Ondo Muslims Cautions Aiyedatiwa Over Lopsided Appointments
By Fredrick Wright
Muslims in Ondo State have cried out over the alleged marginalization and moves by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to keep faithfuls away from governance in the state.
The Muslim Community of Ondo State, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Akure, Ondo State, lamented that all the appointments made by Aiyedatiwa so far fall short of the expectations of all fair-minded, just, God-fearing, and objective good people of the state including the Muslims.
Chairman League of Imams and Alfas, Ondo State, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe, who led the Muslims o the governor, said: “Previous administrations have strategically and critically marginalized the Muslim of Ondo State. Muslims in Ondo State today have been reduced to sub-human beings. We are not in government, and we are not involved in governance.
“In the administration of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredollu SAN the Muslim are not in any of the 10 principal officers of the government.
“All effort to correct this lopsidedness in the then government proved abortive as the then governor was not ready to correct this marginalization and bring us closer to how the state is governed.
“We thought your coming will give us salvation. Your excellency, the Muslim community of Ondo state are not happy with the tide of your appointments.
“You have made four cardinal appointments after your swearing-in, and all are people of your faith with no single Muslim. Are you saying you cannot find a Muslim in your party cerebral enough to accept even one of those appointments. Are you saying the Muslims are so short-of technocrats and intellectuals who can man those offices?
“We as elders are disturbed and our children are restless. Our youth are not happy, but we have to calm them with the assurance that we will meet with you and that we believe you will correct the lopsidedness.
“Mr. Governor, Ondo state is not a Christian state and any government that searches for peace, stability and development must recognise the religious diversity of our dear state. All the Muslim youth organisation including this August body wrote to you pleading with your excellency to pick one of our best as your deputy in-order to aid you in the administration of this state, but alas without any explanation or indulgence you decided to pick your choice and jettison the over two million Muslim of Ondo State” he stated.
The group therefore advised the governor to avoid-like-plague anyone, group or associations, no matter their religious affiliation, that may suggest or advise not to listen to the Muslim community of Ondo State.
“We are assuring you of our moral and spiritual support in all your programmes and policies but you need to address our marginalization by actively engaging us in your government through appointment into strategic offices.
“If your government continue with the age long marginalization of the Muslim Ummah of Ondo State, we may not be able to guarantee you our support nor the support of our children and youth”, the group stated.
Meanwhile, the governor commended the Muslim community for the thought provoking speech. He confessed that as the secretary was reading the speech, he was being pinched.
On the appointment of Muslims into political office, he said there are still lots of appointments that could still be done as he has only appointed the deputy governor and the secretary to the state government, adding that the Muslims have come at the right time.
On employment of teachers, he promised to do the needful, particularly on the employment of Arabic, French, English and Islamic Religious knowledge Teachers.
