MUSLIMS IN ONDO DEMANDS INCLUSION OF MUSLIMS IN AIYEDATIWA'S NOMINATION

Read Time:1 Minute, 51 Second

The Ondo State Council for Islamic Affairs (ODSCIA) has shown dissatisfaction with the news of the nominations by Mr. Governor, His Excellency Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, for the positions of Deputy Governor, SSG, and Chief Protocol.

This is coming after the non-inclusion of Muslims in the Ondo State Governor’s nomination.

However, in a statement co-signed by Alhaji Akinpelumi Abibullahi, Chairman of ODSCIA Ondo State, and Alhaji Atere O. Nasirullahi, General Secretary,
ODSCIA, Ondo State, stated that Muslims make up a sizable portion of the voter population in Ondo State but are unable to understand the selection procedures used to fill political offices, which do not take into account the state’s demographic diversity or religious balance.

It added that the law-abiding Muslims in the state have long tolerated this shocking disregard, and it appears that some are taking advantage of their silence, adding that Mr. Governor should re-consider and amend the nominations to include practicing Muslims to balance the political equations.

The statement read, “The leadership of Ondo State Council for Islamic Affairs (ODSCIA) received the news of the nominations by Mr. Governor His Excellency Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa for the positions of Deputy Governor, SSG and Chief Protocol with consternation and deep sense of exclusion in the political arithmetics of our Sunshine State.

“The Muslims in the state, which has a large percentage of Voters population in Ondo State could not comprehend the criteria for selecting people into political positions which does not recognise the numbers of group of people or the religious balance in the State.

“The Muslims in the State who are laws abiding had been tolerating this bracing neglect for a long time and it seems our silence is being taken for granted.

“The Council is now calling on the Ondo State House of Assembly in the spirit of checks and balances which was entrenched in the Nigerian Constitution to right the wrongs by stopping this anomaly and prevail on Mr. Governor to re-consider and change the nominations to include practicing Muslims to balance the political equations.

“ODSCIA is calling on Muslims in the State to continue to be law-abiding while we await the positive response to this our urgent call, it added.”