STOP SOKOTO KILLINGS OR RESIGN: MURIC TELLS DEFENSE MINISTER

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎

‎22nd August, 2026

‎

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎STOP SOKOTO KILLINGS OR RESIGN: MURIC TELLS DEFENSE MINISTER

‎

‎An Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has told the Minister of Defense, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), to stop the killings in Sokoto or resign from his post. The group hinged the call on the minister's vow to end killings on assumption of office, a promise he has not been able to keep. 

‎The call was contained in a press statement issued on Saturday, 22nd August, 2026 by the group's Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

‎"Killings and kidnappings around Nigeria has continued unabated. The level of insecurity has risen to all time high. But these terrorist activities have been concentrated on Sokoto State in particular in the past two years. 

‎"For brevity, we will mention only the 43 people and an Imam who were killed in Sokoto in the past three weeks. 19 others were abducted in the same state around the same time. It is needless to mention the fact that all the victims were Muslims (https://muslimnews.com.ng/2026/08/21/bandits-kill-imam-43-others-abduct-19-in-three-sokoto-attacks-within-a-week/). 

‎"These incessant attacks on Sokoto State have far-reaching effect on both the Nigerian security architecture as well as the Nigerian populace. 

‎"In the first place it underlines the weakness of our military and its failure to secure the citizenry. Secondly, killings and abductions in Sokoto or any type of attack that happens in the state symptomises aggression on the seat of the Nigerian caliphate. 

‎"If Abuja is Nigeria's political capital, if Lagos is the country's economic hub, then Sokoto is the heart of Islamdom in Nigeria. 

‎"Let it be known far and wide that any attack on Sokoto is deemed by Nigerian Muslims as an attack on Muslims in general. This is a factor the military must bear in mind. 

‎"We therefore hold the Nigerian Army responsible for the security lapses in and around Sokoto. We expect nothing less than iron-clad defense mechanism in that axis. 

‎"To this end, we remind the Minister of Defense, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), of his vow on resumption of office as minister. He promised to stop killings (https://dailypost.ng/2025/12/05/we-dont-have-time-killing-of-nigerians-must-stop-defence-minister-musa-blows-hot). 

‎"Nay and more than that. In his own words, he vowed not to fail himself and the Nigerian Nation: '...I knew that I could not afford to fail myself, fail my nation, fail my family...' (https://dawnherald.ng/2025/12/04/i-cant-afford-to-fail-nigerians-defence-minister-vows-to-end-killings/). 

‎"But today Sokoto is under siege. Farmers cannot go to their farms. Villagers seek safe haven in distant lands. City dwellers sleep with one eye open. Travellers have become human merchandise, abducted, humiliated, dehumanised and turned to meer goods whose price must be haggled with criminals. 

‎"The Defense Minister has reneged on his pledge to stop killings. He has failed the people of Sokoto. He has failed Nigerians.

‎"Just yesterday, the Department of State Services (DSS) warned that terrorists were planning to attack tertiary institutions in Sokoto State (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/08/terrorists-planning-to-attack-sokoto-tertiary-institutions-dss/amp/?utm_source=beloud.com&utm_medium=beloud.com). 

‎"This is the last straw that broke the camel's back. We cannot take any more. The Defense Minister cannot eat his cake and have it. He cannot stand akimbo while the seat of the caliphate is burning and still keep his ministry. 

‎"We therefore give the Minister of Defense 14 days starting from Monday, 24th August 2026 to make vissible, tangible and reliable changes in the security paraphernalia in and around Sokoto such that the state will become impregnable and unassailable. The city of Sokoto must be swept clean. In particular, no single ant must climb on the Sultan's skin. 

‎"The alternative is for the minister to submit his letter of resignation on or before the ultimatum. There is no other option on the table".

‎#SokotoKillings

‎#SeatOfTheCaliphate

‎#SecureOrResign

‎#CapitalOf160MillionMuslims

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

 

BUS PREACHING: MEDIA, ELITES MUST NOT FAIL NIGERIANS - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

 

‎20th August, 2026

‎PRESS RELEASE:

BUS PREACHING: MEDIA, ELITES MUST NOT FAIL NIGERIANS - MURIC

‎Faith-based civil liberties organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has taken the media and elites to task on the raging debate on bus preaching. 

