Ogun 2027: Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Mayaleeke joins  call for muslim governor

A prominent Islamic scholar in Ogun State, Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Folajuwon Mayaleeke has joined the clamour that the next governor of Ogun State should be a Muslim.

Sheikh Mayaleeke, Ogun State Chairman of the the Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN) made the call at a press conference held in Ijebu-Ode.

At the event attended by many prominent Islamic scholars, Sheikh Mayaleeke  declared that Muslims in the state have suffered prolonged marginalization in the governorship position, stating that the imbalance needs to be urgently addressed.

Going down the memory lane, he said Christian leaders would have occupied the governorship seat for 26 years by 2027, when the current Governor Dapo Abiodun would be handing over power, compared to just eight years by Muslim leaders, describing it as “deeply troubling.”

“This is not a minor discrepancy but a prolonged imbalance,” he stressed.
Sheikh Mayaleeke emphasised that the demand for a Muslim governor is not driven by sentiment or political bias but by verifiable facts and a commitment to fairness.

He said the Council is not projecting any candidate, pointing out that their position is that the Muslim community in the state has capable gubernatorial materials.

“We are not projecting any candidate, but instead advocating for a political system that promotes justice, equity, and inclusiveness across ethnic and religious divides. advocating for a system that reflects justice, equity, and inclusiveness for all’, he stated.

The council in a statement equally signed by Alhaji Afolabi Zubair (Secretary) added that political parties were urged to demonstrate sincerity by ensuring that their nomination processes reflect fairness across religious lines.
The Islamic body cautioned that failure to address the imbalance would be interpreted as a continuation of exclusionary politics in the state.

The call by the group is coming in the heels of a similar ones by many Muslim leaders and associations in the state.

The most recent was that by Imams in Egbaland who asked all political parties in Ogun State to field “competent Muslim candidates for the 2027 governorship election.”