He said the University of Port Harcourt has disappointed millions of Nigerians who regard the tertiary institution as a centre of excellence
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticized the management of the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State for scheduling a field trip on Sunday, June 16th, 2024, for the ‘Geological Mapping Project’ course, despite it being Salah day and a public holiday.
In a statement, MURIC Director Prof. Ishaq Akintola noted that the university’s decision disregarded appeals from the affected Muslim students.
“The incident is the height of religious aggression, undue transgression and naked belligerence in the ivory tower,” Akintola said.
“Students of the University of Port Harcourt are currently on a field trip today, Sunday, 16th June, 2024 for a course called ‘Geological Mapping Project’ (Course code: GLY 414.2) despite being Salah day and in spite of appeals from the affected Muslim students.
“Our office treats as many as two or three such cases every day. Even when we should be celebrating Salah like other Muslim faithfuls, we are busy in the office today trying to resolve this case. It has become a recurring decimal,” Akintola said.
He said that by condoning this act of oppression against Muslim students under them, the University of Port Harcourt has disappointed millions of Nigerians who regard the tertiary institution as a centre of excellence.
He wondered what excuse the institution will give for allowing this to happen, saying who in Nigeria does not know that Sunday was ‘Id al-kabiir (Salah) day?
He said, “The university took the students out for the field trip today, Sunday, 16th June, 2024 which is Salah day. They also took the Muslim students to a mosque in Enugu for the Salah prayer. This was what the Vice Chancellor promised after the Muslim students complained to him.
“This is a poor damage-control strategy and it is hereby rejected. Therefore, the Vice Chancellor missed the point. He has enslaved Muslim students and made them unwilling captives. By the way, the field trip continues tomorrow and it is expected to last several days. No Salah for poor and helpless Muslim students.”
He therefore urged the Ministry of Education to institute a probe into this incident as it is capable of causing religious misunderstanding and can also widen the gulf between Muslims and Christians.
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