MSSN Lagos condemns harassment of Muslims in Osun, Enugu, Ogun

The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit has called on government at all levels, including Nigerians to be wary of brewing religious intolerance in their territories. The Amir of the MSSN in Lagos State, Saheed Ashafa, said this in a press statement to condemn the various attacks unleashed on Muslims in various states. Ashafa recalled that at Adesanmi area of Ile-Ife, Osun State on Saturday August 13, 2016 a muslim lady, Shakirah Akintayo, was allegedly beaten by a Christian preacher from Living Faith Assembly (aka Winners Chapel) for refusing an invitation to attend a church programme and accept christ. He also pointed to the reported detention by Nigeria Police Force of a 16-year-old girl, Ifesinachi AMATULLAHI Anih, over her acceptance of Islam in Enugu and later transferred to Abuja. Ashafa further lamented that another breach of fundamental human right was committed against a muslim female, Mutiat Alao, when she was threatened to remove her hijab or lose her job by the Provost of Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Aro in Abeokuta, Ogun State. According to Ashafa, it is more disturbing that the police and government officials are aware of the developments but refused to take proactive steps. The leader of Muslim students in Lagos State explained that the current economic depression in Nigeria was beginning to have psychological effects that could spur anger easily among people if their rights were continually tampered with. Ashafa said, “No doubt, the nation’s economy is not in the best shape we all want it to be yet. There is inflation and limited availability of jobs. Many families are struggling to survive with the hope and understanding that the efforts of the Federal Government will yield result soon. “It will be unfair that despite the perseverance and maturity exhibited by Nigerians especially Muslims in this time of hardship, our fundamental human rights cannot be guaranteed. “It is not good for government and its agencies to keep silent in the face of the numerous oppression unleashed on Muslims. If the growing cases of religious intolerance is allowed to continue without adequate intervention from appropriate quarters, it may be greeted with an unpredictable and damaging reaction. “Our plea is that government at all levels and Nigerians, especially people from other faith should not tamper with laws and injunctions protecting the right to wear the Hijab (Muslim head scarf) in public institutions, including schools. Doing so will not help our economy and could degenerate into religious crisis, which will worsen the current economic depression and hardship experienced in the country.” Commenting specifically on the incident of job loss threat in Ogun State, Ashafa appealed to all concerned stakeholders to wage into the matter urgently and ensure that the provost of the hospital, Dr A. O Akinhanmi, faced disciplinary actions. He added, “It is strange to the hearing that at this stage in Nigeria, an institution can pretend not to know that wearing hijab is not just a right ordained by Allah but also a legal right. “It is worst to hear that a Muslim female is threatened with job loss for refusing to pull off her hijab; and our observation is that the increasing cases of harassment and intimidation is already forming wounds in the minds of many in Ogun State. Thus, proper intervention is needed to prevent anger from escalating into crisis.” Ashafa also warned invigilators and supervisors at the ongoing General Certificate of Examination (GCE) conducted by the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) not to disturb any Muslim student for putting on hijab to the examination hall. “We are not against security checks, provided it is done moderately. However, we frown and will not hesitate to take drastic action against centres or invigilators that harass, intimidate, delay or prevent from writing examination a muslim female candidate on the ground of wearing hijab.” SIGNED: SAHEED ASHAFA, Amir (President), Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit amir@mssnlagos.net 08173291878 www.mssnlagos.net www.facebook.com/LagosMSSN Twitter: @MSSNLagos YouTube: MSSNLagos http://magazine.mssnlagos.net/mssn-lagos-condemns-harassment-of-muslims-in-osun-enugu-ogun/

