Nigeria: Muric Faults Northern Can's Defence of INEC Chairman

An Islamic human rights group, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has lashed out at the northern wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for defending the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, over the allegation of instigating the branding of Nigeria as a country of particular interest and orchestrating the genocide narrative.

In a statement on Saturday, the group's executive director, Prof Ishaq Akintola, slammed northern CAN for "ignoring the substance while pursuing the shadow."

The group noted that CAN Northern wing, defended the INEC chairman over the allegation of instigating the branding of Nigeria as a country of particular concern.

"In a press release signed on the issue, the chairman of Northern CAN, Reverend Joseph John Hayab and the secretary general, Bishop Mohammed Naga, accused the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) of politicising religion.

This was in response to the council's demand for Amupitan's sack.

"What we know of mature groups is that they confront issues directly and address them as presented while objective people review situations and separate emotions from facts.

"But in this case, CAN has elected to put its weight behind sentiment rather than reality. It has ignored the substance while pursuing mere shadow. CAN cannot address the issue.

"We, therefore, put it to CAN that its approach is escapist and emotion-laden. It will not sell. How can CAN leave the offender to query the whistle blower?

"What kind of examination malpractice panel will ignore the candidate who cheats to sanction the invigilator who merely did his job as required?

"Who does that? How can CAN do this to Nigeria? How can CAN brush aside the issue of reporting Nigeria to America while focusing on those who interrogated the report as well as the reporter? How can CAN leave the tangential for the peripheral?

"Instead of denying or confirming that Amupitan wrote the legal brief, CAN ignored the subject matter and turned round to accuse the Shari'ah Council of politicising religion. But is that the issue?

"The question is whether Amupitan wrote the legal brief or not. CAN sidestepped the issue, dribbling, gangling, grandstanding and maradonising. CAN cannot address the issue."

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