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The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has lauded the Inspector-General of Police for responding to the yearnings and aspirations of women officers cum rank and file in Nigeria Police who are clamouring for inclusiveness in mode of dressing in the Nigeria Police System.
This is contained in a statement issued and signed by the National Coordinator of the Group Alh. Abdullahi Ibrahim.
He described the policy as right step in the right direction.
According to him, “the new improved dress code for women in the Police now ranked the Nigeria Police with its counterparts the world-over, as fundamentals of human rights include evolving policies that carry along ‘all and sundry’ irrespective of religious, cultures and ethnic diversities which is well respected internationally.
The Muslim Media Watch condemned in strong terms the statement credited to one Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN who wrongly accused the Inspector-General of Police of ‘imposing his religion’ on the Police.”
Abdullahi described the statement as childish and mischievous! How can an individual impose his religion on the System in modern day Nigeria? the Group queried!
For religiously politicising the new uniform policy which is aimed at carrying everybody along in line with international best practices, the learned Adegboruwa has carried his religious fanaticism too far.
According to him, “the same Adegboruwa attacked the Kwara State Governor Mal. Abdulrahman Abdul-Razaq for approving optional use of hijab in Public Schools in Kwara State. With over 85% Muslim Population in that State, MMWG wondered Adegboruwa’s business in turning everything happening in Nigeria into religious politics.
‘If in the US Army and British Police the rights of women in those services are not violated and hijab is allowed in those Countries, any antagonism of this newly improved Police optional Uniform by anybody no matter his status is ill-motivated, rebellious and highly condemnable.
The level of religious intolerance, bigotry and fanaticism of some elites and some so-called religious leaders in Nigeria now portrays them as unpatriotic citizens ‘who usually do not see anything good in others’.
The Group gave examples of the ‘Cross’ that remained a symbol in our Hospitals, the Saturdays and Sundays that remains ‘work free days’ without Friday being made work-free are part of Euro Christian colonial imperialism – that have no meaning to muslims in Nigeria and anywhere in the world, but Muslims who constitute vast majority in this Country accepted them since it has some meanings to our christian brothers and sisters! Why must they antagonise muslims on anything that gives recognition to Islam no matter how little? It is absolutely unfair and unpatriotic, the Group maintained.
The Group called on all other Services such as NSCDC, Immigration, Customs and Prison Authorities to ‘fail on line’ with improved dress codes that accommodates all; as respect for diversities, customs and culture is part of well recognised global practices; adding that they must not allow ‘medulous interlopers’ to dabble into their affairs as they are not usually well-intentioned in their criticisms.
Media Watch concluded by calling on open-minded and truly religious Christians who are our brothers and sisters, not to allow ill-motivated ones among them to set Muslims and Christians on collision course for their own selfish motives as we must remain one indivisible entity in Nigeria regardless of our religious, ethnic and cultural differences.