‎In a press release issued on Thursday, 20th August, 2026, the group's Executive Director complained about the silence of both the media and Nigerian elites. He warned that they must not fail Nigerians.

‎"As the debate on the issue of preaching inside commercial buses raged, we have noticed the loud silence of both the media and Nigerian elites on the subject matter. 

‎"Ceteris paribus, panels upon panels would have featured ad infinitum on our various television channels and radio stations where the pros and cons would be extensively analysed to educate the public.

‎"But surprisingly this has not been so. What we have are threats from the altars and the dogmatic positioning from clerics.  The usual enrichment and garnishing from the media and the elites are completely absent. 

‎"This is quite strange. Can the fourth estate of the realm claim not to know the correct position? Are Nigerian elites deliberately denying the reading public their eye-opening, engaging and refreshing articles? Why are they not giving us their opinions on bus preaching in their weekly columns and editorials? Why are they leaving the table to the clerics alone?

‎"MURIC frowns at this complacency. We call upon the media to wake up to its responsibility. The role of the media is to educate, to entertain, to inform and to instruct while using those attributes necessary to play the roles, namely, truthfulness, knowledge, constructiveness and courage.

‎"Coming from the Latin word 'medium', the media serves as a medium of communication. Isolating itself from this debate is therefore a disservice to Nigerians. The absence of the media from the table means we are not communicating. 

‎"Three of those four fundamental roles are being abandoned here. Nigerians need to be educated, to be informed and to be instructed on the burning issue of bus preaching. The media and the elites must therefore speak up. Silence is not an option. They cannot claim not to know the truth. They cannot claim not to know the ideal. 

‎"It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, 'Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly. Corroborating the Indian leader, Albert Einstein declared, 'The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them doing nothing'. 

‎"The Nigerian media cannot afford to stand akimbo while such aggressive debate is going on. It is about the right to enjoy a quiet ride. 

"The aloofness of the media in this conversation has created a yawning gap at the table. By now we should have been witnessing fiery discussions on television and radio on bus preaching. It ought to be so. It is an obligation and its absence points to a failure, a social decay and an unnecessary exhibition of prejudice.

‎"Warning against prejudice in the journalism profession, Walter Cronkite said, 'It is our duty to be sure that we do not permit our prejudices to show. That is simply basic journalism'. But Leslie Moonves contended that 'Journalism has changed and partisanship is very much a part of journalism now'. 

‎"Yet we know where the Nigerian press is coming from. Rev Henry Townsend who introduced Christianity to Nigeria in 1842 was the same man who started the first newspaper 'Iwe Irohin Yoruba' in Nigeria in 1859. This may be why many journalists feel a symbiotic nexus exists between them and a particular religion. However, only those who succeed in severing that invisible spiritual umbilical cord can lay claim to professionalism.‎

‎"So far the Nigerian press has not been known to sit on the fence in matters like this. They have always been outspoken. We must therefore ask: who is gagging the press on the issue of bus preaching?

‎"We say 'No' to selective articulation. It was Benjamin Franklin who spoke of being an 'impartial printer'. Objectivity is the golden norm of journalism. The media must speak out boldly. 

‎"Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said, 'Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.' Martin Luther King Jr rounded it up with the words, 'There comes a time when silence is betrayal'. The press must not fail the Nigerian people".

‎

‎#BusPreaching

‎#MediaMustSpeak

‎#ElitesMustSpeak

‎#NoToSelectiveArticulation

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

MURIC REQUESTS TO VISIT EL-RUFAI IN ICPC CUSTODY

                      MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎18th August 2026

 

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎‎MURIC REQUESTS TO VISIT EL-RUFAI IN ICPC CUSTODY

‎

‎A Muslim civil liberties group has made a formal request to visit Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, the former Governor of Kaduna State.

