Lagos Muslim Community Takes A Swing At Sanwo-Olu For Uneven Distribution Of Commissioner Nominees

Eko Hot Blog reports that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has continued to take knocks over the list of commissioner nominees he submitted to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.

Multiple groups in the Lagos Muslim community addressed and rejected the list at a press conference on Tuesday.

The Convener of Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) and National Missioner, Ansarudeen Society of Nigeria, Imam Abdul Rahman Ahmad said the group has petitioned the state House of Assembly over the matter.

The groups, which also included top Muslim leaders in Lagos such as Sheikh AbdulRahman Adangba; Amir (President) Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Kamoldeen Abiona; Director of Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Lakin Akintola; and Sheikh Dhirullah Shafii, said the list showed a pattern of Sanwo-Olu disregarding Muslims in making appointments.

According to the groups, the Lagos governor also made lopsided appointments during his first term in office.

The JMF, an umbrella body of over 30 Muslim groups, declared that only 8 Muslims were included in the 39-man list that included 31 Christians.

The body alleged that Sanwo-Olu’s decision to appoint only a handful of Muslims shows oppression, pathological hatred, callousness. Insensitivity, and unfairness.

Speaking on the commissioner-designate list, Imam Ahmad noted that the forum had exhausted all efforts to reach out to the governor and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat over what it called the great injustice.

According to the Muslim leader, Sanwo-Olu refused to reward the Muslim community which helped him get reelected after some Christians allegedly dumped due to the Muslim-Muslim ticket that produced President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, at their second term inauguration on Monday, May 29, 2023

“It must be stated that the Muslim community did not collect a dime from neither the APC flag bearers, nor any of their opponents in that election, rather we acted truthfully and selflessly with hope for a more prosperous Lagos,” he said.

“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.

“It is no longer news that this list is not pleasing to the generality of Muslims of Lagos. It is indeed an afront to our collective sensibilities and tragically confirmed long standing suspected misgivings about Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s genuine commitment to fair leadership.

“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.

“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.”

Also speaking on the development, the Amir (President), MSSN Lagos, Kamoldeen Abiona, rejected what he described as a glaring absence of adequate youth representation in the proposed appointments by Sanwo-Olu.

He noted that the youth constitute a formidable portion of the state’s population, saying it is deeply disheartening that none of the nominated candidates falls below the age of 35.

According to Abiona, the list is a flagrant oversight that blatantly contradicts the governor’s assurances of prioritising the involvement of youths and women in crucial decision-making roles.

Abiona said MSSN Lagos strongly maintained that the vitality and dynamism of the youth demographic are essential for propelling the progress and advancement of Lagos State.

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