A Muslim body, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has released a statement expressing concern over what it termed a Jewish symbol on Nigeria’s new N100 note which was unveiled recently.
The Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, in the statement issued yesterday November 23rd, alleged the insertion of a Jewish symbol into the new currency, demanding explanation from the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government, on November 12, 2014 unveiled the new design for the N100 commemorative centenary banknote which will be officially issued on December 19.
However, the office of the Muslim Rights Concern has been inundated with calls for action on the Jewish symbol on the new note. Nigerian Muslims are complaining that the Arabic writing in Hausa language (the Ajami script) that read ‘Naira Dari’ (i.e. one hundred naira) on the N100 note has been removed and replaced with the Jewish symbol, the Star of David.
As a faith-based human rights organisation which believes in the dialogue option, MURIC is duty bound to articulate the demands of Nigerian Muslims, particularly on matters which have to do with imbalance in treatment of the adherents of the different religions governments (federal or state).
MURIC recalls that Arabic inscriptions which have always been on Nigerian currency since independence were unceremoniously removed in 2005 from N5, N10, N20 and N50 denominations. They remained on N100, N200, N500 and N1,000 denominations.
Nigerian Muslims regard the latest action, namely, the supplanting of Arabic with Jewish symbol from the new N100 as a continuation of the campaign of elimination by substitution against Arabic language and, by implication, against Nigerian Muslims.
It is well known that a large section of the Nigerian population use the Arabic Ajami and removing it from the new note will deprive millions of users of the Arabic Ajami of the ability to recognise, identify and use the new currency.
Furthermore, putting the Jewish symbol on the new N100 falls short of international standard, as currencies worldwide are designed to suit each nation’s culture and history.
Where does the Jewish symbol fit in? Which Nigerian community speaks the Jewish language? The insertion of the Jewish symbol is, therefore, clannish and parochial. It is tainted with undisguised religious fanaticism.
There is nothing wrong for our president to like Israel as a nation, but it is another thing entirely to openly and brazenly promote Zionism at the highest office in this country when we are still struggling with the last vestiges of colonialism. Nigerian Muslims are becoming increasingly suspicious and very uncomfortable with the actions and inactions of President Jonathan.
Firstly, in spite of the preponderance of Muslims in the South West, he appointed no single Muslim as minister in the whole region for almost four years. Secondly, he marginalised Muslims in the deliberations which took place in the national conference by appointing a meagre 189 Muslims as against 303 Christians.
Thirdly, Mr President saturated the security system in Aso Rock with Israeli security operatives, a nation well known for its animosity towards Muslims. The supplanting of Arabic language with Jewish symbol is the fourth among Jonathan’s anti-Muslim policies.
If once is happenstance, if twice is a coincidence and if the third time is enemy action, what do we call the fourth time? We are sick and tired of our president’s hatred for us. He openly confronts Muslims and goads us to challenge him.
“But we will not be provoked. Neither shall we be intimidated by executive maladministration. As apostles of dialogue and advocates of peaceful coexistence, as tax-payers, voters and citizens of this country, we hereby ask President Jonathan to explain the Jewish symbol on Nigeria’s money.
We also demand to know why the presidency could not employ security experts from neutral countries like Britain or France instead of Israel, which is a sworn enemy of Muslims. Mr President may also deem it fit to tell us if there is no correlation between the Israeli security experts in Aso Rock, the Israeli caught with Nigeria’s N9.3 million arms money in South Africa and the Jewish symbol on the new N100 note.
Mr President sir, are you not gradually selling Nigeria to Israel? Are you sure this will not attract the wrath of Israel’s enemies to our dear country? Can this also be partly responsible for the viciousness of the Boko Haram phenomenon?
MURIC appeals to Muslims nationwide to await President Jonathan’s response to the above questions and to remain calm and law abiding. Islam teaches tolerance (Qur’an 3:134) and obedience to constituted authority (Qur’an 4:59)." Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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What I find difficult to understand is that why is it that the Muslim community often raise issues out of sentiments? The Naira have always had Arabic inscriptions on it, did the Christians complained? Why do we have a set of people with violence up their sleeves and claimed to be peace loving? Everything thing in this article would have made Sence if thete were no religious sentiments.
