Dr Luqman AbdurRaheem, on Friday, rallied its full support for Prof Akintola, saying that the high-ranking academic has become a torn in the flesh of looters, terrorists and Islamophobes who have chosen to malign and intimidate him over his consistent Islamic advocacy.

Read full statement below

TMC PRESS RELEASE

The Muslim Congress (TMC) joins fellow Nigerians to condemn the recent malicious attack and false allegation against the personality of our esteemed Professor Lakin Akintola, Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) by a coalition of blackmailers whose motive is to impugn on the integrity of Prof Lakin, thereby preventing him from making comments on National and International issues affecting Islam and Muslims.

He was falsely alleged to have collected $200,000 from the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a splinter group of Boko Haram with growing influence in different regions in West Africa, including Nigeria. The false allegation of receiving such humongous funds from a terrorist organization in or outside Nigeria by MURIC Director is incredibly damaging and serious.

This is an unthinkable allegation designed by enemies of Islamic advocacy and MURIC to drag the name of Professor Lakin, an accomplished and fulfilled Islamic scholar through the mud, depicting him as a security threat, thereby attempting to placing him under the watchlist of the security agencies. They have failed! The ploy is dead on arrival because the Lakin Akintola that we know is an incorruptible personality that does not succumb to injustice, blackmail and materialistic pursuits.

He voluntarily pursues the cause of defending the oppressed and ensuring that the fundamental human rights of Muslims and non-Muslims in Nigeria is respected and preserved. He has consistently discharged his responsibilities Pro Bono without expecting any economic or political gains, unlike his detractors who worship money, power and hedonistic values.

The Congress throws its weight firmly behind the MURIC Director, who is being maligned and intimidated. Professor Lakin through MURIC has become a thorn in the flesh of looters, spoilers, terrorist groups, Islamophobes, and ethnic jingoists. The ethnic jingoists have resorted to name-calling, threats and most recently blackmail because they are not comfortable with his views on certain issues.

Professor is known to stand for justice, decency, moderation, welfare, fairness, rule of law, diversity, mass literacy, hijab rights, fight against rape, girl-child education, resolving the Al-Majiri syndrome, mutual respect and good governance.

For over a decade, the Director of MURIC has been at the forefront of sensitizing Northerners on the need to proactively manage Herders-Farmer crisis, religious extremism, recurring communal dissent, poverty, insurgency and Al-Majiri problem because of the negative consequences these burning issues portend for democracy, peace and development. How can such a patriot collude with ISWAP?

Beyond sentiments, Professor Lakin is a colossus per excellence. He has the highest number of press releases that directly condemned Boko Haram, ISWAP and other terror groups in Nigeria.

In conclusion, the leadership of TMC is disturbed by the silence of some Islamic organizations and influential Muslim leaders on this matter. We call on security agencies to commence immediate investigation into the false allegation against Professor Lakin including prompt prosecution of the elements behind this attack to serve as deterrent to other criminals, who may seek to heat up the polity while pursuing diabolical ethno-political agenda.

Long Live Lakin Akintola, Long Live the Muslim Ummah, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

SIGNED

Dr Luqman AbdurRaheem, MNIM
Amir, The Muslim Congress