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The Muslim community in Edo State has said that Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki appointed less than 10 per cent of its members in his government.
It accused the governor of excluding Muslims in his 18-member cabinet.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the governor’s leadership style, the Muslim faithful described the present Edo government as the worst since the state’s creation from the old Bendel State.
Development and Good Governance Mandate (DGGM) led by Ibrahim Momoh and Edo Muslims for Equity and Good Governance (EMEGG) led by Sirajdeen Mohammed stated in Benin City that, “The governor, a Christian, chose another Christian, Philip Shaibu, as his deputy in a state that has about 40 per cent of Muslims. This is against the principle of equity, justice and fairness as argued by the Edo chapter of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO).”
Leaders of the two political pressure groups said it was unfortunate for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state to have kicked against their demand for a Christian/Muslim ticket before the last gubernatorial election.
They said that APC ignored their demands and picked Shaibu as running mate to Obaseki.
Mohammed said his group, EMEGG, had written to the governor twice lately to no avail.
The groups added, “The governor didn’t find Muslim politicians in the APC worthy of elective posts despite their contribution to his victory at the poll. He carefully selected 18 Christians as commissioners – and all of them forming the state executive council. As at August 2019, no single Muslim was in his cabinet.”
DGGM and EMEGG described as unacceptable a situation where the only Muslims appointed by the state government were two special advisers.
“We have only Kabiru Adjoto and Yakubu Gowon, out of 15 special advisers appointed by the governor as at August 2019, that are Muslims. The remaining 13 are Christians,” they stated.
The groups also lamented the governor’s purported failure to constitute a Muslim pilgrims welfare board for close to three years in government.
When contacted, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy. Crusoe Osagie, promised to speak on the matter later.
