…Martins, MURIC felicitate with muslims

Bemoan Rape In Nigeria

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Rev Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins and Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) have felicitated with the Muslim community on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir.

In a separate Salah message, Martins lamented the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and enjoined Muslims to use the occasion to pray for the country, Nigerians and particularly, those currently undergoing serious hardship. He thanked God that some Muslims were able to perform this year’s hajj, despite COVID-19, saying those unable to go to the prayer ground, due to the pandemic should be hopeful and prayerful, as the restrictions occasioned by the pandemic would be lifted soon and the faithful would gather again to worship the Creator.

Martins also wanted the Federal Government to do something very tangible to help the masses, as the people are despondent.

“So government needs to put in place things that will encourage people not to lose hope, especially now that residents are hearing about so much money being thrown around, and so much money not being accounted for. All of this makes the poor even much more despondent and worry about the future. So, one hopes that government would put in place measures that would give people more hope,” he said.

In its goodwill message, MURIC urged Nigerians to emulate Prophets Ismail and Luqman, to find a lasting solution to the problem of rape, which has become rampant in modern societies, especially Nigeria.

Speaking through its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group said: “We felicitate with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’d Abubakar, Nigerian Muslims, as well as all Nigerians on the occasion of the 2020 Eid-el-Kabir.

“The focus of our Salah message this year is the panacea to rape, as one of the problems facing our society. One of the major reasons for preponderance of the incidence of rape is parents’ failure to guide their children.

In particular, many parents fail to teach their male children how to respect the other sex. They, therefore, grow up treating women and girls like underdogs.
“But rape will reduce in society, if all parents teach their male children about the sanctity of womanhood. Most young boys commit rape without knowing the implications. They need to be properly tutored to respect women and girls and know the legal implication of rape.

“Nigerians should borrow a leaf from the lessons of Id al-Kabir and Islam in general. If all Nigerian parents tutor their children the way Prophet Luqman (peace be upon him) did in Qur’an 31:13-19, our youth will be better guided. Luqman told his son to ‘enjoin righteousness and forbid evil.’ Rape is evil. It is an act of wickedness. It is barbaric.”