*Photo: Governor Aiyedatiwa*
The League of Imams and Alfas has told the recently inaugurated Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa that
all the appointments he had made soo far fell short of the expectations of all fair-minded, just, God-fearing, and objective good people of the State.
The Ondo State chapter Chairman of the League, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe, stated this on Monday, 29 January 2024 when he led a delegation of Muslim clerics on a courtesy visit to the Governor.
Sheikh Aladesawe pointedly told Governor Aiyedatiwa that “Your excellency, the Muslim community of Ondo state are not happy with the tide of your appointments. You have made four cardinal appointments after your swearing-in, and all are people of your faith with no single Muslim. Are you saying you cannot find a Muslim in your party cerebral enough to accept even one of those appointment.
“Are you saying the Muslims are so short-of technocrats and intellectuals who can man those offices?
“We as elders are disturbed and our children are restless. Our youth are not happy, but we have to calm them with the assurance that we will meet with you and that we believe you will correct the lopsidedness.
“Mr. Governor, Ondo state is not a Christian state and any government that quest for peace, stability and development must recognise the religious diversity of our dear state. All the Muslim youth organisation including this August body wrote to you pleading with your excellency to pick one of our best as your deputy in-order to aid you in the administration of this state but alas without any explanation or indulgence you decided to pick your choice and jetison the over 2million Muslim of Ondo State.
“Mr. Governor sir, we will advise that Your Excellency should avoid-like-plague anyone, group or associations, no matter their religious affiliation, that may suggest or advice Your Excellence not to listen to the Muslim community of Ondo State.
“They are your enemy and the enemy of your party. Your Excellence should not quickly forget what they said and did to President Tinubu and your party in the last general election. Such people are sycophants, they are worst than cancer and are indeed mistletoe who will always perch on any conducice host tree.
“Your excellency, the Muslims have been reduce to pauper by previous administrations. Many of us are very active in your party yet, we are strategically not being engaged nor empowered to part-take in the running of the government so that the strategic and cardinal objective of the “MUSLIM marginalization agenda” can be realised.
“Your Excellency, the case of our children in public schools are even worse. They are being denied their basic fundamental constitutional religious rights. They are not allowed to attend the jumu’ah, they are denied the use of hijab and the worst, they are being forced to learn the Christian Religious Studies without the permission and consent of we, their parent, because the government of Ondo State has strategically refused to employ Islamic Religious knowledge teachers in the last 21years.”
Asking Governor Aiyedatiwa to bring an end to the marginalization of Muslims in the State, Sheikh Aladesewa nevertheless congratulated the former Deputy Governor of Ondo State on his inauguration as Governor, following the death of his boss, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.
Says the Sheikh: “Without you hustling or contesting to be Governor, Allah made you a Governor and today the only being above you in Ondo State is Allah your creator. The Muslim Community of Ondo State have come to you not only to associate with your government and to wish Your Excellency well but also to advice Your Excellency on the path you need to walk that will lead to unprecedented success for your administration and make our dear state the envy of other state in the federation.”