ReplyDeleteBecause they believe Nigeria belong to them alone
DeleteFool,Islam is number one enemy of peace,and a general virus facing the whole world.....Very soon,the whole world will take up arms against any Islam on the street......
ReplyDeleteAre we not deliberately fanning embers of unity with this misinformation? The double diamond I see in the specimen has nothing to do with the star of David which is a six pointed star. Arabic is not a Nigerian language neither should we start putting inscriptions in the name of any ethnic group no matter how major. The nation belongs to everyone both major and minor ethnic group.
ReplyDeleteIsrael has no problem with Moslems as they have more Moslems than Christians. Israel's problem is with the Arabs who don't want them to exist on earth. It is based on historical claim of the prefered child of Abraham
ReplyDeleteI love this complaint it will help to expunge the Arabic write up
ReplyDeleteSily arguments by MUMURIC
ReplyDeleteMust we promote culture of religion??. Can't we promote our own culture??. Why not remove all the non-nigerian symbol-the arabic symbol and this recent zionist symbol and replace them with "wazobia" for peace to rain. Remove all elements of trouble in our national dealings and life more especially anything that has religious colouration. After all, Nigeria is a secular state.
ReplyDeleteU are right mr. The issue mumuric raise is right but to avoid further problem,wazobia should be the solution
Deletewhen a formal Muslim president of Nigerian sold us to UN as a Muslim nation, nobody wanted war. why this rubbish, again if GEJ choose his security from Israel who are best security outfit in the world, ask American- what is the issues! OR why should he take a natural nation for a security, who can go either side and his life will be in danger! maybe you the write and your co-host would have gotten access to him to eliminate him. stop stroking the fire, if it light it would burn all! Thank you for giving Boko Haram, faceless people another more reason to kill innocent people’s.
ReplyDeleteThe man has asked a question. Answer it. Is there any indigenous Jewish speaking community in Nigeria? D Arabic written on the notes represents the Hausa. Last I checked, derii, Biyar, goma were not Arabic words. If u check the notes he mentioned, the Hausa equivalent is now written in English. E.g on the N20 it is written naira ashirin while the Yoruba and igbo equivalent are written in English. But when people see Arabic on the naira they shout islamize islamize..be just!
ReplyDeleteMy friend there are hausa christians as there are muslims so how does Arabic represent hausa? Arabic is foreign just as anything jewish. I recomend we eliminate the arabic left in the other remaining notes.
DeleteU are right mr unpredictable
DeleteArabic does not necessarily mean Islamic. The arabic written on the notes translate to Hausa. But Hausa is not generally written in arabic. Arabic is also not a Nigerian language so why should it be inscribed on our currency?
ReplyDeleteI'm a muslim, and I also believe this is sentimental, but a Jewish symbol? Are there any Jews in Nigeria? That's simply dumb. The general idea of a new N100 note for me is useless and dubious. Makes no sense.
That is not a star of David, educate yourself! That complaint about jewish symbol is just a prelude to let the world know that GEJ is using Isreali security period!
DeleteMr. Prof. complete the history you started, who were the security to the IBB ,the late Abacha when they were in Aso rock,Is Arabic Hausa languge?, i am sure you are thirsty of Blood, God Will catch up with you if you don't change your ways
ReplyDeleteWe are not the same people, we are different and we reason differently. The best thing is to divide Nigeria else no peace will reign forever. Lets divide once and for all and pursue our different ambitions because we do not think in the same direction. How can people be so much inciting when our coexistence is fragile? The fire you are setting will consume you!
ReplyDeleteI am a Muslim.Remove any religious inclinations from Nigerian corrency.GEJ should know this if he wants unity for this nation.Does he(GEJ) not have those who think for him? why is he taking lopsided decisions for the nation.May be na Ogogoro/apeteesi that is working.
