An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, of selling the State to Christians.
The organisation alleged that appointments made by the governor into the State’s commissions and boards on Thursday, 23rd July, 2020 were heavily tilted towards Christians.
MURIC made the claim during a statement made available DAILY POST on Thursday, signed by the Director of the human rights association, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The statement reads, “The recent appointments into commissions and boards in Ogun State leave a sour taste within the mouth. The state governor, Dapo Abiodun, simply took Muslims living under him to the cleaners. An analysis of the appointments confirms our worst fears about most Christian rulers within the South West. they’re there to persecute Muslims, give total political and economic power to Christians and impoverish the Muslims.
“How else can we describe Dapo Abiodun’s appointments of Thursday 23rd July, 2020? How can Dapo Abiodun explain an all-Christian membership of the state’s government officials Commission, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and therefore the Agro Services Corporation? The governor has simply renamed those commissions Christian Services Commission although he’s yet to officially announce it.
“He gave Muslims 40% of the membership of the state’s Housing Corporation, 33.3% within the Health Management Board and 40% within the Bulk Purchasing Board. it’s only within the government Commission that Muslims have 60%. In all, Muslims have eleven (11) out of a complete of forty-three (43) appointments.
“Further analysis and deeper screening reveals the governor’s real agenda of selling the state to Christians. He plans to use the 100% Christian membership of the government officials Commission to make sure that each one future employment into the government officials is for Christian applicants only.
“Also, no single Muslim was appointed into the Teaching Service (TESCOM) for 2 main reasons. Firstly, so as to use Christians only as teachers into Ogun State public schools. Secondly, to perpetuate the age-long persecution of Muslim students and convey them under undue influence of Christian teachers cum evangelists. this may facilitate the ‘forceful’ conversion of Muslim students to Christianity. it’s equally noteworthy that both Special Advisers to the Governor on Primary/Secondary Education and Tertiary Education are Christians.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has been grossly unfair to Muslims under him. he’s not a just ruler. Good governance isn’t in his vocabulary. He has robbed Muslims of the state of the dividends of democracy. this is often during a state where Muslims are the bulk .
“This is that the mentality of the typical Yoruba Christian in power yet we claim there’s religious tolerance in Yorubaland. From Ekiti to Ondo, Oyo and now Ogun, their mentality is that the same. the typical Yoruba Christian ruler has just one dogma, namely, ‘Edge out the Muslims! They don’t exist!’ Only Lagos has given recognition to Muslims under the present Christian governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu.
“Oduduwa Republic are going to be hell on earth for Yoruba Muslims if it ever materializes. Even without the phantom Oduduwa Republic, Muslims are being tossed around, persecuted, oppressed and marginalized. They scatter us like wild oats. Afenifere sees nothing wrong with the denial of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslims in Oduduwaland.
“The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is enjoying equally of it though it shouts to high heaven about persecution of Christians at the national level. We wonder what happened to the principle of he who involves equity coming with clean hands. Ideologues of ‘No religious intolerance in Yorubaland’ look the opposite way. Who will get up for Yoruba Muslims?
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“MURIC reminds Governor Abiodun of the provisions of Section 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which stipulates that ‘The composition of the govt of the Federation, a State, an area government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and therefore the refore the conduct of the affairs of the govt or council or such agencies shall be administered in such manner on recognise the range of the people within its area of authority and the got to promote a way of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation’.
“Now, can the governor honestly and sincerely tell the entire world that he has recognized the ‘diversity of the people’ (Christians and Muslims) within his area of authority? Can he tell the great people of Ogun State that he has promoted a way of belonging particularly among the Muslims?
“Lopsided appointments like this present the talk on religious politics. Already, the Muslims of Ogun State are expressing regret for voting for a non-Muslim candidate. Why are Yoruba Muslims being treated like this? Must the Muslims exhibit their numerical strength during elections by giving a vote to a Muslim candidate before their majority status is given due recognition? Are we going to that level?
“The marginalization of Muslims by Christian rulers within the region may inadvertently be goading Muslims to try to to their worst. the 2 main political parties have also been unfair to Muslims. The difference between them is just like the difference between six and six as far as their treatment of Muslims in Yorubaland cares . The governor of Oyo State and his Ogun counterpart are from different political parties yet both of them marginalize Muslims. this is often not surprising because they need Christianity in common.
“For the avoidance of doubt, MURIC stands for peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims. We believe leadership by eligibility. Let the foremost qualified, tested and trusted person lead no matter his faith. But the leader must give civil right to all or any sides without worrying or favour. A Muslim governor must not marginaliae his Christian subjects then the other way around . this is often our stand. Truth, equal rights and justice are our mandate. We affirm that justice is that the soul of peace. nobody who denies one shall enjoy the opposite . it’s law .
“We therefore turn Governor Dapo Abiodun to try to to a rethink. He must search his conscience and see if he has been fair to Ogun State Muslims. there’s still time to retrace his steps. He must be governor of both Christians and Muslims, not governor of Christian interest and affairs only.”