5th March, 2019
BALANCE YOUR CABINET: MURIC TELLS
FAYEMI
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the governor of
Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to ensure fairness in the composition of his
cabinet. Dr. Fayemi, who became governor after the July 14 2018 gubernatorial
election, is yet to announce a cabinet.
The request was made by the human rights organization in a statement
released on Tuesday, 5th March, 2019. The statement was signed by its
Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
“We have full confidence in Dr. Fayemi” MURIC said. “Though
he is a Christian, he was fair to Muslims during his first term in office as
governor of the state between 2010 and 2014. He appointed Muslims into his
cabinet and also approved use of hijab for female Muslim students in the state’s
public schools. We expect him to continue the good work.
“But his successor, Ayodele Fayose, was a big disappointment, a
square peg in a square hole. He was a bigoted Christian and a Muslim-hater primus inter pareil. He ran an
all-Christian administration. All 14 commissioners, all 14 permanent secretaries,
all board chairmen (except the Muslim pilgrims board) were Christians. The
secretary to the state government and even Fayose’s chief of staff were both
Christians. He refused to make any amendments despite repeated complaints by
the Muslims.
“Under Fayose’s watch, Muslims were brutally attacked inside
mosques by sponsored masquerades. Under Fayose’s watch, mosques were pulled
down in the state while Arabic schools were shut. Fayose’s four years were
years of executive brigandage. He will go down in history as the worst governor
Ekiti State ever had.
“Muslims in Ekiti State cannot just leave everything to
chance after such a nightmarish four-year term under Fayose. Their Allah-given
fundamental rights have been trampled upon for too long. They were denied the
right to hold political posts, the right to participate in governance, the
right to gainful employment and, by inference, the right to have access to
economic means of survival.
“MURIC has a duty to speak up for such people. The Glorious Qur’an
says, ‘Why should you not rise in the cause of Allah to defend men, women
and children who are oppressed due to their weakness? The weak ones cry out, “Our
Lord! rescue us from this city (Ekiti State?) whose people are oppressors; and
raise for us from Thee one who will protect us, and send to us a helper!’” (Qur’an 4:75-76).
Ekiti Muslims have been
oppressed, downpressed and repressed. They cried out at the time and MURIC
echoed their cry in compliance with the above verse. We are now asking the
incumbent to rise to the task. Having suffered under ‘Fir‘awn’ (Pharaoh) for four
consecutive years, Ekiti Muslims need a ‘protector’ (Waliyy) and a ‘helper’
(Nasir) at this hour.
“We therefore look forward to Governor Fayemi to rise to the
occasion. We have always maintained that the religion of our president or governor
in Nigeria does not matter so long as there is good governance. Merit should be
the yardstick. We will always support a good Christian or a good Muslim who is
credible, transparent, diligent, who respects the rule of law and who is fair
to all. Sentimentality is a luxury in which MURIC does not indulge.
“At present, both Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy are
Christians. But we are very hopeful because the door is still open for several
other appointments. We expect, in all fairness, that a Muslim will emerge as
either chief of staff or secretary to the state government. This is apart from
other cabinet and board appointments that should be fairly and proportionately
shared between Christians and Muslims in the state. Once again, we reaffirm our
reliance on Dr. Fayemi’s cool-headedness, his friendly mien and his gentlemanly
disposition.
“As we draw the curtain, we reaffirm our full confidence in
Governor Kayode Fayemi. This statement serves as a subtle reminder to the
governor to give fair share to Muslims in his state as a right and as a form of
redress for the misrule and tyranny suffered by them under Ayodele Fayose. In
return, we charge Muslims in the state to cooperate fully with the incumbent.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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