I support the struggle for the independence of Palestine – Senator Sani Shehu

The Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen. Shehu Sani, on Friday expressed support for the United Nations’ resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said during a visit to the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Saleh Fhied, in Abuja, that the conflict had lingered in spite of efforts to resolve it. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there had been efforts by the Security Council of the UN to bring an end to the conflict. The conflict has been on territorial lines that existed before Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip in 1967. Sani assured the Palestinian envoy of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the traditional position of Nigeria on the UN resolution on the matter. “I am here to reaffirm my support for the Palestinian course and the struggle of the people of Palestine, for their liberation as an independent and a sovereign state. “I also want to reaffirm my firm support for the United Nations resolution on Palestine-Israel debacle. “It is regrettable that former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration derailed from Nigeria’s official position. “It was a direct departure from Nigeria’s traditional position. It was not within the principle of our foreign policy. “I believe no African should think of any other think than to see Palestine as a sovereign state,’’ he said. Sani said that it was high time Palestine gained its freedom, stressing that “Palestine represents 21st century prison, where a people are denied the basic right to exist as a free people. “We don’t believe that there should be a country under colonialism. This is the time for the suffering for the people of Palestine to come to an end; it is time for their independence. “We believe the UN resolution. In as much as Israel exists as a sovereign state, Palestine should also exist as a sovereign state. “Global peace can only be attained if the issue is resolved.’’ He commended the Palestinian Government for fostering unity among its Muslim and Christian population, saying that it offered a lesson of religious harmony all over the world. He said that Nigeria and Palestine would continue to cooperate in relevant areas as well as work closely towards global peace. Responding, the ambassador commended Buhari for fostering relationship between Nigeria and Palestine in 1985 when he was military Head of State. Fhied said that Nigeria’s support for Palestine was only fair and just, considering the fact that Nigeria had also suffered from colonialism. He expressed optimism that as civilian president, Buhari would support the Palestinian struggle to become a sovereign nation. Fhied also commended Sani for his support for Palestine’s course and urged him not to relent in helping the government in the struggle for freedom. He said, “every single word you just said will be heard in Palestine. The struggle is not finished yet; we count on your support and we wait for the day we will get our liberation. “We don’t want to destroy Israel. We do not want to de-legalize Israel; we want to have them as neighbours; we hope the problem will finish and we will be free. “They have to honour all international decisions and Security Council resolutions and with Nigeria and International help as well as your help, we can achieve this.’’ NAN

THEY WANT US TO BOW FOR THIER NORMS AND CULTURE

THEY WANT US TO BOW FOR THIER NOR

MS AND CULTURE, That is the reason behind the C.A.N's Crocodile tears. For a very long time, there have been numerous deadly struggle between the Muslim world and the western world especially the Jews and the Christians. Many battles were fought. Majority Muslims were killed. Countless properties of the Muslims were seized, many properties were destroyed. Do you know the reason behind this? It is because every group of people who are privileged will want others to bow for their interest. The culture of the west was promulgated by the devil (Shaytãn). Their system of life is totally erroneous and godless. Those who have greater access to attain wealth will cheat others under them. Adultery and drunkeness is among their prominent features. Their belief (Aqeedah) has totally gone against the will of the creator. Countless are the atrocities of the Jews to Allah, the Prophets and mankind. For instance, the Jews declared Allah as a stingy and poor. They called Arch-angel Jibreel a liar. They called Maryam (Jesus-mother) an adulteress. They said Jesus was a bastard, and lots more As regard the Christians, Bible says that God is foolish, The Prophets before Jesus were abused in the bible in a move to clarify Jesus as the only saint among other prophets. Bible affirms that prophet Nuh (Noah) got drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Bible confirms that Prophet David committed adultery with females. It was in the bible where God says that you cannot eat pig but you can give it to your neighbour. In the gospel of Jeremiah, we read that God enforces hard drink on people. The text in the Song of Solomon when read in the church, the church will turn to hotel. You cannot imagine the way bible described females. No wonder when the pastors rape the female church members. Now they are shouting on Islamization that doesn't exist. All the statistics made revealed that 80% of the Nigeria's resources are shared by the churches and Jews. Muslims are treated as second class citizens in Nigeria. The key posts and the employment opportunities in the parastatals have been jeopardized by these Christians. You can imagine how an Elephant is shouting that an ordinary rat is planning to cage him despite its hugeness, what an ironical and hyperbolic statement? Well, perhaps the Muslims have not yet known the reason why they are shouting on inexisting Islamization. But let me tell you that they will continue shouting until you become their followers or you exist no more. Allah says "never will the Jews and Christians be pleased with you till you follow their religion..." Surat-el Baqorah, verse 120. We are telling them that we can never renounce our faith. They will rather surrender for the will of Allah which is Sharia. Whether they like it or not, even if they shout from today till next century, when it is time that Allah promised, Islamic Caliphacy will germinate where they do not expect. 🏴🏴Islam is coming to rule the world.🏴🏴

Unity Among Muslims Unnegotiable- Ameer Taawun

Office of the Ameer Unfortunately, we see nowadays many Muslim groups and sects working in da`wah plagued with the diseases of division, disagreements, and discord, in total contrast to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. We all need not to be surprised if it happens because that is the nature of prophetic da’wah and it would never change. When you are trying to build a strong Ummah, the pillar must be erected on a strong foundation. We are all human being truly but the one who created us knows us more than ourselves and He will do what is necessary to ensure the forces protecting His course are protected likewise, separate the wheat from the chaff. And when such a thing occurs we must never lose focus because is a part of Allah’s design on the path of da’wah. Muslims should be cautious of those Da’wah groups or people which claim to be the only representative of true Islam and attribute disbelief to the others. In Islam, we need not to condemn any Muslims when we are not God and we must also distance ourselves from breaking the unity of Muslims Ummah or contributing to their weakness and loss of power. Division substitutes love with hatred, trust with suspicion, and peace with conflict. what we need at present is unity because that is where our power resides. Efforts of da`wah would not be fruitful unless we forget our differences, make da`wah the center of our interests, cooperate with each other, and coordinate our work with the fear of Allah and without self-interest

WHY WE CANNOT KEEP SILENCE ON CHRISTIAN MISSION 2020 IN NIGERIA.

