Month: September 2023

The only solution to the oppression and suppression of the Muslim woman of today is the strict application of the fundamental human rights of the woman as enshrined by the Qur’an and exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.)

These were part of the submissions of Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman of the Department of Islam and Development Studies, Faculty of Arts, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, when she delivered the 35th Inaugural Lecture Series of the University with the topic “

Deconstructing The Notion Of Oppression And Suppression Of Women In Islam: Revisiting The Islamic Versus Universal Concepts of Human Rights” on Tuesday 26th September 2023, at the Assembly Hall of the University.

According to Professor Saadatu, the rights to freedom that the modern woman is glamouring today have been given to the Muslim women over 1400 years ago by Islam as proven by the Qur’an and Hadīth and in the formulations of the Sharī’ah. She noted that these rights pertain to marriage, divorce, property, inheritance, custody of children, and evidence of reward and punishments among others.

While affirming the rights of Muslim women, the Professor of Islamic Studies further opined that the Qur’an and Hadīth of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) have given the Muslim women unpprecedented rights that have not been given to them by any religious civilization or by any human rights organization including the United Nations.

Other topical issues discussed by Professor Saadatu during the lecture include the place of Gender in Islam, leadership roles in the family, women’s education, child and forced marriage, divorce rights, concepts of polygamy, women’s political participation, the veil (Hijab), challenges due to traditional cultures amongst a host of other issues affecting the Muslim woman.

In his remark, the visitor to the University and Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule represented by his deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe said Nasarawa State is proud of Professor Saadatu Hassan Liman for being the 1st Female Professor of Islamic Studies from Nasarawa State and the second in Nigeria, he also congratulated her for successfully delivering the 35th Inaugural Lecture of the University.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Suleiman Bala Mohammed remarked that the Inaugural lecture series affords Professors the platform to address national and topical issues and also to profess on areas they have conducted researches to the benefit of the general audience to understand and gain useful knowledge.

Notable dignitaries who attended the Inaugural Lecture include the founder and first visitor to the University, Distinguished Senator, Abdullahi Adamu, former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, former Governor of Bauchi State, Dr Ahmed Adamu Muazu, past and serving government functionaries, past and serving Vice-Chancellors and Heads of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, Royal fathers and dignitaries from all walks of life.

The high point of the event was the presentation of the plaque of honour to the celebrant by the Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Saadatu Hassan Liman was the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Administration.

Abuja:  A lawyer, Mr Donald Ayibiowu, has called on Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo not to make his deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, a scapegoat over allegation preferred against him by the state house of assembly.

Ayibiowu, an indigene of Okelusi Town in Ondo State, made the call in an open letter he wrote to the governor and a copy made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

The letter titled: “An Open Letter to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, in respect of the Ongoing Needless Charade Called Impeachment of the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Request for Leadership, Restraint, Caution and Focus in the Governance of Ondo State,” was dated Sept. 20.

The state’s lawmakers, during plenary, had alleged that Aiyedatiwa was involved in gross misconduct while in the office as an acting governor.

The assembly wrote a letter to the deputy governor, to respond to the allegation within seven days, signalling the beginning of his impeachment.

Ayibiowu congratulated Akeredolu on his quick recovery and return to Nigeria from his medical treatment abroad.

The Abuja-based legal practitioner said while Akeredolu was away, the state was left near rudderless by a combination of factors ranging from debilitating politicking, rumor mongering, sycophancy, etc

“One may be tempted to forgive the various dramatis persona in the light of the fact that your unexpected ailment may not have allowed you to give proper directives as to the governance structure type you want in your absence.

“Now that you are back and still recuperating in your Ibadan home, but in the light of your communication to the Ondo State House of Assembly that you have resumed work, one expects that you take charge fully of affairs of our dear Ondo, notwithstanding, the Shenanigans of family, friends and close political associates.

“The shocking news of the on-going pointless impeachment of your deputy, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, is the least the people expects from our dear state.

“I dare say that your deputy should not be made the ‘scape goat’ for what the whole world can see glaringly as ‘fuji house of commotion’ in your absence.

