Today is 1st Muharram – the 1st Day of the New Islamic Calendar Year 1448 After the Hijra of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
Known as Hijra, the occasion is in commemoration of the migration of the last Prophet of God – Muhammad to mankind who suffered a lot of hardship together with his Companions and followers due to their belief in only one God – Almighty Allah..
They were discriminated against and persecuted by the unbelievers of Mecca who were idol worshippers.
When the persecution reached climax, Almighty Allah gave permission to the Holy Prophet Muhammad to leave Mecca for the unbelievers and proceed to Medina.
It was this migration of the Holy Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina that is known as Hijra.
To mark this great occasion, Muslims in Nigeria have since 1980 been marking the commencement of New Islamic Calendar Year with Mass Rally, Public Lectures and parade of Muslim children and students from various educational institutions in Nigeria.
In it’s message on today’s ccasion, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria called on the Federal and State Governments to urgently deploy technology to fight violent crimes of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping for ransom that have bedevilled the Country for sometime now…
The Group stated that though insecurity is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, current insecurity has reached an alarming proportion.
In a Press Release issued today to mark this year’s Hijra Celebration jointly signed by the National Coordinator of the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria Ustaz Ibrahim Abdullahi and the National Secretary Dr. Nasir Balogun, the Group appeal to the Federal Government to utilize the benefit of its international connections to stop the menace of insecurity as it is a threat to the forthcoming General Elections and total well-being of the Nigerian Citizens.
On corruption, the Group believes that corruption is one of the most significant causes of insecurity because the Nation lack strong legislations that could prevent serious economic crimes that have been promoting, poverty. unemployment, injustice and educational disadvantages for the young ones in this Country.
The Group also called for holistic review of remuneration packages of the members of the National Assembly.
Still on corruption, the Group reiterated it’s call for bench-marking of bailable economic crimes and abolition of ‘Plea Bargaining’ adding that there should be no bargaining with looters of our Treasuries no matter their positions, adding we are having unimaginable proportions of corruption cases because our laws have been weak in dealing sternly with the crime.
The Media Group commended the Military and other Security Forces in Nigeria but called on the Governments at all levels in the Federation to provide funds promptly and annually for them as approved in the Budget so as to position them properly to fight the battle of insecurity confronting the Nation.
MMWG finally concluded by stating that having highlighted the background to our problems and provided solutions to the problems, what is left is for Muslim Leaders and their followers in the Country to go into serious spiritual devotion so that our National Leaders could accept the antidotes proposed to end our problems and pursue them vigorously as to succeed in our fight against corruption and insecurity in Nigeria…. END
