- Lagos Muslim Forum rejects commissioner-designates list, demands 60% Muslim representation, cites violation of diversity, equity, and fairness.
- Convener Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad emphasizes constitutional fairness, calls out historical marginalization, questions governor’s commitment to just leadership.
The Muslim Community of Lagos State, represented by the Joint Muslim Forum, has rejected the state’s list of commissioner-designates and demanded an immediate reversal and review.
According to the forum, which includes over 30 Muslim organisations in the state, a review of the list is required to reflect 60% in favour of Muslims in a new list.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced a list of 39 commissioner nominees, only eight of whom are Muslims.
The Muslim community immediately objected but to no avail.
In a press conference, the convener of the forum, Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad, stated that “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% in favour of Muslims in a fresh list.”
Ahmad, the National Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, urged the State Government to follow the Nigerian Constitution in all appointments, saying, “it is critical in ensuring that all Lagosians feel included and represented in government.”
In attendance at the briefing were scholars including Sheikh AbdulRahman Adangba, Imam Adangba Central Mosque, Idimu, Lagos; Sheikh Ahmad AbdulMajeee Ayinla, Missioner, Nawairudeen Lagos State; Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC); Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafii, Grand Mufti, Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO); Hajia Riskiah Adam-Adedimeji, National Youth Coordinator; The Criterion (Al-Furqan), among others.
Sheikh Abdulrahman decried the state’s continued marginalisation of Muslims, recalling how the Muslim community voted massively for the governor against all odds in the last election without receiving a single penny.
According to the group, the governor must be fair to all segments of the people over whom he governs.
“Nigeria practises representative democracy, and the governor was elected to serve the people,” he explained.
The convener stated once again that the list “exhibited callous insensitivity to diversity, equity, and fairness.”
He added;
Muslims make up less than 20% of the list, even though they constitute over 60% of not just the state’s population but her voting public. We observed that out of 39 Nominees only 8 are Muslims.
It is no longer news that this list is not pleasing to the generality of Muslims of Lagos. It is indeed an afront to our collective sensibilities and tragically confirmed long standing suspected misgivings about iGov. Sanwo-Olu’s genuine commitment to fair leadership.
Before anyone says “the Muslims have started again” please take some time to examine the facts: Go through the history of appointments by Lagos State Government; look at the demography that make up Lagos States; look at it from the lens of what is right and fair; the intention then becomes clear.
When many in the Christian community rightly or wrongly rejected Governor Sanwo-Olu and his party purportedly to protest the Muslim-Muslim ticket at the national level, we the Muslims of Lagos state stood solidly and voted enmasse to ensure his victory, but rather than show appreciation, it appears that Mr. Sanwo-Olu chose to perpetrate injustice and ingratitude in an ill-thought affront to the peaceful and accommodating Muslim community of Lagos.