* Demand review to reflect 60% Muslims
• List, insensitive to diversity, affront to our collective sensibilities
• We stood by him when others deserted him, says Convener
The entire leadership of the Muslim Community of Lagos State has unequivocally and unanimously rejected the commissioner-nominees’ list of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying it is callously insensitive to diversity and equity.
The stakeholders representing various Muslim organisations spoke under the aegis of Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) at a world press conference held on Tuesday where they demanded a reversal and review to reflect 60 per cent Muslims.
Muslim News reports that the press conference follows several previous press statements and sermons that also rejected the nomination of the governor over its lopsidedness by Muslim organisations and scholars.
The convener, the National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad said the leadership of the forum mobilised votes from the Muslim community for Sanwo-Olu during his re-election despite caustic opposition laced with tribal and religious sentiments.
He declared that they didn’t collect a dime for the mobilisation, having rejected offers of such flatly.
It was a full gathering of scholars that had leading light of Islam in Nigeria among them were Prof. Lakin Akintola, (Director, Muslims Rights Concern); Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafii, Grand Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO); Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, Vice President, Muslims of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN); Sheikh AbdulRahman Adangba (Imam, Adangba Central Mosque); Sheikh Ahmad AbdulMajeee Ayinla (Missioner, Nawairudeen Lagos State) and Sheikh Isiak Tejidini (Imam/Missioner, Rahmatu Islamiyyah Society of Nigeria).
Others were Imam AbdulJaleel Olori-Aje, (Association of Muslim Professionals); Sheikh Daud A. Adelakun (Chief Imam, Omitoro Central Mosque, Ikorodu); Sheikh Ismail Yusuf (Amir, Lagos Mainland Muslim Community); Alhaji YKO Kareem (The Companion); Alhaji AbdulGafaar Muslideen (National Coordinator, Dawah Front of Nigeria); Hajia Riskiah Adam-Adedimeji (National Youth Coordinator, The Criterion (Al-Furqan); Hajia Amina Muhammad, Member, The Criterion and CEO, AIMS Media); Sheikh Muhammad Basheer (Leader, Zumratul Muhmineen Society of Nigeria) and Mallam Kamaldeen, (Amir, MSSN Lagos State Area Unit).
The revered Muslim scholar said, “On Friday 28th July 2023, the Lagos State Government came out with the list of commissioners-designates of the State for the Lagos House of Assembly’s approval. We are indeed thankful to Allah for the electoral victory of the governor and his deputy, more so because our community worked so hard in the face of a caustic opposition laced with tribal and even religious sentiments,” the text of the press conference read
“In line with the dictates of our Islamic faith which consistently emphasizes fairness in all dealings and also in line with our conviction that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadiri Hamzat are both better experienced and prepared to uplift the quality of lives of Lagosians, we mobilised our community to, not only vote for the return of the governor, but also defend the votes under very difficult circumstances.
“It must be stated that the Muslim community did not collect a dime from either the APC flag-bearers or any of their opponents in that election, rather, we acted truthfully and selflessly with the hope for a more prosperous Lagos.”
According to the Joint Muslim Forum, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s list is not pleasing to the generality of Muslims of Lagos.
“It is indeed an affront to our collective sensibilities and tragically confirmed long-standing suspected misgivings about Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s genuine commitment to fair leadership,” the forum noted.
“With all sense of utmost sincerity, we noted to our utter dismay that Governor Sanwo-Olu’s list exhibited callous insensitivity to diversity, equity, and fairness. Muslims make up less than 20% of the list, even though they constitute over 60% of not just the state’s population but her voting public. We observed that out of 39 Nominees only 8 are Muslims.
“Before anyone says ‘The Muslims have started again’, please take some time to examine the facts. Go through the history of appointments by Lagos State Government, look at the demography that make up Lagos States. Look at it from the lens of what is right and fair. The intention then becomes clear. When many in the Christian community rightly or wrongly rejected Governor Sanwo-Olu and his party purportedly to protest the Muslim-Muslim ticket at the national level, we the Muslims of Lagos state stood solidly and voted en masse to ensure his victory, but rather than show appreciation, it appears that Mr. Sanwo-Olu chose to perpetrate injustice and ingratitude in an ill-thought affront to the peaceful and accommodating Muslim community of Lagos.”
The stakeholders accused Sanwo-Olu of nursing long-standing bias against Muslims, saying it is manifest in his policies and appointments.
“Over the past years, we have witnessed several instances of injustice towards Muslims by the Governor Sanwo-Olu-led state government through its unfavorable policies, lopsided appointments and infringements on our religious and socio-political rights as a community. At various times and fora, we have engaged the government, listing these grievances and concerns all to no avail, with no well-defined efforts by the state government till date to assuage these grievances etc.
“The released list of commissioners is thus a continuation of the old, abnormality and a reaffirmation that the state government has no regard whatsoever for the Muslims in the state nor our interest.
“The Muslims have done nothing to deserve this; in fact, they have played their part by ensuring that the government of the day won the election. The Muslims massively voted for APC when others campaigned for other parties. It is also important to mention that this is not a one-off for this administration. In the last term of this government six (6) Tutors-General were appointed and all were Christians, with instances where senior Muslim successors were sidelined for the nearest Christians. Governance should be about fairness and equity.
“Why must Muslims in Lagos State always beg and fight for their constitutional rights in the present dispensation? We recall with utmost sadness really, that until the Supreme Court ruled in favour of hijab for our schoolgirls, successive Lagos governments, never felt it should endeavor to align with the global best practice of accepting hijab in addition to abiding by the rule of law. The historic pro-hijab judgement was delivered in March 2022 and globally acknowledged. However, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government in its peculiar idiosyncrasy chose to ignore this until a year later, after ceaseless pressure was mounted by well-meaning individuals.
“It was only on account of our compassion that we still agreed to give all the support we volunteered to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s bid. Unfortunately, Gov. Sanwo-Olu assumes that we were simply naive. We want to emphasize yet again that Muslims of the state are not disposable items to be used and discarded at will. It is time that we insist most emphatically that it cannot and will not be business as usual again.”
The forum demanded immediate reversal of the list to include 60% representation of Muslims, adding that the Governor should also respect diversity in his subsequent appointments and policies.
“We the Muslims of, and in Lagos State wish to categorically state that the entire leadership of the Muslim Community of Lagos State representing various Muslim organisations, unequivocally and unanimously reject the list of commissioners-designates of Governor Sanwo-Olu and we demand a reversal and review to reflect 60% in favour of Muslims in a fresh list.
“Finally, we call on the State Government to respect the Constitution of Nigeria in immediate and subsequent appointments. It is crucial in ensuring that all Lagosians feel included and represented in the government. Nigeria practices representative democracy, the governor was elected to serve the people.”
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