Sodiq Oyeleke
The Muslim Rights Concern has urged President Muhammad Buhari to pardon the 54 Nigerian soldiers who were imprisoned over allegation of conspiracy to commit mutiny.
The Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, said this in a press statement to congratulate Nigerians over Maolud Nabiyy on Thursday.
It will be recalled that the punishment of the convicted soldiers, who were earlier sentenced to death, has been reduced to 10 years imprisonment.
Despite the adjustment of the punishment of the soldiers, Akintola argued that the convicted soldiers deserved rewards, not imprisonment.
Describing their imprisonment as dishearting, the human right activist said punishing the soldiers would not help the war against corruption.
He said, "A fortiori, MURIC reminds President Muhammadu Buhari of the plight of the 54 soldiers who were imprisoned for refusing to fight Boko Haram insurgents with poor weapons. FG may not realize it, but the 54 soldiers actually exposed the $2.1 billion arms fraud. They are whistle-blowers, not criminals.
"Paradoxically, while other whistle-blowers are being rewarded, the 54 soldiers are languishing in jail. This casts a shadow on our war against corruption. It is very disheartening.
"In the spirit of the Compassion Day, as declared by world organizations like the United Nations, which the Prophet's birthday signifies, MURIC appeals to Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to grant presidential pardon to the 54 soldiers."
He also urged state governors not to neglect prisoners in their state.
"We also appeal to state governors and chief judges to use the occasion to visit prisons in their states with a view to setting free a large number of inmates particularly those awaiting trial," he added.
The Federal Government (FG) had declared Friday (today) 1st as a holiday to mark Maolud nabbiy.
the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) felicitates with the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar III, CFR, mni on this auspicious occasion. We also congratulate the Nigerian Muslim Ummah and the entire Nigerian citizenry for witnessing another birthday of the greatest man that ever lived.
According to the Glorious Qur'an, Prophet Muhammad was the seal of all prophets (Qur'an 33:40) and an exemplary leader (Qur'an 33:21). He was sent to the whole world (Qur'an 34:28) as a compassion to Muslims and non-Muslims alike (Qur'an 21:107 wa ma arsalnaaka ilaa rahmatan lil'aalamiin وما ارسلناك الا رحمة للعالمين).
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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