ReplyDeleteSentiments apart, it's actually stupid to adopt any foreign symbol to the extent of adding it to our currency. It was bad enough when we had Arabic inscription, but it is plain stupid (or is it, really?) to replace it with the Star of David. Is Emefiele that stupid?
ReplyDeleteThat symbol isn't Jewish in any way and it goes to show that some war mongers would pick on anything just to cause trouble. We have had Muslim inscriptions on our currencies for many years and Christians did not beat the drums of war about it. If Islam is a peace religion, show it!!!
ReplyDeleteBoth the Islamic inscription and Jewish symbols should be removed. Whatever we need to write on the currency should be in a plain text that every Nigerian should be able to read and know its root meaning or origin.
ReplyDeleteI am disappointed with MURIC. That sign is not the Star of David. And is Jonathan a Jew? We should use our brains for more constructive criticism.
ReplyDeleteMuslim u better opt for secession because we Christians are Jews and Arabs are Muslim -If you have spotted Jewish symbol on Naira note and you want to know the reason why, then tell us why is Arabic symbol in Nigerian currency . You Muslim better Opt for secession as Christians will not tolerate all this none sense anylonger in this country.
ReplyDeleteFor
ReplyDeleteover 50years Nigerians have been using arabic in our national currency
has any christian complain? Bt I dont know what is wrong with muslims
world-over. If u said arabic is good for you muslim then how do you
think Isreal is not good for us christians? Bunch of fools! U think
christians are second class citizen? If u insist we should remove that
symbol then all arabic symbol should be remove from all our currencies
"It is well known that a large section of the Nigerian population use the Arabic Ajami and removing it from the new note will deprive millions of users of the Arabic Ajami of the ability to recognise, identify and use currency" Big lie and I pick exception to this, Arabic symbol should as well be removed completely from our currency, did anybody raised an eye brow when a former head of state gave Nigeria to oic? why these blood tasty men? after all it is not a star of David that is on the currency. The president have the right to choose his security from any part of the world just like IBB also had from Israel and Abacha who had many marabouts from the Arab world. Stop this incitement pls, we've heard enough trouble in this country.
ReplyDeleteA comedy of knives and daggers
ReplyDeleteThey are looking for every possible means of discrediting GEJ, Zionist sign is 2 triangles superimposed on each other while the sign in the 100 naira note is 2 squares superimposed on each other. Well let me say that majority of Muslims are educationally illiterate.
ReplyDeleteCan you imagine the rubbish from the mouth of these pro boko haram again in a country where we have more Christians than Muslims. Why is it that the Muslims claimed Islam is a peace religion and they are not at peace despite of giving Nigeria to ioc. May God help us in Nigeria
ReplyDeleteThis is ludicrous... that symbol is not the star of David. It is either everyone in the MURIC is a confounded buffoon or they are simply trying to whip up religious (islamic) sentiment. Somehow, I think it is a combination of the two.
ReplyDeleteIt is glaringly clear that the center can no longer hold. Everything and I mean every good step taken by the presidency is misinterpreted. If symbol is a problem let everything both Arabic and other non-wazobia symbols be totally removed.
ReplyDeleteCan we just stay out of trouble for a while . How about all this nonsense ?
ReplyDeleteThe Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola is seeking relevance from the Muslim,sorry for you prof the earlier you realize the northern Muslim did not see you (Yoruba) or accept you as a true Muslim the better for you..Prof indeed,prof of sentiment...inciting another religious war, when Boko Haram has killed thousand.Yet you have not come out like this to condemned insurgency,but you are here seeking relevance..We are not one,(Christian/Muslim) simple.we have difference/divergent opinion.
ReplyDeleteTHAT THING IS NOT THE STAR OF DAVID. IT HAS EIGHT POINTS NOT SIX. GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT BEFORE MAKING SO MUCH NOISE.
ReplyDelete