THE Muslim Community of Oyo State (MUSCOYS) has commended the state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, for ensuring religious balancing in the composition of his new cabinet.
A statement by the MUSCOYS chairman and Secretary-General, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni and Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, which contained the commendation, described the governor’s gesture as “the omoluabi spirit.”
The group recalled that it had earlier complained to the governor over alleged infractions perpetrated against Islam and Muslims.
It said it lodged all the complaints through open letters to the governor and “we will not now merely write privately to applaud His Excellency for the good thing he has done. Hence, we express our commendation publicly through this press statement.”
It said: “As we have said repeatedly, we are not clamouring that the Muslim community should handpick Muslim members of your cabinet for you or impose anyone on you. Rather, all we urge is that you should look for members of your political party who are Muslims and their Islamic virtues would motivate them to call Your Excellency’s attention to any attempt by any over-zealous public official to breach equity.
“We heartily commend Your Excellency. You have done well for beginning to hearken to our requests with this gesture of religious balancing of your cabinet.
“We would be most obliged if the other festering issues are quickly addressed so that we can say it anywhere that we have a listening governor who, in spite of being a Christian, is not Islamophobic.”
MUSCOYS also expressed objection to alleged pressure being mounted on Makinde to return schools to missions and erstwhile private owners, urging the governor not to toe the line as it would be antithetical to religious peace and good governance.
It said: “It is a move to take us back to the dark ages of total impunity against Islam. It will also further impoverish the downtrodden masses who will be forced to withdraw their children and wards from schools, when the missions and shylock school proprietors take over and start charging prohibitive fees. It will be hell on earth.
“Rather than return schools, we urge that government should improve on infrastructure and quality of education in our schools.
“In spite of the listed areas requiring redress, we should not forget that, the primary intent of this press statement is to commend the governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, FNSE, for ensuring religious balancing in the composition of his new cabinet.
“May Almighty God continue to guide you aright in the governance of Oyo State and as you make efforts to address the other issues raised in this statement.
“Once again, Your Excellency, we commend you on the Christian-Muslim balancing of your new cabinet.”
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents
In spite of the huge investment in the water sector by the government and international organisations, water scarcity has grown to become a perennial nightmare for residents of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. This report x-rays the lives and experiences of residents in getting clean, potable and affordable water amidst the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state…Oyo Muslim community commends Oyo Muslim community commends
Selfies, video calls and Chinese documentaries: The things you’ll meet onboard Lagos-Ibadan train
The Lagos-Ibadan railway was inaugurated recently for a full paid operation by the Nigerian Railway Corporation after about a year of free test-run. Our reporter joined the train to and fro Lagos from Ibadan and tells his experience in this report…Oyo Muslim community commends Oyo Muslim community commends
and then