The Joint Muslim Action Forum (JOMAF) has expressed dismay at the call by the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) for a Christian governor in Osun State in 2026.
JOMAF’s reaction is contained in a statement jointly signed by Alh. Kola Uzamat, Chairman and Barr. Qaasim Odedeji, Secretary.
The statement reads:
“We read with dismay the content of the press conference held by Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) at the Osun CAN Secretariat, Owode-Ede, Osun State on Sunday, the 2nd of November, 2025.
“At the said press conference, YOWICAN claimed wrongfully that since the return to democracy in 1999, Muslims have largely occupied the office of the governor of Osun State leaving the position of the deputy to the Christians.
“If the Muslims in Osun State would refuse to react to this kind of irritating claim and demand, it is not at this time when Nigeria is battling with effect of similar lies and propaganda orchestrated by Christian groups and individuals who do not care to throw Nigeria into turmoil for their sentimental, parochial and selfish interest.
“At the YOWICAN conference, while it was convenient for the Christian body to claim that some Muslims occupied positions of governors at one time or the other, it was not convenient for them to own up that for good seven and half year, Osun, despite being a Muslim-majority State had a Christian/Christian ticket where both the governor, his deputy and even the Chief of Staff to the governor were all Christians.
” It was equally not convenient for the Christian body to own up that the current Osun government is more or less a Christian/Christian ticket. After all, the Muslim name with which the governor unconvincingly claim Islam has suddenly vanished in the new certificate just given to him recently by his party. If we may ask, can’t our Christian brethren be truthful and fair for once.
“We want to state clearly that Osun Muslims have demonstrated unequalled political tolerance even more than necessary and nobody should rub it on our face. If we should behave like Christians of Ondo, Ekiti, Plateau, Edo and Benue State, no Christian should have been deserving of occupying the position of the governor of Osun State.
“JOMAF hereby states that the State having produced Christian/Christian ticket for good eleven years, it is not deserving a Christian governor in 2026, rather, if justice and fairness will be allowed, Osun is deserving of a Muslim/Muslim ticket in 2026.
“We therefore call on all political parties to only field Muslim/Muslim ticket for 2026 governorship election.
“We equally want to call on Muslims of Ọsun State to be calm and be more united at this period of renewed provocation. JOMAF will continue to watch as event unfolds and will not fail to take legitimate actions as may become necessary to protect political interest of Muslims in Osun State.”