30th
November, 2022
PRESS RELEASE:
OSUN: ADELEKE STILL DECEIVING OSUN PEOPLE – MURIC
The newly sworn-in governor of the State of
Osun, Ademola Adeleke has been accused of deceiving the electorate. A human
rights group which accused the governor demanded to know which scripture the
governor used during the swearing-in ceremony.
The group also argued that if Adeleke could
deceive people in the state about his faith for so long, the faith of the three
Muslims recently appointed by him may also be another smoke screen.
The allegation was made by an Islamic human
rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), in a press statement issued
on Wednesday, 30th November, 2022 by its director, Professor Ishaq
Akintola.
The statement reads :
“There is no gainsaying that the newly sworn-in
governor of the State of Osun, Ademola Adeleke, has taken people of the state
for a ride. There is ambiguity about the scripture used by the governor during
his swearing-in ceremony. As an integral part of the electorate who elected him
into office, we are interested in the faith of the governor.
“We have the right to know the faith of our governor. It is part of transparency
and accountability. We are asking Governor Ademola Adeleke to come clean about
his creed. We demand to know what scripture was used by him during his swearing-in
ceremony. Was it the Qur’an, the Bible, a cutlass, a gun or nothing?
“It is important to know as voters and as
people who pay tax into the coffers of the State of Osun. It is part of
accountability. If he used the Qur’an he is a Muslim. If he used the Bible he
is a Christian. If he used a cutlass or a gun he is a traditionalist. We have
no quarrel with him if he used any of these three because it means he believes
in God whichever way.
“But if he swore to the oath without using
anything it means he is an atheist and a carefree person. The people of Osun
must be wary of a carefree person on the driving seat of governance in the
state. He is not likely to be fair to adherents of any faith. Neither will he
respect their beliefs, yearnings and aspirations.
“In the same vein, the governor’s appointment
of three ‘Muslims’, Rasheed Olawale, Kazeem
Akinleye and Teslim Igbalaye as his Chief Press Secretary, Chief of Staff and
Secretary to the State Government respectively is more of a smoke screen than
anything else.
“In the first
instance, if Adeleke has been deceiving people in the state regarding his
faith, nothing stops him from handpicking rebranded non-Muslims and presenting
them to the public with Muslim names. We make this statement without prejudice
to the three appointees mentioned above regarding their level of iimaan
(faith) but the onus of clarification is on the governor and his handlers.
“This is a common phenomenon
among rulers in the South West. Muslims who have compromised their faith are
often presented as Muslims and made to occupy Muslim slots whereas such
appointees work for the interest of non-Muslims in office and keep real Muslims
in abeyance.
“Secondly, why would a supposedly ‘Muslim’ governor appoint three other
Muslims to the three highest posts in the state if, indeed, Adeleke is really a
Muslim? This question is quite germane in an environment like the South West
where Muslims and Christians have become keen rivals.
“It appears Governor Adeleke has shot himself
in the foot by these three appointments. Is it right for a Muslim governor in a
place like the South West to give the three highest positions in the state to
his fellow Muslims?
“Adeleke has been too clever by half. He knew he had deceived Muslims in
the state by claiming he is a Muslim. Having realised that the game was up and
that the Muslims do not believe him, he has decided to pacify them by offering
them juicy positions.
“But this is going to backfire. It is
happening already. In the interest of fairness and equity, Adeleke must replace
two of these three appointees with Christians if it is true that he is a Muslim.
Therefore, MURIC demands a clear pronouncement from the governor regarding his
faith.
“Failure to come clean will add to his plethora of ambiguities. If INEC cannot
find Adeleke’s certificate, the electorate deserves to know where their
governor belongs. It will go a long way in affirming whether or not their
governor is trustworthy, transparent and accountable. It goes a long way to prove
his integrity or his lack of it.
“We, therefore, have some questions for Governor Adeleke. His readiness
or his unwillingness to provide answers will show his sincerity or otherwise. Our
questions to Adeleke are these: ‘Your Excellency Sir, are you a Muslim, a Christian
or a traditionalist? Again, Mr. Governor Sir, what did you use during your
swearing-in ceremony? Was it the Qur’an, the Bible, a cutlass, a gun or nothing
at all?’”
Professor Ishaq
Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights
Concern (MURIC)
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