Office of the Ameer “Should they gain the upper hand over you, they would behave to you as enemies, and stretch forth their hands and their tongues against you with evils, and they desire that you should disbelieve.” Quran 60:2 One thing has to be known, Muslims are peace loving people and that is the nature of our religion. But in a situation where our lives are at stake, we just have to call our attention to it in order to prevent the alarm from being blown because it is what had happened to other neighbouring Muslims which we have also witnessed. And Yoruba adage will say, “Iku to n pa ojugbe eni owe lo n pa fun ni” (The death of one’s close associate is a proverb for all his friends.) For quite some time, there have been numerous cases of Christians involved in terrorist related acts, but such cases were never investigated. In 2010, the Punch Newspaper reported the arrest of Five (5) Pastors “for operating an Illegal Military outfit” (a Euphemism for terrorist activity, since the word is exclusively reserved for Muslims), in Lagos, with their photographs published at page 11 of the Wednesday edition, 10th March, 2010. CAN Military operatives were also arrested by the police “for operating illegal security outfit” in Jalingo, Taraba State. Those arrested included Reverend Chaplain Shehu Yakubu- a retired customs officer, Sunday Silas- a retired SSS officer, Sulaiman Audu- a retired ASP, Y. Winew- a retired ASP, Isma’ila Makaniki and many others. This was reported by the Daily Trust Newspaper of Saturday, 2nd November, 2013 at page 10. In the same paper, at Page 8, was another report, “Police nab woman, 2 others over militia training in Gombe”, in which one Mrs. Deborah Babayo and two men were reportedly arrested by the Gombe Police Command “for conducting illegal militia training under the auspices of an illegal organization, called “The Elite Corps” on the outskirts of Gombe, on 1st November, 2013. In Plateau State, in March 2012, a Christian wearing Military Uniform, later identified as a member of the COCIN Church, was lynched while trying to escape after the bombing of the same Church headquarters in Jos. A few days later, on Sunday 25th March, 2012, the Special Task Force (STF) paraded one Mr. Alex Danladi, who was caught wearing army camouflage, along with one Mr. Dung Bulus, a well known fabricator of guns, and some others the authorities said were students of the University of Jos. A few weeks later, on 10th April, 2012 one Mr. Monday Davou was arrested, caught red handed, planting a timed improvised explosive device (IED), at the Makera weekly market in Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State. This was evidently aimed at committing mass murder and attributed it to Boko Haram In Lagos, the Saturday Sun newspaper of 10th March, 2012, at page 10, reported that 11 cartons of explosives imported from South Africa, which were carefully packaged to beat security checks, where intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos. The huge consignments were for Miero Marble Granite and Stones Ltd, in Kaduna State, with one Mr. Micheal Awara Ernest as the Company representative to collect the explosives at the Cargo terminal. The statement of the Customs Area commandant at the Airport, Mr. Charles Eporwei Edike, which was profoundly insightful on the intent and probable consequences of the explosive, fell on the deaf ears of the SSS. He said “if those items were released, they could have been used to cause mayhem. We are now going to hand him and the items over to the Police for further investigation”. Well, since the handover, neither the Police nor the Spokeswoman of the almighty SSS had said, or done anything on it. In Gombe State, there was a report on the arrest of Christian men that sprayed bullets on the Gombe Deeper Life Church worshippers. Igbos were the suspects arrested who were reportedly taken to Abuja. Shortly thereafter, two Christians, Hassan Ojudu and Sama’ila Yakubu were arrested with a vehicle loaded with explosive devices and ammunitions. Curiously, they too were reportedly taken to Abuja Finally, on specific factual examples, was a BBC news report published by THISDAY Newspaper of Friday, 13th January, 2012 on page 6, on a British arms dealer, Gary Hyde being prosecuted in a London court for unlawfully arranging the shipment of about 80,000 guns and 32Million rounds of ammunition from China to Nigeria in 2007. Obviously, it was not meant for Muslim because if it was, the BBC, CNN and the Nigerian Media would have kept harping on it. Apart from being involved in all these terrorist activities, the Christians (though not all) in Nigeria are in for another bomb shell called CHRISTIAN MISSION 2020 with international backing, aiming at dividing Nigeria into three regions if not more than that with Christians taking over the three South. In fact, the states of our Nation today have proved its possibility unless if we are deceiving ourselves. Our fear is only on Muslims who are in deep slumber. No one is advocating for war or division of the country (God forbid) but if eventually comes as they are planning it, what will be the fate of Muslims?

