• ‘Only two appointments so far, your request will be looked into’
The Muslim Community of Ondo State has cautioned the Governor of the state, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on the marginalization of over two million Muslims in the governance of the state.
Chairman, League of Imams and Alfas, Ondo State, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe, made the challenge during a courtesy visit to the governor in Akure, Ondo State.
The Muslims applauded some of the initiatives of the governor, such as the promise to pay some outstanding salaries and wages; quick and prompt approval to pay part of the overdue pension, and promise to continue with all the legacy projects of the late governor and the immediate ordering back to sites of all contractors among others.
However, they 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.
Aladesawe 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 Akeredolu SAN, the Muslims are not in any of the 10 principal officers of the government.
“All efforts 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 organisations 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.
