“We refer specifically to states like Taraba, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kogi, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Niger, Kaduna, Kebbi, Lagos, etc.
“Nigerian Muslims demand fair representation. We demand inclusiveness and full integration into the Nigerian political space. This is without prejudice to the preference for competence.
“The records set by Professor Ishaq Oloyede (JAMB Registrar) and Professor Isa Ali Pantami (Minister of Communications and Digital Economy) in office remain indubitable proof of hidden administrative icons among Nigerian Muslims although only unbiased Presidents and governors will find them.
“We are not asking Tinubu to sacrifice excellence on the altar of mediocrity. We have no scintilla of doubt that there are eminently qualified Muslims in all fields of human endeavour.
“We assert clearly, emphatically and categorically that failure to find suitable Muslims in any state of the federation for a ministerial appointment is like failure to find coal in Newcastle.
“Of course it is only logical that Ministers from states like Sokoto, Borno, Kano and Jigawa will all be Muslims while those from Enugu, Anambra, Rivers and Cross Rivers will be an all-Christian affair. The governors in those states may give one or two minorities appointments as commissioners and board members.”
‘Juicy’ post
In another statement titled, ‘El-Rufai Deserves Juicy Post’, the group hinged its position for a ‘juicy’ post for El-Rufai under the Tinubu administration on the role played by the Kaduna governor and eleven fellow governors from the North in ensuring that the South got the mandate during the APC presidential primary.
“As the days inch closer to the inauguration of the new administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian political spectrum has been inundated with power struggle intrigues and post allocation schemes. This is not new to us since we know that failure is an orphan but winners are always surrounded by all and sundry”, the statement said.
“However, we deem it germane to remind the president-elect of the need to pay debts owed and appreciate those who made his current status a fait accompli. This is important in order to start sowing the seed of success for the incoming administration as well as to secure a strong foothold for 2027.
“Gratitude is a major characteristic of a good Muslim. Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an, ‘If you are grateful, I will increase my favours on you…’ (Qur’an 14:7). If the president-elect shows appreciation to the ‘Noble Dozen’ from the North, he will enjoy more of their solidarity.
”It is noteworthy that the ‘Noble Dozen’ (i.e. the twelve governors who insisted that power must shift to the South) was led by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State.
“There is no Nigerian who is unaware of the unique support and unequalled solidarity given by this northern group to the president-elect. El-Rufai in particular left his palatial office in Kaduna to spend days in Abuja.
“His contribution to our victory, the victory of the Muslim-Muslim ticket is unquantifiable. He became the mouthpiece of the Muslim-Muslim ticket camp, moving from one media house to another. We must not allow all these to go in vain”.
Apology
But in another statement about 24 hours later, entitled, MURIC Withdraws The Word ‘Juicy’, Replaces It With ‘Top’, Apologises, the group said: “Our attention has been drawn to the word ‘juicy’ used in yesterday’s statement as not being decent enough.
“In the statement, we canvassed for a top post to be given to Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State in the incoming administration. We inadvertently used the word ‘juicy post’ instead of ‘top post’ It is not in our character to be insolent, loose or to use vulgar language.
“We hereby withdraw the word ‘juicy’ and replace it with the word ‘top’. We apologise to all those who might have taken note of the offensive word.”
Source:- Vanguard
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