Muslims Protest Alleged Lopsidedness in Sanwo-Olu’s Commissioner-Nominees

Segun James

Muslim faithful in Lagos State yesterday stormed the state House of Assembly to protest the alleged lopsidedness in the list of commissioner nominees submitted to it by the state Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Muslim faithful were led by the Muslim Association of Nigeria (MAN), United Kingdom chapter, called for fair representation of Muslims in the 2023 Lagos State cabinet allocations.

According to MAN, which claimed to speak on behalf of Nigerian Muslims in the diaspora, “We have been following with keen interest and utter dismay the development in the disproportionate appointment of cabinet members in the current Lagos State administration.

“This blatant disregard for justice, fairness, and equity by the Lagos State Government is one too many.”

The Assembly is currently screening the 39-member list. Out of which the Muslim faithful said it was unfortunate to have just eight slots for Muslims.

One of the Muslim leaders, who spoke on behalf of others, the National Missioner of Ansarudeen Islamic Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdurrahman Ahmad, expressed dissatisfaction over the lopsidedness of the nominees.

The cleric, who berated the governor over the alleged bias against the Muslims in the state, stated that during the last general election, it was the Muslim community in the state that stood behind the governor for him to emerge victorious.

He therefore, called on the Assembly leadership to correct the alleged anomaly, saying failure would mean the Muslims in the state would be waiting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the subsequent elections.

In his reaction, the Chief Whip of the Assembly, Hon Fatai Mojeed, who is the chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee screening the nominees, appealed to the protesters, saying the committee would submit their petition to the Assembly.

Mojeed acknowledged the support APC received from the state Muslim community during the last elections.