CITIZENS COMPASS—The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has pledged to spend Sallah holidays with the Sultan of Sokoto if elected president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, an Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described the pledge as sheer window dressing. MURIC wants Peter Obi to address popular Muslim demands when he becomes president of Nigeria.
MURIC’s statement, which was signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, was circulated to media men on Saturday, 12th September, 2026.
It reads:
”One of Nigeria’s presidential candidates, Mr. Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to spend Sallah holidays with the Sultan of Sokoto if elected president (https://matrixngr.com/2026/09/10/2027-ill-spend-sallah-with-sultan-in-sokoto-if-elected-says-peter-obi/).
”We welcome Mr. Peter Obi’s offer as it reflects his willingness to identify with Muslim leaders, particularly our respected and beloved leader, the Sultan of Sokoto. But that is poles apart from a readiness to involve Muslims in governance. We covet the latter and reject the former. It is sheer window dressing.*
”Gone are those days when eyes were still located at the knees. That was when such pledges mean everything to the Muslims and their leaders. Pledges like ‘we will give you Hajj slots, sallah cows, Ramadan ram’, etc, meant the world to them.
”But no more. The sun is shining now. We have seen the light. We have compared and contrasted our condition socially, economically and politically with other religious groups. We are far, far behind.
”The colonial master, being a Muslim, deliberately structured Nigeria along Christian lines. The weekends were given to Christians to enjoy while worshipping because Sunday is free. The Muslims suffer on Friday as they rush around from dawn till dusk. That is not balanced. That is not fairness.
”Nigeria’s educational system, by uniform, by administration and by curriculum, is designed for Christianity. The legal system which should be tripartite (common law court, shari’ah court and customary court) is exclusively Christian and traditional because Shari’ah is rejected in the whole South while Christian common law dominates the whole country.
”The North accepts common law. But the South rejects Shari’ah. That is not inclusivity. That is not acceptance. That is not tolerance.
“January 1st is declared a holiday but the Muslims’ 1st Muharram is ignored. That is deliberate imposition of an inferiority complex on Nigerian Muslims. It is an official refusal of recognition. It is unacceptable.
”Muslim women cannot join the army because the military’s uniform does not accommodate hijab. That is job opportunity and prosperity for Christian women. That is joblessness and poverty for Muslim women. We can go on and on. Where is justice?
”These are issues of civil liberties for Nigerian Muslims for which we have been clamouring for years but successive governments have refused to listen. Yet they pretend to be interested in restructuring. Real restructuring must be comprehensive. It must not leave any particular group in perpetual slavery.
”Therefore this is our message to Peter Obi: ‘Your Excellency, we welcome your pledge to mark sallah in Sokoto. It reflects goodwill. But marking sallah in Sokoto adds no value to the welfare and the fundamental human rights of Nigerian Muslims. It is ceremonial.
”We want a president who will set Nigerian Muslims free. Muslims are in bondage in Nigeria. We are ready to vote for you if you will recognize our yearnings. Give us a balanced playing field with others and we will appreciate you.
’Away with the old ways. We don’t want pilgrimage sponsorship. Muslims know the road to Makkah. Governments, including state and local governments, should steer clear of pilgrimage sponsorship. It is often abused. Politicians seize the chance to sponsor political thugs, girl friends, well known Christian friends, etc. Enough is enough. The Muslims can organize their pilgrimage. It is only protocol matters that governments should handle’.
”For the records, MURIC acknowledges Peter Obi’s second attempt at the presidency as we move towards 2027. He is trying very hard not to be seen as an exclusive Christian candidate. We appreciate him. But what is his plan for Nigerian Muslims: to continue to enslave us or to set us free? We are ready to vote for you if you promise to address the above issues. The ball is in Peter Obi’s court.”
