Islamic clerics fault appointments, seek equity, fairness
The All Progressives Congress (APC), United States (U.S.) chapter, has said that with the experience garnered by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa under his late boss, former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, he is fully equipped to lead the state for the next four years.
The group, which appealed to the people of the state to support Aiyedatiwa in his stride to develop the state, said that the governor was committed to bringing succour to the state, just like the late Akeredolu.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Prof. Adesegun Labinjo, and National Publicity Secretary, Ismaila Maigyara, the APC-USA expressed satisfaction with the performance and the efforts made so far by Aiyedatiwa to move the state forward.
The group, which lauded Aiyedatiwa for the nomination of Dr Olajide Adelami as the Deputy Governor and the appointment of Tayo Oluwatuyi as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said that the nomination of Adelami, who hails from Owo, the home-town of Akeredolu, was a great honour and recognition of the love and respect Aiyedatiwa has for his late boss and the people of Owo town.
It, therefore, urged APC members in the state to close ranks and support Aiyedatiwa so that he could deliver victory to the party in the coming governorship election.
Meanwhile, Aiyedatiwa has vowed that under his administration, there would be total re-engineering of road infrastructure across the state.
The governor stated this, yesterday while inspecting two of the ongoing Oda Road dualisation and the flyover at Onyearugbulem-Irese Road.
IN another development, the League of Imams and Alfas in Ondo State has raised concerns over what they described as the marginalisation of Muslims in the state and the lopsidedness of appointments by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The body said that Aiyedatiwa was already toeing the path of his late boss, Akeredolu, who shut out Muslims from the top 10 positions in the state.
Ondo State Chapter Chairman of the League, Sheikh Ahmad Aladesawe, who spoke when he led a delegation of Muslim clerics on a courtesy visit to the governor, said: “Your excellency, the Muslim community of Ondo State is not happy with the tide of your appointments. You have made four cardinal appointments after your swearing-in, and all are people of your faith, with no single Muslim.
“Ondo State is not a Christian state, and any government that seeks peace, stability and development must recognise the religious diversity of our dear state.”
The league, while advising the governor against the return of schools to faith-based organizations, decried how Muslim students were being treated in schools against their beliefs.
In his response, Aiyedatiwa explained that the political appointments made so far had to be done because the government has to start running and that political interest is first considered before religious interest.
According to him, the appointment of the deputy governor was distributed to Owo to honour the late Akeredolu and the people of Owo, while the office of the SSG went to Akure because the government is a transitory one to complete the tenure of the ongoing administration.
