The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has warned that the planned nationwide protest does not bode well for the country, judging by the recent history of protests in the country.
The MSSN expressed its position on the protest in a statement issued at the end of its four-day 37th National Convention of Higher Institutions held at the Murtala Muhammad College, Yola, Adamawa State.
The group also criticized a new film, “Three Days Work,” which has angered some Muslims over the use of the hijab by some of its characters.
In the statement signed by its zonal chairman, Muhammad Isa, and secretary, Auwalu Yunusa, the MSSN said the planned protest cannot address the country's challenges and called on the government to do the needful to quell anger in Nigeria.
“The current trend of organising nationwide protests does not augur well for the country, especially since, on the one hand, such protests were not usually free from violence in the past. On the other hand, the government should do the needful to alleviate the avoidable hardships Nigerians have been plunged into due to insensitive and ill-considered policies,” the group said in its resolutions.
On the controversial film produced by Nancy Isime, the group called for calm and asked the National Film and Video Censor Board (NFVCB) to do the needful.
“Muslim students unequivocally condemn the projection of Islam as evil through a circulating film depicting armed robbers wearing the Muslim attire of hijab and niqab (face veil).
Article page with promotion of financial support
“While we appeal to the already enraged Muslim students to remain calm as we await action by the relevant authorities against the film’s producers, we demand decisive action that is sufficiently punitive, compensatory and deterrent and in time,” it said.
The group also urged the federal government to review its decision to sign the Samoa Accord and ensure that the cultures and religions of Nigerians are respected before entering into any such agreement.
The group also condemned attempts to link the failure of the governorship to the ruling APC's Muslim ticket in the last presidential election, saying the propagation of justice and good governance are cardinal principles of Islam.
On the Gaza massacre, the group also condemned “the silence of the international community and the double standards of the Western media on the ongoing massacre of innocent and defenseless people in Gaza while claiming to uphold international law against inhumanity in Ukraine.”
READ ALSO: Sudanese cleric warns Nigerians over planned protest
The MSSN also decided to do more in terms of the intellectual development of its members through ongoing training and to improve its financial sustainability through investments in viable businesses.
He urged members to emulate the sacrifices of previous group leaders over the past 70 years for the development of society at all levels.
MSSN Zone A (19 Northern States and the FCT) annual programmes are designed to develop the capacity of Muslim students in tertiary institutions.
The programme was attended by participants and officials from tertiary institutions from all 19 Northern States and FCT.
The formal closing ceremony, which took place at the Assembly Hall of the General Murtala Muhammad College Yola, was attended by dignitaries such as Salihi Atiku, Special Assistant to the Governor of Adamawa State on Universal Basic Education; Jibrilla Jimeta, Chairman, Yola North Local Government Council; Usman Dada, Emir of the Islamic Thought Centre, Yola; Shehu Abubakar, National President, MSSN; Muhammad Isa, Chairman, Zone A, MSSN and many other past and present leaders of the MSSN at various levels.