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Muslim Leaders in Nigeria Faulted for Rejecting Governor’s Nominees on Religious Basis

Logo of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). Credit: CAN

Members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Nigeria's Lagos State have faulted the Joint Muslim Forum (JMF) for rejecting the state governor's list of cabinet nominees citing underrepresentation.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State released a list of 39 cabinet nominees of which 31 were Christians and eight were Muslims. JMF, an umbrella of over 30 Muslim groups, rejected the list citing religious biases.

Responding to JMF’s claims, Rev. Stephen Adegbite, the Chairman of CAN, Lagos State said, “We would like to make it abundantly clear that JMF’s remarks are not only distasteful and way out of line but they are deeply condescending, and we refuse to accept any form of faith-based bullying behavior, nor would any semblance of such behavior under whatever guise.”

“For any group to turn such a list of political nominees into a religious conversation is uncharitable and should be condemned in its entirety,” Rev. Stephen Adegbite said in a Tuesday, August 15 report.

He added, “Lagos has enjoyed immense peace and prosperity over these years because the managers of its affairs, among many other key elements, have worked tirelessly to insulate the state from any form of religious intolerance or anything close to it.”

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Rev. Adegbite reminded the JMF leadership that the Lagos State’s success story which has seen people live as a family despite their religious, ethnic, and political affiliation is attributed to the people’s respect and commitment to peaceful coexistence.

“It is within the purview of Mr. Governor, after relevant consultations and objective considerations, to put forward a list of cabinet nominees whose choice, as expected, should be based purely on merit, competence, capacity, and sufficient capabilities to deliver on the set goals and objectives of the government and not on their faith or religious affiliations,” he said.

He cited the example of candidates who vied on Muslim-Muslim tickets in the 2023 general elections including that of the presidency and yet received the full support of the Christian community “because the candidate’s competence was prioritized at the expense of their faith”.

Rev. Adegbite argued that over 60 percent of the 24 members elected into the 10th House of Representatives from Lagos are Muslims and that also the 40-member Lagos State House of Assembly are Muslims, yet no one opposed their swearing-in on a religious basis.

“One then wonders why the list of cabinet nominees should be subjected to issues of religion and faith when the Christian community has never and would never make such mundane demands,” the official of the Christian entity that includes representatives of various faiths in Nigeria, including Catholic Bishops and Muslim leaders said.

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Rev. Adegbite urged the government of Lagos state to peacefully continue the constitutional process of screening and confirmation of the nominees that the governor sent to them and not to be swayed by demands from any group.

“We plead with well-meaning citizens of the state to kindly disregard any call that is capable of igniting religious emotions and sentiments,” he said.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.