TMC dissociates self from partisan politics, urges government to end lingering ASUU strike

The Muslim Congress (TMC), an organisation deeply involved in national integration, good governance and responsible citizenship, has lent its voice to events in Nigeria’s political space.

In a statement signed by the Amir of TMC, Alhaji AbdulWasiu Bangbala and his General Secretary, Alhaji Hassan Adeshina, the group said it does not have any alliance with any political party or individuals 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 the political parties. Any member of TMC seen fraternising with a political party is doing so in his own interest and conviction,” he said. “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.”

The statement reads: “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 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 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.”

The group appealed to political elite to, as a matter of urgency, find a way to resolving 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.”

TMC also called on public-spirited citizens to rise up and be the voice of reason to prevail on the authorities to finally put an end to this national embarrassment.

It said the authorities must come up with the right policies to fund universities. This is essential to resolving the issue of “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.”