The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has declared its support for the
position held by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on the
expulsion of two female Christian corps members from the National
Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Ebonyi State.
It will be recalled that the two corps members, Okafor Love Obianuju
and Odji Oritsetsolaye were expelled from the 2019 Batch C Stream 1 in
Ebonyi camp on Saturday, 9th November, 2019 for refusing to wear short
knickers and trousers as instructed by NYSC officials.
The umbrella body of Christians; Christian Association of Nigeria
(CAN) subsequently condemned the expulsion and called for NYSC to be
more tolerant.
MURIC in a statement on Tuesday signed by its Director, Prof. Ishaq
Akintola said, “Those two Christian girls have the right to satisfy
their conscience regarding what to wear and what not to wear in
public. There is freedom of religion in the Nigerian Constitution and
NYSC is flagrantly violating Section 38 (i) and (ii) of the 1999
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. NYSC is behaving like
the notorious Gestapo. It is time to liberalise.
“It is not just a religious matter. Morality is involved here. NYSC
seeks to destroy our norms and values. Our sons and daughters who were
trained in good Christian and Muslim homes are stripped nude when they
go for NYSC. This is unacceptable. Something must be done urgently if
this is the mission of NYSC.
“It is absolutely wrong to force our daughters to appear in short
knickers in public. It is against strict Christian and Islamic
teachings. It is also an assault on the dignity of their human
persons. They feel humiliated. It is a big shame. NYSC is flagrantly
infringing the Nigerian constitution.
“We invite CAN to join us in the fight against corruption and
immorality. We can stop moral debauchery in Nigeria if we can all come
together. Greed, avarice, massive accumulation of wealth and
criminality will reduce drastically if Christian and Muslim leaders
speak with one voice against all vices. This is better for Nigeria
than being at logger-heads all the time.”
MURIC therefore called for the intervention of the new
Director-General of the NYSC.
“Those two girls should be recalled. We also advise the new NYSC
leadership to set the machinery in motion for a review of the NYSC
dress code in line with the issues raised by religious groups.
“We advise CAN to retrace its steps in the cases initiated by Muslims
against some South West schools. Christian and Muslim organisations
should seek ways of moving the nation forward while emphasis should be
laid on areas of uniformity at all times. Nigeria needs peace more
than anything else at this material time.”
