All protocols are duly observed.

We, Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen Society of Nigeria, use this medium to call pro-active attention of lovers of truth, justice and liberation in correcting ultra vires of some government agencies that are building their selfish dynasty beyond the boundary of Nigerian constitution.  

We are an Islamic organisation with registered number CAC/IT/NO: 34914. Our major activities centre on propagating Islam, calling for religious tolerance, giving charity to orphans and widows, developing humanity through Islamic and Western education with vocational studies. The organisation has established 30 schools, cyber café, computer training centres, hospitals, widow and orphanage home and internet media streaming centre.

We, Ta’awun, have a mission and a vision all for transformation of society, and our nation at large. We cherish development and work for liberation of the masses from moribund of economic quagmire to unprecedented prosperity and facilitate religious tolerance and understanding for peaceful co-existence in our country. To timely achieve this target, education and media power are considered rudimentally significant; that is why we have internet media streaming that the enemies of progress planned to dismantle in order to get “thank you” of no- good- ending from their bosses.

However, on 29^th April, 2012, we commissioned our internet media streaming (Qudus E-Radio, the first Islamic internet media streaming in Nigeria) which people around the world commended as another beginning of liberation and development of the Muslim Ummah and humanity at large. But the history of our development wants to be changed by disgruntled elements, the enemies of progress, friends of crises, and the machination of satanic forces.

 Analytically speaking, we received a letter dated 4th June, 2012 on 12^th June, 2012 from the National Broadcasting Commission, Abuja, which informed us that according to `section 10 of the NBC Act, religious organisations and political parties are not eligible or entitled to be granted broadcast licence. The letter ordered that we should henceforth close our internet radio within 24 hours of receiving the letter otherwise our equipment would be confiscated. Before the 24 hours given elapsed, we replied them that we are not broadcasting but we are web-streaming, and this being done by our provider in Canada.

 We wish to tell the world today, the objective journalists, the human right activists, people of truth and justice that the State Security Service (SSS) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) have raided and confiscated the equipment of Qudus Internet media streaming (E-Radio), in Iwo, State of Osun, the first Islamic internet radio in Nigeria, established by Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen, claiming that we are not authorised to run it because we are religious organisation.

As if they wanted to fight a battle, the SSS and NBC officials came to Ta’awunu National Headquarters at Ori-Eeru, Iwo, State of Osun where Qudus Internet Radio Studio  is situated around 3:30 pm .We initially thought they were armed robbers because both  SSS  and NBC did not  identify themselves as government agencies until after their operation. Immediately they entered our premises with brutal force they collected 9 handsets from the Staff of the internet radio in order not to call policemen for any rescue. They threatened us with guns and other terrorizing weapons. If not for God’s intervention the SSS and NBC would have used that opportunity to kill some of our members.

 Subsequently, the SSS and NBC confiscated equipment in the Audio Studio of our internet web streaming centre, saying that if we wanted to lodge any complaint we should follow them to Osogbo, State of Osun capital. We followed them to Osogbo, but to our dismay, the equipments were taken to the SSS headquarters in Osogbo, not NBC office. What a conspiracy! The SSS officers commanded their security men at their office gate to threaten us with guns and provocative words. We went back to our destination with disappointment because they treated us as if we were not Nigerians biding with the same constitution that allows freedom of expression and religion.

 The SSS and NBC confisticated our internet radio equipment because we are religious organisation, quoting section 10 of the NBC Act which provides that: “The Commission Shall not grant a Licence to (a) a religious organisation; or (b) political party.”  But to our surprise, there are numerous Christian radio and television  internet stations like: Liveway Radio Network (http://rccg.camp7.org/, mms://wm6.spacialnet.com/livewayradio-nigeria) of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Nigerian Gospel Radio (www.nigeriangospelradio.com); Praiseworld Radio (www.praiseworldradio.com); LoveWorldChristian Network Radio (www.loveworldchristiannetwork.org/Newsroom/index.php) – Nigeria; Radio ELWA owned by ECWA (Evangelical Church of West Africa now called Evangelical Church Winning All), Nigeria – established more than 50 years ago; DCLM TV (www.tv14.net/dclm-channel/), Lagos owned by Deeper Christian Life Ministry; etc. The NBC did not close down all the mentioned Christian Internet radio and TV Internet stations in Nigeria. Are they not religious organisations? Why our own? And we have sent a letter of rejoinder to NBC; it did not consider all our explanations.

 It is clear from all indications that the SSS connived with NBC to disturb the people of development but nobody can disturb us because Ta’awun is the project of Allah. The Director, SSS and his boys wanted to establish non-existing Boko Haram in the State of Osun; that was why they came with brutal force, thinking that we would attack them. But we showed them that we are law-abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Their evil plots shall never manifest in our existence.

 We want the Director of SSS, Mr Segun Adegboye to avoid arbitrary use of power in his service. Why victimization! The same SSS wrote a fallacious report to Abuja about us, nationally published in The Sun newspaper of April 14, 2012 pages 1 and 2, claiming that we had a link with Boko Haram and we spearheaded compulsion of Hijab for every  female student in the State of Osun. The state security apparatus suppose to serve as ‘Arbitrator’ not to act in a way to cause religious crisis.

