The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an Islamic group, has stated that the list of commissioners unveiled by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State failed to pass inclusivity and integrity tests.
Sanwo-Olu had transmitted 39 names for screening and confirmation as Commissioners and Special Advisers designated to the State’s House of Assembly.
According to a tweet on Friday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, 30 per cent of the commissioner-nominees are women, while others are youths, technocrats and politicians.
Some members of the governor’s cabinet during his first term in office made the list, while a number of others did not.
However, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola in a statement on Saturday said only 8 of the nominees were verifiable Muslims. He added that MURIC found it difficult to understand why a cabinet composition should be weaponised by the Lagos State Government (LASG) against Muslims.
Akintola who explained that it is a betrayal of trust, said Lagos Muslims voted en masse for Sanwo-Olu, noting that MURIC in particular came out openly to support his second term and persuaded fellow Muslims to drop their opposition to the governor.
He said; “The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, yesterday unveiled the list of commissioners for the state. The list contained 39 names.
“But to our surprise, only 8 of the nominees are verifiable Muslims. We find it difficult to understand why cabinet composition should be weaponised by the Lagos State Government (LASG) against Muslims. Ratio 31:8 fails inclusivity test. It also fails integrity test. What percentage is 8 out of 39? What is the rationale for coming out with this atrocious ratio?
“This is exactly what we have been saying about the political marginalisation of Muslims in the South-West. It is a disease of the eyes, not of the nose. It needs no smelling. We can all see and read the list. It is all over the internet. Muslims groups all over the South West are expressing dissatisfaction with the development.
“We strongly denounce this deliberate and illegal attempt to deprive Muslims of opportunities to partake in the governance of their environment.
“It is illegal because Section 14(4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stipulates that ‘The composition of the Government of the Federation, a State, a local government council, or any of the agencies of such Government or council, and the conduct of the affairs of the Government or council or such agencies shall be carried out in such manner as to recognise the diversity of the people within its area of authority and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among all the people of the Federation.”
“Sanwo-Olu’s proposed cabinet is therefore illegal, illegitimate, unlawful and unconstitutional to the extent that it failed to be fair to the teeming Muslim population in the state. It will remain so until he reviews it and makes the list inclusive. Lagos Muslims have been rubbished by this list. It is a dirty slap in the face. This list is disgusting, repulsive and therefore unacceptable.
“It is a betrayal of trust because Lagos Muslims voted en masse for Sanwo-Olu. MURIC in particular came out openly to support his second term and we persuaded fellow Muslims to drop their opposition to the governor. But imagine this!
“We are sending a note of warning to all political parties in the state. 2027 will not be business as usual. Don’t come to lobby us for votes if your candidate is not a Muslim. It is the turn of Muslims in 2027 and we will vote massively for any party that picks a Muslim as its gubernatorial flag bearer.
“MURIC has no political tabula rasa. We are open to all parties. The welfare of Nigerian Muslims is our major interest. We will not hide that. Neither do we owe anyone any apology for it.”