Lagos Muslims demand 60% representation in Sanwo-Olu’s cabinet

The Joint Muslims Forum (JMF), an umbrella body of Islamic organisations in Lagos, has rejected the list of nominated commissioners by Babajide Sanwo-Olu,  governor of the state.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the group said the composition of the list showed that the governor has perpetrated injustice against Muslims in the state after supporting his second-term bid.

Present at the press briefing in Ikeja, were leaders of different Islamic bodies, including Ishaq Akintola, the executive director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Dhikrullah Shafi, a senior cleric from the Muslim Congress (TMC), and others.

Abdul-Rahman Ahmad, the national missioner of Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, said the entire leadership of the Muslim community in Lagos unequivocally and unanimously rejected the list of commissioner-designates.

He demanded, on behalf of the group, that the governor review the list to reflect 60 percent in favour of Muslims.

“We the Muslims of, and in Lagos state wish to categorically state that the entire leadership of the Muslim community of Lagos state representing various Muslim organisations, unequivocally and unanimously reject the list of commissioner-designates of Governor Sanwo-Olu and we demand a reversal and review to reflect 60 percent in favour of Muslims in a fresh list,” the group said.

“In line with the dictates of our Islamic faith which consistently emphasises fairness in all dealings, and also in line with our conviction that governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy Kadiri Hamzat, are better experienced and prepared to uplift the quality of lives of Lagosians, we mobilised our community to not only vote for the return of the governor but also defended the votes under very difficult circumstances.

“We observed that out of 39 nominees, only eight are Muslims. It is no longer news that this list is not pleasing to the generality of Muslims of Lagos.

“It is indeed an affront to our collective sensibilities and tragically confirmed long-standing suspected misgivings about Governor Sanwo-Olu’s genuine commitment to fair leadership.

“Over the past years, we have witnessed several instances of injustice towards Muslims by the governor Sanwo-Olu-led state government through its unfavourable policies, lopsided appointments, and infringements on our religious and socio-political rights as a community.

“At various times and fora, we have engaged the government listing these grievances and concerns all to no avail, with no well-defined efforts by the state government till date to assuage these grievances etc.”

On August 4, the Lagos house of assembly expressed dissatisfaction over the “exclusion of party loyalists” in the commissioner-nominees list submitted by the governor to the legislature.

The lawmakers also complained about the exclusion of nominees from some local government areas.