 We, therefore, call on human right defenders, civil society organisations, Muslims and Christians, who believe in justice and equity to come to our aid. All right thinking citizens of State of Osun and lovers of peace should not allow the State Security Service and National Broadcasting Commission to create fictitious Boko Haram in our State of Omoluabi. More importantly, all our confisticated equipment should be released and returned to our Internet Radio Studio with immediate effect. We remain law abiding citizens of Nigeria. May peace continue to reign in State of Osun and Nigeria in general.

 This organisation expects all the appropriate authorities that have received the letters of complaint on this scenario to fasten their actions in order to get a redress. Some of this quarters are: His Excellency,Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria; His Excellency, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, The Executive Governor of State of Osun; The Senate President, National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria; The Hounourable Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria; The Honourable Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly; The Director General, NBC, Abuja;; The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone XI, Osogbo; The Commissioner of Police, State of Osun; The Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, State of Osun; The Director, State Security Service (SSS), State of Osun; The Commissioner, Public Complaint Commission, State of Osun; The Honourable Commissioner of Justice, State of Osun and others.  

 Before ending this speech, I would like to mention few of the achievements and contributions of  Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen Society of Nigeria to religio-political and socio-economic matters in Nigeria.

 1. Topic: Global Prejudice and Peaceful Co-existence among Religious Organisations.

 

Guest Speaker: Dr. Eshel Williams Murad of the US Consulate Office, Nigeria.

Venue: Iwo Local Government Secretariat Conference Hall.

Date: March 19, 2006

 2. Topic: The Role of Islamic Organisations in Civic Engagement.

 

Guest Speaker: Ms Amy Lillis Amanda of the US Consulate Office, Nigeria.

Venue: Iwo City Hall, Iwo

Date: July 29, 2006

 3. Topic: The Role of Muslim Youth Associations in Extending the Frontiers  of Democratic Practices in Nigeria.

 

Guest Speaker: Ms Amy Lillis Amanda of the US Consulate Office, Nigeria.

Venue: Iwo City Hall, Iwo.

Date: May 27^th, 2007

 4. Topic:  Who Are To Be Chosen Come Political   Dispensation and How Peace Can Be Achieved?

 

Lecturers:   Professor O.O. Ladipo, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin; Barrister G.M. Adedeji, Ex-Commissioner for Justice & Attorney-General, Osun State; Honourable Ibrahim Imran Akala, The Leader of Iwo Local Government Legislative Council; Chief Sulaiman Adiatu, Chief Oloya of Iwoland (Rep. Of Oluwo of Iwoland).

Contributors:  The Chairmen of Political Parties in Osun State and other States.

Venue:  Iwo City Hall        

Date:  30^th of May 2010.

 Not only that, we have also successfully collaborated with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation of Germany on a day workshop for local community in Osun State on August 4, 2009. Also, Jama’atu Ta’awunil Muslimeen recently collaborated with the foundation to organise a workshop on “Corruption and Its Effects on Citizens’ Welfare” held on May 30, 2012.

 Moreover, the achievements of the organisation through its departments have spoken loudly about the organisation. Some of which are:

 

a. Establishment of thirty (30) Nursery and Primary Schools throughout the South-West.

b. Establishment of three (3) Secondary Schools in Iwo, Ibadan and Oyo

c. Establishment of Diploma in Islamic Studies Affiliated to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

d. Establishment of National Certificate in Education (N.C.E.) affiliated to Assanusiyya College of Education, Ode-Omu, State of Osun.

e. Establishment of Darul-Islam Women Education and Vocational Centre

f.  Establishment of Al-Qudus Islamic Information Centre with the following services: Computer Desktop publishing; Computer Engineering ; Cyber Café; Software Development Training; Networking, Satellite Sales, Servicing and Installation and Information Technology Consultancy.

g.Establishment of Asharikatul Islamiyah (Computer Business Centre and Handset Engineering)

h. Establishment of Qudus Media Studio (DVD, CD recording, editing,   mixing, Mass Dubbing, Digital Photo etc)

i. Establishment of Al-A’wan Maternity and Health Centre – Iwo (Registered)

j. Establishment of Rahmah Hospital – Ibadan (Government Approved)

k. Establishment of Islamic co-operative , credit and investment society

l. Establishment of an Internet-based radio station

 ASPIRATIONS OF TA’AWUN

• Ta’awunu aspires to stop backwardness in education and reduces ignorance in the society.
• Taawunu aspires to establish Women Empowerment Centre which will be channeled at completely freedom for women i.e. Literacy department; Technical Skill Acquisition department; Education department; Computer Training department; Financial Granting department; Mini-Loan Scheme department etc
• Ta’awunu aspires for united and strong Nigeria with peaceful and relationship among tribes and religions.
• Ta’awunu calls for good leadership that can paddle the nation to greater height and act of patriotism among the citizens
• Ta’awunu aspires for justice and equity in all states and Nigeria at large without tribal prejudice or religious bigotry.
• Ta’awunu aspires for freedom of press through objective journalism that will reveal the truth regardless of who hides behind the curtain.
• Ta’awunu aspires for comfortability of masses by encouraging government to provide employment opportunities and infrastructural facilities.

Looking critically to the achievements and contributions of this organisation with her aspiration as well, it could be inferred that the State of Osun SSS is just formulating fallacious allegation against our integrity; threatening and harassing us unnecessarily.  

We stand for peace and we preach the peace; may peace reign supreme in Nigeria and the world at large.