Muslims in Edo State have accused Governor Adams Oshiomhole of marginalization, saying it has resolved to vote in future elections any political party that sees Edo Muslims as stakeholders.
In an open letter to the Edo Governor signed by the Coordinator General, Edo Muslims, Alhaji Sirajudeen Mohammed, the association accused Oshiomhole of not only undermining Muslims in the state but also denying its student the rights to study Islamic Religious knowledge in state owned
schools.
The open letter reads:
Dear Comrade Governor, we are using this medium once again to call on you and your constituent elites to the unfair treatments the EdoMuslims have suffered under your watch. We have made several attempts to have this discussion behind close door, but your continual refusal to receive us (the Edo Muslims for Equity and Good Governance EMEGG) and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA) Edo State Chapter, which is the Apex Islamic body in the nation),
has resulted to this open letter.
It may interest you to know that the Edo Muslims represent at least 40% of the total state population. Indeed, every fair thinking person would see this longtime neglect as unmerited and injustice.
Everywhere in the world, Muslims have been people to reckon with because they are very responsible and law abiding citizens. We contributed proportionately to the elections that produced you among others as
Governor in the first and second tenures.
But today you have neglected and downgrade our representation and productivity by non inclusion of Muslims in political appointments proportionately with other faiths. The Edo Muslims are henceforth saying no to this inequality and undue marginalization because it is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and incompatible with federal characters, which is also at variance with the law of peaceful coexistence and that of God’s agenda for man.
If we all accept the Abraham Lincoln’s definition of democracy as “A government of the people, by the people, for the people”.
That is, a government that is to be upheld by all freedom loving people and not just the selected few who hold a seat in the state. It is also a government to be free of injustice that would violate the country’s laws
and by-standards”.
This is what is obtainable everywhere multi-culture and multi-religious communities exist. Is Edo case different? Edo state consists of majorly Muslims and Christians. The drivers of government system suppose to be a careful collection of both faiths on the basis of credibility and track records of productivity and not what your administration is doing presently. We believe when fair
hearing is given to all side of the coin in the state, you
have succeeded in winning the hearts of all sides. But when a system is
driven by a selected few, injustice, racism, favoritism, extremism and
fundamentalism prevail. This, we do not want, hence this loud outcry.
Besides, we want to place on record that Muslims in the state
are bulk of technocrats, intelligent, professionals in various
fields, responsible, dependable, industrious with high
degree of integrity and excellent in characters and deeds. These
calibers of personalities cannot be sectionalized and discriminated
against! Have a rethink now!
23rd
Sep. 2015 EMEGG/OPL/01/15
Interestingly, this call is particularly on all aspects of
socio-economic and political disequilibrium your government has pushed
us to. Undoubtedly, the Edo Muslims pay various taxes, contribute to
your government in various forms, observe civic responsibilities
and
participate actively in the process of political cultivation, irrigating,
and fertilization but only to be neglected during harvest. This is
ill-treatment, inequality, and disrespect to the entire Edo Muslims.
We denounce this henceforth.
Furthermore, you once said that your administration’s appointment is not
on the basis of religion adherent but on the basis of competence. Yes, we
agreed that competency must be observed. By your actions so far, you
are simply saying Edo Muslims are incompetent and cannot be
considered for appointment. We are making this call directly on
you to prove this statement incorrect.
Statistically, your current cabinet has you the Governor, Your
Deputy, SSG, Chief of Staff,Head of Service, Speaker of the Edo
State House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker and House Leader all of the
same faith. Also, there are 24 members in Edo State House of Assembly only
two (2) are Muslims. Edo State has eighteen (18) Local Governments, only
one (1) at present has Muslim Chairman. Among your numerous commissioners
only one is a Muslim. There are more than thirty (30) Boards and
Committees in Edo State with more than Seven Hundred (700)
members, is Your Excellency not aware that none of these boards and
committees has a Muslim Chairman except the Hajj Board and that the number
of Muslims as members to these Boards is 76 out of which 37 of them are
from the Hajj Board?Very recently, an attempt was made to appoint a
non Muslim into Hajj Board!
Similarly, you have also denied the Edo Muslim students their fundamental
rights to study their faith in the state own public schools through your
outright refusal to employ Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) teachers
into public schools in the state. This is a contravention of
their fundamental human rights. We cannot accept this anymore.
Essentially, do not forget in a hurry that it was on the basis of religion
that you were interested in the position of the Vice President of this
great nation. Do not also forget that Osibanjo emerged the Vice
President of Nigeria because of religion. Put all these facts on
imaginary scale of justice, fairness, equity and be the judge!
Pathetically, we are aware of the role played by some
individuals and loyalists to you in preventing the Muslims from
attaining various positions in the state. For example, the frustration
suffered by Hon. Engr. Abubakar Momoh out of APC, the
disappointment suffered by Hon. Barr. Lukman Muhammad, Alh.Inusa
Imonofi, Alh, Barr.Iyamah Muhammad and the host of
others from attaining their political dreams and most recently the
sabotage of the efforts of Hon. Kabiru Adjoto by denying him the position
he is politically qualified for in the Edo State House of Assembly. This
is unhealthy for our democracy.
To this end, we have long been watching and following your
ill-treatments towards the Edo Muslims in the state, now it is time to
once again break our silence and cry out loud. A Muslim is simply a
servant of Almighty Allah, who align his or her steps to the Will of the
Supreme Being, tolerate other systems and care for all creatures in line
with Allah’s Will. Is this now a crime or stigma to be discriminated
against in Edo State? We ask this question because your
administration has been very unfair to us since youassume duty as
Governor.
Conclusively, we therefore, demand as follows:
1. Following your recent sack of four commissioners from your
cabinet, the Edo Muslims once again demand for at least 40% of
the total position to be Muslims, without compromising merit.
2. 2016 Edo Pool: As the Edo State 2016 Gubernatorial Election draws
near, the Edo Muslims have reached a conclusion that we will only
mobilize, finance and vote for any party that is ready to see the Muslims
as stakeholders and partners in progress in Edo State, in that the party:
i. Should agree on joint Christian/Muslim ticket.
ii. Should agree on 40% appointment for the Muslims
(Commissioners, Boards, Committees, etc).
3. We also demand that you urgently direct the Ministry of Education to
employ Islamic Religious Studies Teachers to teach Islamic Studiesto
Muslims children in the state public schools.
All Edo Muslims are united in this call. We will never give up until our
demands are met. We have equally resolved to pursue this cause
courageously, lovely and peacefully.
Thanks and accept our warm esteem.
Signed:
Sirajudeen Muhammed,
Co-ordinator General