CAN fumes over John Kerry’s meeting with Sultan, Northern governors; accuses U.S. of bias

The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has accused the United States government of stoking ethnic and religious divisions in Nigeria, after the U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, visited the Sultan of Sokoto and northern governors. The group said Christians were excluded from Mr. Kerry’s visit between Monday and Tuesday. Mr. Kerry travelled to Sokoto where he met the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, who is the head of Nigeria’s Muslim community. He later met President Muhammadu Buhari, before meeting governors of northern states. In an interview with journalists on Thursday, CAN said Mr. Kerry’s visit was “discriminatory, personal and divisive”. The group said Mr. Kerry should stop interfering in the internal affairs of the country, alleging that the visit was aimed at furthering the federal government’s plan to continue to persecute the teeming population of Nigerian Christians. The president of CAN, Rev. Supo Ayokunle, said Mr. Kerry’s “lack of respect for the heterogeneous nature of Nigeria, amounted to favouring northern Nigeria and Muslims to the detriment of the Christian community”. He said the disposition of the Secretary of States supported claims that the Barack Obama administration openly supported the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 2016 general elections, which produced the current leadership of the country. “Why did he meet with 19 states governors, without southern governors, is Nigeria the north alone, why did you go to the north alone?” he asked. There’s a siege on Christians. Kerry, his actions speak volume, his actions, body language were very divisive. “If US Secretary of States is coming for official visit, it’s understandable, but we demand explanation why he was selective. Has the sultan palace become another state house? Was Kerry invited by the Sultan? “We have 36 States in Nigeria; he only selected northern governors to meet with them. It was a visit to the north, not to Nigeria. It was surely a very divisive visit. With the visit to the north, Kerry’s visit has heightened fear and tension among Christians in Nigeria, if they cannot bring us together, they should not interfere in our affairs.” Speaking against the killing of Christians in northern Nigeria, the CAN president said based “on the government’s selective persecution of Christians mostly by the Department of State Service (DSS) and the Nigerian Police, it was obvious the administration was anti-Christians”. “Have the DSS arrested the Muslim youths who burnt down a Catholic Church in Niger State because they were worshiping on Friday? What happened to the ECWA Pastor who was killed in his farm in Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State? What have happened with Redeemed Preacher who was murdered in Kubwa, Abuja? “Look at the recent case in Zamfara State, Christians where burnt alive. What has happened? They will tell you, they are still investigating. Have they been arrested and charged them to court? If the government cannot sit up and protect Christians, tolerance is going to break down, they should do the right thing, they should not provoke Christians. Have we ever seen this government bring anybody to book?” The CAN president tasked President Buhari “to come out clean”, adding that, “a government that doesn’t listen is not for the people.” The CAN leader called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to as a matter of urgency intervene in the case of Joe Chinakwe who was arrested for naming his dog “Buhari”. He argued that, naming an animal with somebody’s name is never a criminal offence. “The NBA should take up that case and ascertain whether the man has the right to give any name to a dog. They should come and protect the man’s human rights and set the record why the case is not a criminal offence,” Mr. Ayokunle said. http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/209325-can-fumes-john-kerrys-meeting-sultan-northern-governors-accuses-u-s-bias.html

Army, NSCDC Uncover Illegal Oil Well At Winners Chapel Church Premises

Fabian Idoko & Folake Sokoya

Lagos – The Nigerian Army and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) have uncovered an illegal oil well around Iyana-Odo area of Lagos. The latest incident is coming two weeks after security agents discovered illegal oil wells at 10 houses on Ibadan and Abeokuta streets in Ilasamaja, Lagos. Independent gathered that the security agents discovered the oil well Thursday within the premises of Winners Satellite Church, located at Iyana-Odo in Igando-Ikotun local council development area of the state. It was filled with premium motor spirit, popularly known as petrol. However, resident pastor of the Church, Oladela Paul told Tajudeen Balogun, the Lagos NSCDC commandant that the church had sent a formal complain to Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC when they noticed the well was filled with PMS. Oladela however regretted that month after writing the NNPC for solution, the Church was yet to get any response from the Corporation According to the pastor, “the well has become a source of harassment to the church and our members, even as we are afraid of the impending hazard which we cannot determine.” Kehinde Bada, Lagos NSCDC image maker confirmed the incident, saying that “the visit is to evaluate the extent of the spillage and take necessary actions.”