Our Stand On Political Participation, Rule Of Law & Lingering ASUU Strike – TMC

The Muslim Congress (TMC), an organisation deeply immersed in national integration, good governance and responsible citizenship, is compelled to lend her voice to trending events in the Nigeria political space.

As an organisation with members in most major political parties, but united on the mission to promote good governance, political participation, constitutionalism and moral health of the society, we feel duty bound to sound a note of warning to people employing unconstitutional and extra-legal measures as options in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.

We also wish to make our position clear that we do not have any alliance, at the organisational level, with any political party or individual(s) in the pursuit of their political agenda. We would like to reiterate the fact that our organisation is like a father to all, with its members in all major political parties.

Any member(s) of the TMC seen fraternising with a political party or individual politician(s) in fostering the interest of such are doing so in their own interests and conviction. It has nothing to do with our organisation. All those who have maligned or trying to link the name of the organisation to political interests of any individuals are, therefore, doing so at the risk of litigation and our lawyers have been appropriately briefed for necessary actions.

In the light of this development, we are stating clearly that the interest of the organisation is that of Islam, the Muslim Ummah and humanity. We will continue to encourage and guide our members appropriately on the best way to discharge their political and electoral duties in order to seek the pleasure of their Creator, while working to achieve cohesion of the Muslim Ummah.

Meanwhile, we take grave exception to the gradual slide of the country towards constitutional anarchy and lack of respect for the rule of law. As victims of lack of respect for constitutionalism, our Muslim women are being daily denied their rights to use the Hijab. These constitutionally guaranteed rights of Muslim women are flagrantly abused and violated with impunity and no one feels concerned about it.

We would, therefore, like to appeal to all political actors, especially elected officials and political appointees, to follow the path of honour by respecting the constitution and legal frameworks guiding our social interactions, political participation and electoral aspirations of all Nigerians irrespective of their religious and regional affiliations.

We wish to appeal to the political elites to, as a matter of urgency, find a way to resolve the lingering ASUU strike without delay.

It is quite unfortunate that the students and lecturers have been caught in the vortex of a brewing political storm. What started as a one-month warning strike has morphed into an indefinite strike whilst the cavalier attitude of the authorities to the long-drawn-out industrial action by university lecturers make further evident that nothing matters to the political actors than scheming for positioning in the next political dispensation. While not unaware of government’s other contending demands amidst lean resources, the failure of the authorities to demonstrate commitment to honouring the agreement reached with ASUU in 2009 will always put the government in bad optics.

It is disquieting that, in the face of the complete shut-down of universities and the attendant crippling of academic activities in tertiary institutions across the country, some of the dramatis personae who are at the centre of the impasse between FG and ASUU are rather engrossed with political preservation.

We, therefore, call on public spirited citizens to rise up and be the voice of reason to prevail on the authorities to finally put to bed this national embarrassment of gargantuan proportions. The authorities must come up with the right policies to devise alternative sources of funding of the varsities.

This is essential to resolve the perpetual financial crisis and also to attract quality academic and non-academic staff capable of producing quality graduates that can compete with their counterparts around the world.

In conclusion, we enjoin Nigerians to fear Allah as we approach the time of great transition. We pray that He inspire and guide us with the sense of discernment to choose the best among us as our new set of leaders to pilot the affairs of this great country.

By the same token, we urge that efforts should not be spared in strictly following constitutional and legal provisions in the conduct of political activities as we take to the polls in the imminent 2023 general elections.

Alhaji AbdulWasi’I Taiwo Bangbala,
Amir, The Muslim Congress

Alhaji Hassan Taiwo Adesina, Secretary General, The Muslim Congress