‎‎In a letter submitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) today, Tuesday, 18th August, 2026 by the Abuja branch chairman of MURIC, the human rights group listed the names of its three-man delegation that will visit El-Rufai as Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director, Ustadh Yunus Salahudeen, chairman, Abuja branch as well as the branch assistant secretary, Shehu Ahmad Lemu.

‎‎It will be recalled that El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since Monday, 16th February, 2026 and he has already spent approximately six months and two days by today (18th August, 2026) when MURIC submitted its letter requesting to visit him.

‎

‎#El-Rufai

‎#MURICToVisitElRufai

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola,

‎Founder/Executive Director,

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

OSUN 2026: INEC DISALLOWED MUSLIM WOMEN IN HIJAB FROM VOTING - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎16^th August, 2026

‎

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎

‎OSUN 2026: INEC DISALLOWED MUSLIM WOMEN IN HIJAB FROM VOTING  - MURIC

‎

‎A civil liberties organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for incidents where Muslim women who wore hijab were disallowed from voting in the Osun gubernatorial election which took place yesterday, 15th August, 2026.

‎

‎MURIC's complaint was contained in a press statement issued on Sunday, 16th August, 2026 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. 

‎

‎"Thousands of Muslim women who wore hijab were disallowed from voting in the Osun gubernatorial election which took place yesterday, 15th August, 2026. The incident was widespread. 

‎

‎"It was targeted coercion, humiliation and disenfranchisement. A few weak and uninformed Muslim women in hijab were allowed only after surrendering by removing their hijab. 

‎

‎"We strongly condemn this massive disenfranchisement. But we cannot but connect it to the failure of INEC leadership to properly educate and instruct its regular and ad hoc staff on freedom of religion.

‎

‎"This can only be targeted intimidation. The head of INEC himself has no respect for Nigerian Muslims and he had been enmeshed in the Christian genocide scandal over which he was accused of writing an 80-page legal brief which brought American soldiers to Nigeria. 

‎

‎"We have concrete and incontrovertible evidence for our allegation. We have a video clip of an hijab-clad Muslim woman who complained bitterly about how she was disallowed from voting on account of hijab she wore. 

‎

‎"MURIC reiterates its call for the removal of Professor Joash Amupitan as head of INEC. We contend that the intimidation of Muslim women in hijab during yesterday's election in Osun State had a direct impact on the outcome of the election. We warn that worse treatments are in the offing for Muslim voters throughout the country in the 2027 general elections.

‎

‎"We therefore alert the Federal Government (FG) over such plans by Amupitan and his team of Muslim haters. Nobody should blame Muslims if they react to the stripping of their women in public in future elections. No civilised society should encourage the public humiliation of women.

‎

‎"We blame INEC for this violation of Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslim women."

‎

‎#Osun2026

‎#HijabRight

‎#NoToIntimidationOfMuslimWomen

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

BUS PREACHING: CHRISTIAN INTELLECTUALS SHOULD SPEAK UP - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎12th August, 2026

‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎BUS PREACHING: CHRISTIAN INTELLECTUALS SHOULD SPEAK UP - MURIC

‎As the controversy on preaching inside the bus rages on, a human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has dragged Christian intellectuals into the discourse. 

‎A statement emanating from the faith-based group's Lagos headquarters on Wednesday, 12th August, 2026 invited Nigerian intellectuals, particularly lecturers of Christian studies in the universities to join the debate for the purpose of educating Christian clerics and the Nigerian public on the matter. 

‎The statement was signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Founder and Executive Director of MURIC. 

‎"As the controversy on bus preaching rages on, considering the volatility of the subject matter and its significance at a time when the question of insecurity and the need for peace and tranquility has taken the driving seat in our national conversations, we find it germane to bring Nigerian intellectuals to the table.

‎"The bus preaching controversy is very important because of its close relationship with peaceful coexistence. Nigeria has lost a large number of its citizens as well as properties to religious crisis. An ordinary argument over disturbance inside the bus can lead to riot any time soon. We are sitting on a keg of gun powder. 