“To participate, consent or authorise his removal would mean that you have taken side.
“Your Excellency, your approach should be to declare that ‘all have sinned and come short the glory of God’, because I believe you don’t even know who is right, wrong, true, good or bad,” he said.

According to him, you cannot be seen to want to adopt one sided narration of wrong doing in your absence.

“This move will be misunderstood by most people; it will obstruct proper governance, due administration and it will subject our state to another round of ignoble national odious and negative perception that comes with such exertion’” he advised.

He said if some of the power brokers within the state had scores to settle with Aiyedatiwa, they should rather do so privately and not fiddle with the peace and integrity of the state.

“I wish to place on record that I have been your ardent supporter from your days as NBA President and I don’t know your deputy in person, I have never met him in person or by proxy, neither do I intend to hold brief for him.

“I believe he may have, or harbor gubernatorial ambition after your tenure but I will like to tell you that the deputy governor, as Acting Governor, if he was very desperate, could have sack some of your appointees or could have radically alter the status quo in your absence.

“But he didn’t do any of these things, why not imply that he is a saint, no one his either,” he said.
The lawyer, however, advised that should the governor intend to proceed with the impeachment of his deputy, he should follow the law and respect the sanctity of court processes.
His words: “Mr Governor, the law is settled per the position of the Supreme Court in Inakoju v. Adeleke on the process and procedures for the removal of persons holding the Office of the Governor/Deputy Governor.
“You are a respected law scholar in Nigeria.
“Therefore, should it be politically expedient for your team to proceed with their action, counsel them to follow the law.
“So far, the public have not seen any cogent misconduct or clear-cut financial misappropriation or embezzlement attributable to the deputy governor to warrant this harassment.”

Ayibiowu urged Akeredolu to call the impeachment actors to order, focus on finishing strong, pull his team together, motivate them and concentrate on delivery his campaign promises to the people.(NAN)(www nannews.ng) /Flowerbudnews

By Rukayat Moisemhe

The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has urged the Federal Government and labour to factor in the wellbeing of more than 200 million Nigerians and avert the strike planned for October.

It says the two should work together in the interest of the nation’s economy which could be jeopardised by the strike.

The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared on Tuesday that they would call workers out on strike from Oct. 3.

The declaration followed the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum earlier given to government to provide palliatives to ameliorate the effects of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) reacted to Labour’s declaration on behalf of the OPSN.

He reiterated OPSN’s earlier admonition to avert the looming disruption of socioeconomic activities and noted that current economic indicators in the country do not support a strike.

“The view of the OPSN is that of deep concern; if not that of anxiety.

“We have keenly watched the back and forth consultations between the government on the one hand and Labour on the other.

“It is evident that the series of consultations have not yielded positive results and the latter has resolved, in one way or the other, to go ahead with the strike.

“We are worried that adequate consideration is not given to the dire situation of the economy and the devastating and disruptive impact that a nationwide strike will have on the country at this time.

“Government and labour need to understand that our economy is being de-marketed and the livelihood of the average Nigerian is being diminished by these incessant bickering.

“One is beginning to wonder if the wellbeing of more than 200 million Nigerians is being factored into their negotiations,’’ Ajayi-Kadir said.

The MAN director-general urged government to reengage labour and find an amicable ground to avert the imminent disruption to business activities that would attend the protest and nationwide strike.

He appealed that adequate consideration be given to the grim state of the economy and the possible unintended consequences of social unrest that might result from the strike.

He also advised manufacturers to be circumspect in their business operations as the association continued to intervene in last minute attempts to avert the strike.

“Adequate measures should be taken to protect companies’ assets and contingency plans should be made to keep businesses afloat.

“Government should demonstrate good faith in keeping to its promises during the negotiations with labour and abstain from making promises they cannot or do not intend to keep.

“On the other hand, labour should do a realistic assessment of its demands within the context of prevailing economic realities and possibilities.

“It should go the extra mile to indicate how its demands could be met.

“We look forward to a time that labour will extend the scope of its demands to include recommendations on how government could meet its demands.

“Its recommendations should come with implementation strategies and realistic timelines,’’ Ajayi-Kadir said.

OPSN is the umbrella body of MAN and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association.

Other members are the Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises and the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists.

NAN