The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to call the vice chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Sunday Abayomi to order before religious crisis erupts in the university.
The Islamic Humanrights group, in a statement condemned the action of Professor Fasina, for allegedly disallowing Muslim staff of the institution from attending Jumu’ah prayer on Fridays.
MURIC’s Executive Director , Professor Ishaq Akintola, the group described the VC’s action as intolerant, insensitive, arrogant and a blatant abuse of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslims in the institution.
The full statement reads:
“The Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Professor Sunday Abayomi Fasina, has exhibited outright disrespect for the religion of Islam.
“On two occasions now, he has fixed programmes for Jumu’ah periods. On one occasion, he fixed inaugural lecture during Jumu’ah time. Two weeks ago, he fixed congregation for Jumu’ah time again. Although his attention was called to it during the congregation, he dismissed it by saying nobody could hold him to ransom. He continued the meeting thereby preventing his registrar and Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) who are Muslims from going for Jumu’ah prayer.
“MURIC frowns at this flagrant disregard for Jumu’ah period (Friday prayer period). The VC’s action smirks of intolerance, insensitivity and arrogance. It is impunity and abuse of power capable of igniting religious crisis in the university. It also constitutes a blatant abuse of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslims in the institution.
“We urge the National Universities Commission (NUC) to call this VC to order before religious crisis erupts in the university. Industrial unrest will be sparked off when Muslim staff of the university start staging walkouts from congregation when the VC breaks Jumu’ah rule.
“A robust cordial relationship between the university administration and its staff is necessary to create a conducive atmosphere for the smooth running of both academic and non-academic activities. But this will remain just a dream if a section of the staff and students population is treated like slaves without fundamental human rights.”