The Muslim Community of Oyo State has expressed worries over the latest appointments of Permanent Secretaries that favour Christians above Muslims in the state, while stressing that the margins can be temporarily overlooked in anticipation that the next set of appointments will tilt more in favour of Muslims.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Muslim Community of Oyo State and signed by Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni, the Chairman and Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade, the Secretary-General, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Despite the lopsided appointments, the Muslim Community of Oyo State, commended the Governor of the state, His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Abiodun Makinde, for appointing five Muslims out of the eleven Permanent Secretaries recently appointed.

“If the Governor continues to improve in this manner of near-equity, sustainable religious harmony would be fully attained in Oyo State.” the statement said.

The statement also praised Seyi Makinde over his recent decision to dismantle the “notorious Parks Management System under the hegemony of the enfant- terrible of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Mukaila Lamidi, a.k.a. Auxiliary, that had constituted a menace and murderous nuisance to the innocent people of Oyo State.

“Better late than never, it is a big relief and heart-warming that the Governor eventually sent packing, these brutal, ruthless, dastardly and criminally- inclined Area Boys, who were no doubt an albatross to his first term in office. People of Oyo State dreaded these criminals who killed and maimed innocent people with reckless abandon. To say the fear of Auxiliary’s boys is the beginning of wisdom would not be an hyperbole or overstatement.”

It added that: “This step, it is our hope, will lead to zero tolerance for thuggery and hooliganism and, in shaa Allah, peace would reign in Oyo State and people will be able to sleep with their two eyes closed.”

The Community prayed to Almighty Allah to continue to guide the Government of Oyo State as it strives to ensure equity and good governance.

The full statement

PRESS STATEMENT

MUSLIM COMMUNITY OF OYO STATE COMMENDS GOVERNOR MAKINDE ON RELIGIOUS BALANCING IN APPOINTMENTS OF PERMANENT SECRETARIES AND EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES

(I)

The Muslim Community Of Oyo State commends the Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on the religious balancing in the first set of appointments for his second term in office.

i. We discovered that out of eleven Permanent Secretaries appointed, there are five Muslims, which is not bad.

ii. In appointment of Executive Secretaries,there are 2 Christians as against 1 Muslim.

All the appointments still favour Christians above Muslims, though with margins that can be temporarily overlooked, while anticipating that the next set of appointments will tilt more in favour of Muslims.

If the Governor continues to improve in this manner of near-equity, sustainabile religious harmony would be fully attained in Oyo State.

(II)

We equally commend the Governor for dismantling the notorious Parks Management System under the hegemony of the enfant- terrible of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr Mukaila Lamidi, a.k.a. Auxiliary, that had constituted a menace and murderous nuisance to the innocent people of Oyo State.

Better late than never, it is a big relief and heart-warming that the Governor eventually sent packing, these brutal, ruthless, dastardly and criminally- inclined Area Boys, who were no doubt an albatross to his first term in office. People of Oyo State dreaded these criminals who killed and maimed innocent people with reckless abandon. To say the fear of Auxiliary’s boys is the beginning of wisdom would not be an hyperbole or overstatement.

This step, it is our hope, will lead to zero tolerance for thuggery and hooliganism and, in shaa Allah, peace would reign in Oyo State and people will be able to sleep with their two eyes closed.

Once again, we appreciate the near-equity gesture of His Excellency, The Governor in this first set of appointments. And we are hopeful that all subsequent appointments shall be made, based on equity between the two major religions, Islam and Christianity.

May Almighty Allah continue to guide the Government of Oyo State as it strives to ensure equity and good governance.

Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni

Chairman

Alhaji Murisiku Abidemi Siyanbade

Secretary-General

Friday, June 2, 2023