An Islamic human rights organisation, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has tasked Nigerians to beam their searchlights on state governors as they celebrate the 64th anniversary of the country’s independence.
This was contained in the independence message circulated to the media on Tuesday, 1st October, 2024 by the Founder and Executive Director of the organisation, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
MURIC argued that this will ensure a level playing ground in the search for transparency, probity and accountability which will eventually lead to good governance.
The message read: “The Muslim Rights Concern felicitates Nigerians of all tribes, faiths and shades. As we mark the 64th anniversary of our nation’s independence, we call the attention of fellow Nigerians to the lopsided and short-sighted manner we have been searching for good governance.
“Nigerians have always restricted their interest in government’s activities to the centre whereas our commonwealth is not kept at the centre alone. It is shared among all the 36 states. It is therefore myopic to always expect transparency, probity and accountability at the centre alone. We remain on a wild goose chase for good governance until we begin to monitor state governors and hold them accountable.
“Neither is it fair to always mobilise agitations against the centre at all times. The citizenry must grow up. It is time to get to the next level of activism. It is high time we started practising mature and responsible activism. It is only when this is done that we can ensure a level playing ground in the search for transparency, probity and accountability which will eventually lead to good governance.
“At the age of 64 we must stop being short-sighted. At the age of 64 we must widen our horizon. At the age of 64 we must think outside the box. We must look beyond the centre, beyond Abuja, beyond the federal government and beyond the president. We must take our governors to task.
“The governors also share our money in Abuja. It is not the federal government alone that sits on our common patrimony. We must ask our state governments what they are doing to improve the people’s welfare.
“We must feel independent, feel 64, feel liberated. We must free our minds from fixated prejudice against the centre. We must liberate ourselves from state level shenaniganism. We must ask the governors just as we have been asking the president. Get ready to ask your governor.” (Daily Trust)