‎"But having found Christian clerics unwilling to reason along with the National Assembly (NASS) while they have assumed a combative stance against the extant law  which prohibits bus preaching and has been in existence since 2007, we deem it necessary to sound out Christian intellectuals with the hope that, like intellectuals everywhere in the world, they will be more amenable to objective, constructive and critical thinking devoid of any form of sentiment. 

‎

‎"Already, we find it curious that intellectuals, particularly lecturers of Christian Studies and other Christians teaching and researching in Nigerian universities have elected, for reasons best known to them, to stay out of the fray. We still find it necessary to seek their contribution to the national debate. This should not be difficult as we have several tertiary institutions in the country offering Christian studies. 

‎"We invite such intellectuals to join the debate on the moral and social correctness of preaching inside commercial buses. Is it a globally accepted practice? Can it engender progress? Will it promote civilization?

‎"We believe that the contribution of intellectuals in this conversation is crucial because of the cardinal role that intellectuals play in society. 

"MURIC's position is that public commercial transport is a shared, multi-faith space where captive audiences should not have one specific religion imposed upon them. Intellectual discourse will also help clarify constitutional boundaries, commuter rights, and the distinction between genuine worship and disruptive proselytizing.

‎"By joining the conversation, Christian scholars will be able to guide the church to evaluate effective and respectful methods of witness that honor both the Great Commission and the peace of the wider Nigerian community. It is all in the interest of peace, public safety and security.

‎"The bus preaching debate may be disturbing, particularly after seeing the extremist line of argument proferred by Christian clerics and leaders of Christian organizations. But Christian intellectuals may adopt a different approach. 

‎"Edward W. Said described the intellectual as someone whose purpose is 'publicly to raise embarrassing questions, to confront orthodoxy and dogma... and whose raison d'être is to represent all those people and issues that are routinely forgotten.'

‎"Instead of supporting comforting traditions, intellectuals disrupt lazy and escapist consensus. The role of intellectuals in society is to think critically, not to dance to the gallery. Intellectuals challenge the status quo.

‎"According to C. Wright Mills, intellectuals help everyday people understand systemic problems and feel empowered to act. Susie Orbach contends that intellectuals are there to make a contribution to public space.

‎"This is the time Nigeria needs Christian intellectuals to throw some light on the issue of preaching inside commercial buses. It is our sincere hope and prayer that they hearken to this call to duty. 

‎"The book of Isaiah 1:18 says, 'Come let us reason together'. The Glorious Qur'an also corroborates this when it says, 'Say, Oh People of the Book, come to common terms between us and you...' (3:64). 

‎"This is in line with our commitment to dialogue as succinctly expressed in the motto of MURIC, 'Dialogue, No Violence'. We strongly believe that it is better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. 

‎"The advent of Christian intellectuals with their informed intervention is likely to save the day. The Christian clerics who have proved very difficult need their enlightenment. 

‎"An injunction of the Qur'an says, 'Ask the custodians of knowledge if you do not know' (16:43). Nigeria faces dire consequences if we allow the recalcitrance of the clerics to hold sway. The Bible says, 'My people perish for lack of knowledge' (Hosea 4:6).

‎#BusPreaching

‎#ChristianIntellectuals

‎#KnowledgeIsPower

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

 

 

 

 

 

OSUN 2026: ADELEKE HURLED OSUN MUSLIMS INTO ABJECT POVERTY - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎8^th August, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

‎‎OSUN 2026: ADELEKE HURLED OSUN MUSLIMS INTO ABJECT POVERTY - MURIC

‎‎Governor Jackson Ademola Adeleke has been accused of throwing the Muslims of Osun State into abject poverty. Making the allegation on Saturday, 8^th August, 2026, was a faith-based civil liberties organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). 

‎In a statement signed by the group’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC lamented over the level of poverty among Muslims in the state as a result of political marginalization, economic deprivation and social ostracisation of the Muslims due to the governor's anti-Muslim policies. 

‎‎"An Osun-based Muslim group yesterday questioned Adeleke's relationship with his Muslim subjects in the state. In a press conference held by the coalition of Muslim leaders under the aegis of the Concerned Muslim Stakeholders and League of Alfas in Osun State, the coalition complained bitterly that Adeleke denied Muslims equitable representation in his government throughout his tenure.  

