11th June, 2019
DON’T CHRISTIANIZE YOUR CABINET - MURIC TELLS S/W GOVS
As South West governors resume office after their inauguration
on 29th May, 2019, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for
the formation of balanced cabinets by the new governors of Oyo, Lagos and
Ogun.
Making the call was the Director of the Muslim Rights Concern
(MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola. In a press statement circulated on Tuesday
11th June, 2019, the Islamic human rights organization advised the
new governors to allow their cabinets to reflect the spirit of participatory
democracy by ensuring that all stakeholders are not only consulted but fully
involved.
“Your new governments
must be inclusive. It must carry all sectors and groups along. That is the
secret of good governance. As you pick political figures, you must involve
technocrats and business gurus.
“We are watching the exercise with keen interest. Muslims in the
South West are aware that all the new governors in Ogun, Oyo and Lagos are
Christians. They should not make the same mistakes made by Ayodele Fayose and
his successor, Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti State.
“Fayose ensured that Muslims were politically strangulated
during his tenure. The secretary to the state government (SSG), the chief of
staff (COS), all fourteen commissioners, all permanent secretaries and all
board chairmen except one were Christians. In spite of our exhortations, Fayemi
gave Muslims only one commissioner out of fourteen. This kind of attitude
cannot promote peaceful coexistence. Neither does it represent good
governance.
“We have a special
message for Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State. He has already appointed a
Muslim as the chairman of the Muslim Pilgrims Board. His choice is a very good
one. Professor S. H. A. Malik is one of the most respected Islamic scholars in
Nigeria. But Makinde should not assume that he has given Muslims any post. No,
he has not.
“That position can only be filled by a Muslim. Makinde must
therefore do his homework very well. Oyo State is not a place where any
governor can dare the Muslim population. Bola Ige learnt this lesson too late.
We are waiting to see where the posts of SSG and COS will go. The number of
seats allocated to Muslims and Christians in the cabinet and board appointments
will determine Makinde’s political sagacity.
“For the avoidance of
doubts, MURIC is aware of the essence of merit in making appointments.
Therefore, we are not suggesting the contrary. Any governor who claims that he
could not find competent Muslims to appoint is deceiving Nigerians. The truth
is that political appointments have become indices for the general welfare of
various groups. Failure to pay attention to the Muslim population in terms of
appointments therefore tantamounts to deliberate attempt to impoverish Muslims.
“To conclude this advocacy, we welcome the three new governors
in the South West and urge them to give every sector its fair share in
governance. We counsel against the christianisation of governance in any form.
Rather, the new governors should give their subjects balanced cabinets”.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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