Cancelled Tuface protest would’ve been protest against good governance – MURIC

*Says impatient godfathers mentoring Tuface for stating protest

*Reminds Buhari made it clear Jonathan left empty treasury

*’Idibia paying back for benefits from corruption of past government’

By Kemi Kasumu

“Tuface has benefitted immensely from the immediate past but recklessly corrupt government and the proposed protest is nothing but a payback. We can trace Tuface’s anger to the fact that the source of free and easy money has dried up. The fact that a state governor, who is seldom rational, has shown interest in Tuface’s rally reveals where Tuface is coming from.”

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the planned protest rally of Innocent Uja Idibia as immoral and that if it was not cancelled, it would have been protest against good governance as it says impatient godfathers who no longer find easy money could have prompted such rally at this time that Nigeria is undergoing change process.

It said it was immoral because there was ample evidence that the popular musician, Idibia, also known as Tuface, had benefitted from the financial impropriety of the immediate past administration.

MURIC called on allies of Tuface to rescind their decision to join him, neither should they proceed now that he had put his protest vehicle in the reverse gear, saying, “This administration made it clear to Nigerians that it met an empty treasury and that it would take some time for the economy to come afloat. It is not up to two years that the Buhari regime came on board. Why can’t we be patient?”

In a statement signed by its Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, copy of which was emailed to The DEFENDER Sunday morning, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) said Nigerians were being taken for a ride if it was true that Tuface actually benefited from the financial impropriety of the immediate past administration as stated.

“Is it true or not that Tuface wedding in Dubai was bankrolled by Governor Godswill Akpabio? Is it true that the same governor gave Tuface two SUV cars? Is it also true that the governor sponsored twenty nine (29) people from Akwa Ibom to accompany Tuface to the wedding? Is it equally true that a leading Senator from the opposition party bought a Ferrari worth N47 million naira for Tuface?

“If the answers to the above questions are positive, then Nigerians are being taken for a ride. Tuface has benefitted immensely from the immediate past but recklessly corrupt government and the proposed protest is nothing but a payback. We can trace Tuface’s anger to the fact that the source of free and easy money has dried up. The fact that a state governor who is seldom rational has shown interest in Tuface’s rally reveals where Tuface is coming from.

“The proposed rally is irrational because there is palpable change already. For instance, it is no longer business as usual for corrupt public officials. The Buhari administration is holding people accountable. Leakages are being plugged. Loots are being recovered. Government is no longer spending recklessly,” MURIC said.

“This administration made it clear to Nigerians that it met an empty treasury and that it would take some time for the economy to come afloat. It is not up to two years that the Buhari regime came on board. Why can’t we be patient?”

The renowned musician, Innocent Ujah Idibia, a.k.a. Tuface, on his social media handle, Saturday evening, announced his decision to call off a protest he was organizing to hold on Monday February 6 against the Buhari-led administration for the fear that it would be hijacked by unwanted elements and security concerns.

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), the statement said, rejected Tuface’s protest though now cancelled and any other planned rally against the Buhari administration on grounds of immorality, irrationality and bad timing.

Such planned rallies, it stated, can only spring from bad faith, malice, greed and avarice, adding that, “It is inexplicable to protest against a good government.”

The Muslim rights group questioned to know whether Idibia’s partners in the act, Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and the civil society groups, had also backed out of it or they were going ahead.

“If Tuface has truly called off his planned rally, what happens to his partners in anger? What happens to some civil society groups that have identified with his rally? Are they also backing out or going ahead.

“We admit that times are very hard for Nigerians but the present administration cannot be blamed for Nigeria’s current economic woes. It was caused by the past administration. Have Nigerians forgotten how ex-President Goodluck Jonathan encouraged the stealing of public funds? Have we forgotten his lackadaisical attitude to corruption? Jonathan’s landmark declaration that ‘stealing is not corruption’ is still fresh in our memory.”

“Tuface merely cited security concerns but said nothing about his accomplices. He made no appeal to them to stay action. What of the governor who vowed to join Tuface in the protest?”

Whether they have backed off or not, Prof. Akintola said in the MURIC’s statement that “the fact is that the proposed rally is immoral because there is ample evidence that Tuface had benefitted from the financial impropriety of the immediate past administration.”

“We admit that times are very hard for Nigerians but the present administration cannot be blamed for Nigeria’s current economic woes. It was caused by the past administration. Have Nigerians forgotten how ex-President Goodluck Jonathan encouraged the stealing of public funds? Have we forgotten his lackadaisical attitude to corruption? Jonathan’s landmark declaration that ‘stealing is not corruption’ is still fresh in our memory.

“The fall in the price of crude oil from $110.48 to as low as $27.57 immediately Buhari took over also worsened the economy. Neither did the sponsored sabotage of oil pipes help matters,” it said.

Giving a sound of hope for Nigerians considering what it sighted as present Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government enthronement of financial prudence and good governance, “whereas the immediate past administration lacked accountability and rollicked with shady characters”, MURIC told Nigerians that the price of crude oil now rising steadily and standing at $53.83 as at Saturday was sign of good things to come.

It also noted that oil had also been found in commercial quantity outside its troubled traditional enclave of Niger Delta.

The rights group, which has consistently chosen to be on the side of efforts for making Nigeria better, declared the Tuface’s planned protest, cancelled or not, “as a protest against good governance, a protest against virtue, a protest against transparency, probity and accountability. It doesn’t really add up. Only those who benefitted from the corrupt enrichment of the past and those who want corruption to continue ad infinitum can join such a protest.”

MURIC appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the Buhari administration and to massively boycott any rally by Tuface or any of his allies.

Describing the proposed rally as badly timed, MURIC said it was being mentored by impatient godfathers.