‎‎"Unlike the court jesters, bootlickers and ‎rented influencers singing Adeleke's praise,  this press conference held by the  Osun Muslim group where Adeleke was accused of marginalizing Osun Muslims in all strata of governance has vindicated us (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/08/osun-muslim-group-questions-adelekes-record-backs-oyebamiji/amp/).

‎‎"MURIC gives kudos to the organizers of this press conference. They spoke truth to power when it mattered most. They have also vindicated us as permanent residents of the state who know what has been happening there. 

‎‎"Governor Adeleke boasts of renovating the mosque in the Government House. He also beats his chest over what he did with the Hajj camp in Oshogbo. But both are government's properties. They have little or nothing to do with the welfare of Osun Muslims. 

‎‎"We are talking about what will put bread on the tables of Osun Muslims. We challenge Adeleke to reveal the number of Muslims who got jobs under his administration. How many Muslims were made chairmen of the government agencies and parastatals compared to the number of Christians who enjoyed open cheque treatments? 

‎‎"17 Christians were made commissioners by Governor Adeleke whereas he gave Muslims just 7 slots. That is ratio 7:17. But is that a true reflection of the population size of Muslims and Christians in the state? 

‎‎"By inference, Osun Muslims who are the majority had access to government through 7 commissioners only while their Christian counterparts who are the minority had access to the government through 17 commissioners. Is that fair? Is that justice? 

‎‎"That explains why many Christians allegedly secured jobs under Adeleke simply by queuing at the doors of churches to await the arrival of the Christian commissioners on Sundays. It was really worth it as they have up to 17 different churches to go plus those of heads of agencies. 

‎‎"Muslim employability and their access to the corridor of power were therefore blocked by Governor Adeleke's Strait of Hormuz since he ensured that only 7 commissioners were given to Muslims in his administration. 

‎‎"As a smart Alec, Adeleke capped his edifice of deceit of Muslims by ensuring that the speaker, deputy speaker, majority leader and chief whip of the House of Assembly are Christians. That was after picking a Christian as his own deputy.

‎‎"He planned total political marginalization of Muslims in the affairs of Osun State and he achieved it. It was diabolical, unprecedented yet ingenious.

‎It has therefore been suffering galore for Muslims under Adeleke in the last three years. 

‎‎"The level of poverty among Muslims in the state as a result of this political marginalization, economic deprivation and social ostracisation due to the governor's anti-Muslim policies is simply unimaginable. 

‎‎"We therefore wonder how the same Muslims can ever think of voting for Adeleke for his second term. This governor is not coming back. We advise him to ensure that he does not forget anything in the government house. Osun gubernatorial electiin will be held on 15th August. He should start packing by 5 am on 16th August, 2026.

‎‎"Any Muslim leader or follower who canvasses for Adeleke's second term is either ignorant of these facts, a traitor or an hypocrite (munafiq). Adeleke's cup of maladministration has spilled over. He marooned Osun Muslims and hurled them into abject poverty. He will not get a second chance to repeat those atrocities. Adeleke is ...going, going, gone."

‎‎#Osun2026

‎#GovernorAdeleke

‎#TimeUp

‎

‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).

 

REWARD ADELEKE'S EDENISATION BY REJECTING HIM ON SATURDAY - MURIC

 

MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC)

‎هيئة حقوق المسلمين

‎Motto: Dialogue, Not Violence

‎‎10th August, 2026

‎‎PRESS RELEASE:

REWARD ADELEKE'S EDENISATION BY REJECTING HIM ON SATURDAY - MURIC

‎‎As the off-season gubernatorial election in Osun State is just five days away, an Islamic human rights body, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of nepotism. 

‎‎MURIC insists that the Governor pursued a policy of edenisation whereby people of his town, Ede, allegedly received undue favours. The group therefore called on people of other towns in Osun to reward the governor by rejecting him at the polls on Saturday, 15th August, 2026.

‎‎The statement was signed by Professor Ishaq Akintola, Executive Director of MURIC. 

