The Chairman of Oyo State Muslim community, MUSCOYS, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, has called on Governor Seyi Makinde to seize the rare opportunity of his re-election to rectify and remedy the injustice done to Islam and Muslims in his first tenure.
He urged Engr. Makinde to take cognisance of all his actions, inactions, misdeeds and unfavorable acts of his administration to the Muslim community.
The chairman said it is only in doing this that the governor could attract Allah’s forgiveness as well as that of Oyo Muslims in general.
While acknowledging the fact that the State Muslim community has congratulated the governor on his re-election, Alhaji Sanni tasked him to take cognisance of his past misdemeanor even as he advised the governor to walk the path of honour by redressing the injustice to the Muslim Ummah.
A copy of the letter received by Muslim News read, in part, “Almighty Allah gives power to whomsoever He wishes. It has pleased Allah to bestow this favour upon you. It is our fervent hope that equity between the two major religions in the State, Islam and Christianity shall be your watchword.
Congratulating the governor
In a congratulatory letter delivered to the governor on Friday March 24, the religious body prayed for a peaceful tenure, God’s guidance and greater accomplishments for the good people of Oyo.
Recall that MUSCOYS had thrown its weight behind Senator Teslim Folarin, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) “in the interest of Islam and wellbeing of the Muslims”, urging its members not to re-elect Engr. Seyi Makinde.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, however, declared the governor the winner of the election, scoring a total of 563,756 votes to defeat Senator Folarin, who scored 256,685 votes while Accord candidate, Adebayo Adelabu scored a total of 38,357 votes.
Alhaji Sanni, a respected Muslim scholar in the country told Muslim News that the Ummah does not have a choice than to accept the winner despite the irregularities that marred his re-election.
‘How election was monetised’
The Chairman, Oyo Muslim community said the election was not only monetised but weaponised because a day before the election, there was shooting all over the state.
He maintained that some people were killed while some were injured prior to the election, saying many people were afraid for their lives but at the end of the day, somebody has been declared winner.
Voters bribed
Alhajii Sanni noted that majority of the electorates who voted the governor during the poll were either bribed or coerced.
He made the claim during a chat with Muslim News, describing the exercise as moneytocracy and a weaponised election.
He said, “Well, we are supposed to have a democratic election and I don’t know what happened else where, but what we had here was a moneytocratic election.
“Money was being shared and we have two types of poverty. The real poverty is the poverty of the poor people. The common man on the street that was impoverished by the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele and AGF, Malami’s new and old Naira policy with their non-compliance to court orders. The little they had could not be accessed. So, the little money you give them before or during the election is enthusiastically accepted, not minding the consequences of such act in years to come. They gave between N2000 to N5000.
“In the rural areas, they gave N2000. In the urban areas, they gave N4000 to N5000. It’s like you have given them N5 million. That was what played out as far as I am concerned, because I saw it. It’s the man with the biggest financial worth that won the election. it is not a question of people voting according to their conscience. They voted the highest bidder.
“Foodstuff was being shared. Against the electoral regulations, electorates took phones to the polling booth with impunity here. I don’t know what happened elsewhere, but here, people were recording their votes so they could go and get their money. It’s the man who has the biggest financial muscle that won the election.”
“We held a meeting on Tuesday where we reviewed the conduct of the members of Muslim Community. Allah says in Qur’an 3: 26 that ‘He is the one that gives power to whoever He wills…’ even if it was through fraud or whatever. The truth is that it will not sail through if it was not Allah’s Will.
“So, we have accepted that the election has been done, even if it was monetised and weaponised. INEC has declared the winner. Teslim Folarin did his best. He is a Muslim that we supported. We wish him the best in his future endeavours. His turn will surely come at the right time, as ordained by Allah”, he noted.
‘No division in Muslim community’
Alhaji Sanni noted that there was no division in the Muslim community despite the fact that some members did cast their votes for the governor.
According to him, “We don’t call that a division. No one could have helped those with the poverty of the mind who decided to vote for the governor. The sad part of it is that they are equally important people within the Muslim community, but they are few, and that does not create a division.
“There is no division within the Muslim community but we have some notable and wealthy individuals who think they could gain from or they have gained something from the governor. That does not necessarily create a division. So, their individual positions don’t represent the collective interest of the Muslims.
“We don’t want to mention them despite their betrayal. By and large, we still believe such people need to be admonished. They should know it is a very grave sin in the sight of Allah to betray the Islamic cause. Throughout the elections, we didn’t see any Christian cleric or any Christian leader coming out to support the man, except those Muslim leaders who have been bribed.
Role of Adogba mosque
Alhaji Sanni said Adogba Mosque which the governor rebuilt was used to get sentiment votes from ignorant Muslims.
He said, “Somebody demolished a mosque and built another one, with his name written on it, as if he is the owner. The same governor demolished the church, gave N50 million to the church but when the church was opened, there was no noise, he didn’t inscribe his name on it, like he did to the mosque. He didn’t just wake up to say he wanted to build a mosque for the Muslims, he only rebuilt the one he demolished and wanted to use it for his selfish political gain.
No regret voting Teslim Folarin
The revered scholar, however, stated that the Muslim community does not regret endorsing Teslim Folarin for the gubernatorial election.
“No regret at all. We have done our bit as Muslims. The Prophet (SAW) said support your brother whether he is wronged or he is the wrong doer.
“The companions asked, we understand the person who is wrong, how should we support the wrongdoer? The Prophet (SAW) said “correct him”. In this case, the person we supported isn’t the wrongdoer. He is our brother, who needed our support and we did our best. May Allah accept it from us as an act worship. Ameen”, he added.
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