We demand fair representation of Muslims in your cabinet, Lagos Muslim leaders tell Sanwo-Olu

LEADERS of the various organisations within the Muslim community of Lagos State have unanimously rejected the list of prospective commissioners presented to the House of Assembly by the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

At a press conference in Lagos, the scholars, who came together under the Joint Muslims Forum (JMF) with the National Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, as the convener, asked Governor Sanwo-Olu to come up with a fresh list reflecting 60 percent commissioner nominees in favour of Muslims.

Addressing the newsmen, Sheikh Ahmad, flanked by the leaders of the various Muslim organisations in the state, insisted that the list presented by the governor was not pleasing to the generality of Muslims in the state, saying it was an afront to “our collective sensibilities.”

According to him, the list “tragically confirmed long-standing suspected misgivings about Governor Sanwo-Olu’s genuine commitment to fair leadership.”

The Muslim leader said the list ran contrary to the dictates of the Islamic faith which emphasises fairness in all dealings, and also smacked of a betrayal of the Muslim community which mobilised to vote en masse for the governor and ensure his return for second term.

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 percent of the list, even though they constitute over 60 percent of not just the state’s population but her voting public. We observed that out of 39 nominees, only eight are Muslims.

“When many in the Christian community rightly or wrongly rejected Governor Sanwo-Olu and his party purportedly to protest the Muslim-Muslim ticket at the national level, we the Muslims of Lagos State, stood solidly and voted en masse to ensure his victory, but rather than show appreciation, it appears that Mr Sanwo-Olu chooses to perpetrate injustice and ingratitude in an ill-thought affront to the peaceful and accommodating Muslim community of Lagos.

“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 commissioner nominees 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 or 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 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.

“Why must Muslims in Lagos State always beg and fight for their constitutional rights in the present dispensation? We recall with utmost sadness really, that until the Supreme Court ruled in favour of hijab for our schoolgirls, successive Lagos governments never felt it should endeavour to align with the global best practice of accepting hijab, in addition to abiding by the rule of law.

“The historic pro-hijab judgement was delivered in March 2022 and globally acknowledged. However, Governor Sanwo-Olu’s government, in its peculiar idiosyncrasy, chose to ignore this until a year later, after ceaseless pressure was mounted by well-meaning individuals.

“It was only on account of our compassion that we still agreed to give all the support we volunteered to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s bid. Unfortunately, Governor Sanwo-Olu assumes that we were simply naive.

“We want to emphasise yet again that Muslims of the state are not disposable items to be used and discarded at will. It is time that we insisted most emphatically that it cannot and will not be business as usual again.

“Section 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates that ‘the composition of the government of the federation, a state, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the federation’.

“We, the Muslims of and in Lagos State, wish to categorically state that the entire leadership of the Muslim Community of Lagos State representing various Muslim organisations unequivocally and unanimously rejects the list of commissioner-designates of Governor Sanwo-Olu and we demand a reversal and review to reflect 60 percent in favour of Muslims in a fresh list.

“We call on the state government to respect the constitution of Nigeria in immediate and subsequent appointments. It is crucial in ensuring that all Lagosians feel included and represented in the government. Nigeria practices representative democracy, the governor was elected to serve the people.”