When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved the immediate retirement of all Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, Advisers and the Comptroller-General of Customs from service and subsequently announced their replacements with immediate effect, many of his supporters among Muslims jubilated and innocently hailed the move.
The reason isn’t far-fetched: – they erroneously believed that more Muslims made the list!
“This really favoured us”, a President Tinubu supporter said on a Whatsapp platform, saying “majority of the appointees are Muslims from the southwest and north”. Another one said, “At a point, while reading the names, I saw more Muslims among the Service Chiefs and I was like hummm!”
In fact, someone suggested that President Tinubu, whose Islamic consciousness raised curiosity and concerns during the presidential election campaign, “is now good to Muslims unlike before”, for allegedly appointing more Muslims who supported and stood by him to sensitive positions.
Yet, another supporter, wrote: AlhamduliLlah. We didn’t support Muslim/Muslim or Tinubu ticket in vain, at least for now,” in attestation to what they assumed “a good beginning”.
But, contrary to their erroneous belief that many of the appointed officers are Muslims, Muslim News can authoritatively confirm that only 3 out of the 8 are Muslims.
National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, from Adamawa and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar from Kano and DCG Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, acting CG of Nigeria Customs, who is a member of Modakeke Muslim intellectual forum, are the only Muslims! Others are Christians!
Findings later showed that the New Chief of Army Staff, Major Gen. Taoreed A. Lagbaja from Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State, Southwest isn’t a Muslim.
Perhaps, many were carried away by his first name, Taoreed. One Muslim commenter even called on the Muslim ummah to celebrate what he termed ‘our good brother in faith’.
Alas! He is a church candidate, who left Islam for Christianity a long time ago but retained his Muslim name. He is a member of RCCG, alongside his wife, Mrs. Mariya Abiodun-Lagbaja.
The surname of the new Chief of Defence Staff also deceived some Muslims to believe that he is a Muslim! The C in his initials actually stands for Christopher; a christian from Southern Kaduna.
The religion of the remaining three appointed officers – Rear Admirral E. A Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff; DIG Kayode Egbetokun, Acting Inspector-General of Police and Maj. Gen. Epa Undiandeye, Chief of Defense Intelligence is not hidden or questionable! They are Christians!
It will be recalled that President Tinubu’s first set of appointments – the trio of Kunle Victor Adeleke as State Chief of Protocol (SCOP); former Lagos State Commissioner of Information, Dele Alake as Presidential Spokesman and Olusegun Dada Special Adviser, Digital Media, are also Christians!
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima also confirmed that he picked a Northern christian as his Aide De Camp (ADC) and another christian from the southeastern region of Nigeria as his Chief Security Officer, ignoring Muslims that went all out to campaign for them even when the christian community waged religious battle against them.
“Won’t it be correct to say that christians are winning the propaganda battle against the president and his vice? Are they succumbing to religious blackmail? another commentator reacted, adding, “Time will surely tell.”
It would be recalled that this medium dedicated a special print edition to the campaigns of Asiwaju/Shettima which showed how the Nigerian muslim community, for the first time, declared full term support for their candidacy.
When the duo of President Tinubu and his Vice, Shettima won the election and defeated the unmistaken candidates of the church with the support of the Muslim Community, Muslim News also did a special edition to celebrate their victory.
While reacting in an earlier press release, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, which also openly endorsed Tinubu’s presidency and the candidacy of a christian governor in Lagos in the interest of Tinubu’s presidency, described the development as a serious cause for concern.
“Muslims have started asking questions since the appointments. Are we not in for another round of marginalisation since Muslim leaders have already started succumbing to blackmail so early?
“The ears of MURIC are very close to the ground. We are close to the Muslims. We get reports from all the geo-political zones. This is what Muslims are saying already about the first appointments that were made. The VP can find out by himself since he is close to them too. We hope he will not be given recycled, sycophantic and brummagem reports”, the statement read in part.
Another Muslim commentator opined that, it will be too early to judge and conclude that the trajectory of appointments is in favour of christians, adding that there are still more than five thousand appointments yet to be made at the federal level.
According to him, Muslims are holding the most important positions in this government. The President, the VP and the Speaker are Muslims. Out of the 4 most important positions, Muslims are in 3, except the senate presidency.
“The only challenge Nigeria Muslims have is to reach out to these individuals, saddled with the affairs of this nation, and try their best to set them on the right path”, he said.
Another commentator noted that previous administrations weren’t spared by critics especially religious organisations when they marginalized Muslims in their appointments.
He said, “I remember how muslim bodies used to tackle some state governors even after they made their first appointments. Some muslims would have gone to the same social media to crucify the government.
“Why is President Tinubu an exception? Is it because many muslims are his supporters, the so-called Batists? What is fairness? What does it mean when Allah says we should be just even if it be against yourselves or (your) parents or (your) kindred.”
The source said the appointment made so far by President Tinubu doesn’t favour Muslims who openly supported them when the christians rejected them.
“Sadly, despite the fact that the christian leaders didn’t support them, they would have raised false alarms in the christian-dominated media if this administration had appointed more muslims.
“So, if in the future, Muslims benefit more from the 5 thousand appointments available for Nigerians, I will be among those who will praise their government, the same way I am expressing my view now. There are many competent, transparent and God-fearing muslims who will make significant impacts when given opportunity to serve. Tinubu/Shettima should not marginalise us. That’s fairness. The interest of Islam and the entire muslim community come first!
May Almighty Allah guide our leaders to what pleases Him and favor Islam, Muslims and the nation at large.
Sincerely this is injustice (Allah knows best) to Nigeria Muslim Community. Considering the Muslims largest population and their open supports for this administration while Nigerian Christians openly against this administration. Also, this has to do with security. With the current security permutation one might says Muslims Life and properties are at risks. One would pray that many innocent Muslims life will not be terminated in the name of fighting Boko Haram, insurgents; only those who know what happened to our brothers before the administration of President Muhammad Buhari can relate.
Although Nigeria is a multi-ethno-religious nation, His excellency Tinubu lead administration can not tell us that they can’t find competent Muslims in other to balance the equation.
It is high time for the Muslim leaders, Muslim Right Advocate Groups and the Muslim Community at large to diligently call the attention of Mr. President, Vice President and their allies not to marginalized we Muslims in other to please CAN or any of their personal interests.
I pray that Almighty Allah continue guides our leaders to what will please Him and favor Islam, Muslims and the nation at large. Aamin.