“Muslims will reciprocate favourably towards any governor if he respects their faith and treat them with fairness and equity no matter the governor’s creed. The red lines are our civic liberties: respect the Allah-given fundamental rights of our children to use hijab in the schools, avoid infringing on our right to attend and observe the sacred Friday Jumu’ah prayer and give us our holidays (Id al-Kabir, Id al-Fitr, Maolud and Hijrah).
“Nigerian Muslims are very sensitive about the way their brothers and sisters of the same faith are treated within and outside Nigeria and we have no scintilla of doubt that this is likely to determine the way 2027 goes.
“In other words, we must eschew actions capable of alienating our friends and allies of February 25, 2023. It is called forward-looking diplomatic engagement. We expect the governments of Lagos and Ogun where Muslim demographic status is overwhelming to be the first to emulate Osun and Oyo while Ondo and Ekiti with substantial Muslim population follow suit.”
“We call on the governors of Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Ekiti to toe the line. The president of Nigeria today is a Muslim from the South West. It is our considered opinion that the Muslim president’s zone cannot afford to pursue anti-Muslim measures without staining the president’s good standing in the architecture of the Nigerian Muslim community.
Such hostile posture against Muslims has consequences. It sends the wrong signals to the friends and allies of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in certain quarters. As we revel in the euphoria of today’s victory, we must allow our body language to align with expectations and hopes for 2027.
“There will be greater inter-religious harmony if leaders give recognition to the faith of others and respect cultural diversities. The governor’s religion may not matter so long as he is openly fair to all.
“Both Ademola and Adeleke should lower their guards and appreciate MURIC for what it is. We will hold you accountable each time you shortchange Muslims. Yet we will not hesitate to appreciate you when you give us our due. Only an enemy of democracy and someone who has an anti-Muslim agenda will take offence for doing that.
“For instance, we reviewed our opinion about Makinde upon noticing the positive role he played in the emergence of a Yoruba Muslim as president. It implies that he is still ready to accommodate Muslims. Adeleke’s readiness to sustain the Islamic Hijrah holiday introduced in the Aregbesola era has given him a feather in his hat as a friend of Muslims, not an enemy.
“In this regard, we call on Governor Adeleke of Osun State not to entertain any fear about his faith. Every Dick and Harry knows where he belongs. Electorates of all faiths voted for him to become governor and they can do so again so long as he is fair to all.” MURIC said