GOVERNORSHIP candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Mr Jimi Agbaje, on Tuesday, met the leaders of the state’s Muslim community with a pledge to run an all-inclusive government that would cater for the needs of residents.
Agbaje gave the pledge at a meeting he held with prominent leaders of the community at the Lagos Central Mosque, where he has presented a charter of demands.
Some of the issues raised included: Youth employment, education, health and the enforcement of judicial pronouncement on the issue of Hijab for Muslim girls in public schools, even as those present at the parley that lasted for two hours used the opportunity to probe deep into Agbaje’s programmes as they affected the welfare and wellbeing of the Muslim community.
The parley, which was chaired by the president of the community, Professor Tajudeen Gbadamosi, had scores of scholars present under the leading of the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla who was represented by the Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Afeez Abou.
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Other notable clerics present included all the divisional Imams in the five divisions making up the state as well as the Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, Imam Abdulrahaman Ahmad; Sheikh Abdularahaman Adangba as well as the Director of Muslim Rights Concern, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
Agbaje, who was accompanied by his deputy, Mrs Haleemat Oluyemi Busari, after listening to his hosts’ demands, assured them that his government would operate an all-inclusive administration and carry along all shades of opinions.
While describing the Muslim community in the state as critical stakeholders that could not be discountenanced in the scheme of things, Agbaje said he would accord their demands the needed attention when voted into power, assuring that his three-pronged action plan would ensure prosperity for the people of the state.
This was just as he promised to ensure that the community would be given the leeway to make inputs into governance by allowing it to provide quality personnel to be appointed into government.
Commenting on perceived lopsidedness in the appointment of judicial officers in the state, the PDP governorship candidate stated that the imbalance might have been occasioned by political expediency on the part of the appointing authorities and not out of a deliberate desire to sideline the Muslim community, promising to ensure fairness when voted into power.
While suing for peace on the raging issue of Hijab in government-owned schools, Agbaje commended Muslims in the state for the peaceful manner they had addressed the issue.
“We shall ensure we follow due process in addressing the issue,” he vowed.
On the question of the establishment of a Sharia Court of Justice for Muslims, Agbaje said: “If it is not outside of the Constitution and nobody will feel that you are trying to force a religion on another person, it is something we will look at.”
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