‎‎"We are in possession of a video clip in which the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, is accused of favouring members of his family as well as the people of Ede, his hometown. 

‎‎"According to the clip, only Ede indigenes were promoted in the civil service since Adeleke became governor. That is not all. The video clip alleged that the chief of staff, four commissioners, the chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, the chairman of 'O' Ambulance, the chairman of 'O'

‎His are all indigenes of Ede. 

‎‎"Not only that, the video clip went on to allege that the rector of Osun State Polytechnic, the rector of Esa-Oke Polytechnic, the Executive Secretary of Osun State SUBEB, about seventeen (17) special advisers, about 162 senior special advisers and nine (9) permanent secretaries are all from the same town, Ede.

‎‎"We are utterly flabbergasted by these revelations. As a civil society group, we are obliged to ask the good people of Osun State to verify the claims made in the video clip so as to know what to do if it is true.‎

‎"People of Osun State are the tax payers. They are also the voters. They have the right to know how the state is run. Should the claims be confirmed, they must make an important choice on Saturday when they go to the polls. They must choose between remaining slaves of one family ad infinitum thereby serving only one town or setting themselves free by rejecting Adeleke at the polls. This can be done with one stroke of the pen. 

‎‎"For microscopic clarity, we assert that MURIC has nothing against the good people of Ede. We have members in that ancient city. We have fans all over the place. We are fully on ground in Owode, Oke Gada, Country Home and Adeleke University campus (where Muslim students are forced to come to church) as well as the university neighbourhood, all in Ede town. Therefore we are not attacking Ede town per se or the indigenes. 

‎‎"Nay, this is about a leader who failed to realize that he is for all. No governor of any state has the right to concentrate on his own town alone. Minister Oyetola did not concentrate on Iragbiji when he was governor of Osun. Aregbesola did not focus the paraphernalia of governance on Ilesha alone. Oyinlola spread the dividends of democracy across board beyond Okuku. Why must Governor Adeleke give all the milk and honey in Osun to his hometown alone? 

‎‎"It is ethnic jingoism. It is myopic and parochial. It is bad governance. It is a betrayal of trust. Adeleke's oath of office was to serve the people of Osun, not one  town but he was fixated on Ede throughout his tenure. Pay day is here. Adeleke cannot win this election even if all the sands and pebbles of Ede rise from the ground to cast their votes for him on election day.

‎‎"Edenisation resulted in the abandonment of other towns. It led to the scarcity of state infrastructure in many other cities. There must be consequences for bad governance. Adeleke must pay for making other towns suffer. 

‎‎"Oshogbo felt little or no presence of the state government despite being the capital. Compared to the humongous patronage enjoyed by indigenes of Ede under Adeleke's edenisation policy, how many indigenes of Oshogbo got appointments during Adeleke's tenure? How many Ife indigenes secured employment? How many from Ilesha, Ikire, Apomu, etc? 

‎‎"Oshogbo in its entirety must therefore reject Adeleke on Saturday. The good people of Ife, Ilesha, Ejigbo, etc must turn their backs on the author of edenisation. 

‎‎"Governor Adeleke has one dogma: it is called 'winner takes all'. He has this proclivity for arrogating too much to his side and too little to others. He did it to the Muslims of Osun who got only 7 commissioners even as the state's majority religious group. 

‎‎"He has done it now to the people of Osun by adopting edenisation as a policy because he is from Ede. That is gymnastic ethnicity. Adeleke finds it difficult to correct this defect. He believes that this fundamental flaw can be masked with his 'ajobiewe' skill. He has totally forgotten that a leader should be fair to all and that balancing is required in governance. 

‎‎"You can deceive some of the people with skyscraper caps, you can distract the attention of others with dancing skills that tend to wake Michael Jackson from the grave, but you cannot successfully mask your flaws from all the people all of the time. 

‎‎Come Saturday, 15th August, 2026, the people of Osun are bidding goodbye to ethnic chauvinism. The come has come to become. The game is up.

‎‎#Osun2026

‎#NoToEdenisation

‎#PayDay

 

‎‎Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

‎Founder/Executive Director, 

‎Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).