By Olugbenga Salami
As Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa took over as the substantive governor of Ondo State following the death of erstwhile Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, MMWG, has called for the appointment of a Muslim as the new deputy governor of the state.
Specifically, the group, in a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi and the Ondo State Coordinator, Alhaji Ali Abdul-Yekeen, advised Aiyedatiwa to appoint the Muslim deputy governor from Ondo North Senatorial District, especially Owo, the hometown of the late Akeredolu in the spirit of inclusivity in governance, equality, justice and fairness.
It recalled that past administrations in the state, including the military appointed Muslim deputies, stating that repeating such action now, would enhance religious tolerance, peace, stability and progress in the state.
The group called for mutual understanding among political leaders and cited Ekiti State as example where both the governor and deputy are Christians, but a Muslim was made Secretary to the State Government, SSG, warning that “for a single religious group to hold 10 topmost political offices in a state is not only unfair and disproportion, but absolute injustice.”
It, therefore, urged those in governance to always remember that balancing appointments religiously is a way of promoting peace, citing Lagos, Osun, Ogun and Oyo States as example that Governor Aiyedatiwa should copy for promoting mutual understanding.
In another development, MMWG commended the consideration of an Ilorin-based businessman, Alhaji Abdulkarim Kunle Sanni as the Bobaselu of Omu-Aran by the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba AbdulRaheem Adeoti, as a round peg in a round hole.
The group described Sanni as a devout Muslim and a detribalised Nigerian who is contributing immensely to the propagation of Islam, development of Omu-Aran community, educational development of the youths and welfare of the less privileged.”
It, therefore, called on all patriotic Nigerians within the state to attend the ceremony which takes place at Government Secondary School, Omu-Aran on Friday, December 29, 2023.
