From Our Correspondent
The Nigeria Muslims for Equity and Good Governance (NIMEGG), Southwest Zone has reiterated its call for Muslims to produce the next governors in the next political dispensation in the Oyo, Ogun, Osun and Lagos states.
TheNewsZenith reports that NIMEGG also raised concern over the disturbing level of discrimination against Muslims in Ekiti and Ondo state. This is despite their substantial number.
NIMEGG made the call in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Abu Abdullah and emailed to TheNewsZenith over the weekend.
“Muslims are in majority in Lagos, Ogun, Osun and Oyo states. Yet, our magnanimity and tolerance are being mistaken for stupidity.
“Similarly, despite our substantial number in Ekiti and Ondo, the level of discrimination in these states against Muslims is alarming.
“If Muslims, despite constituting over 35 per cent of the population, are not considered worthy enough to be deputy governors in Ekiti and Ondo states, then what right did non-Muslims have in Muslim majority states to make similar demands?
“The disrespect to the Southwest Muslims is virtually going beyond our enduring limit.
“If it was not a crime for the Christian Association of Nigeria in 2015 to call for a Christian governor in Lagos, despite their minority status, it is perfect for Muslims to dictate the pace and have their way with their numbers.
“Whichever political party disrespects our numerical strength in 2026/27 will learn a bitter political lesson.
“We did the same to those who shamelessly fought against the Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023.
“In the same vein, if those who called for a Christian governor in Lagos State in 2015 were not tagged extremists or considered fanatics, what stops Muslims Ummah who are in the majority in the region from asking for the same rights?
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“It is essential to note that Muslims possess numerical superiority.
“We are also equal to the task and possess better qualifications, capability and competence to produce better leadership in all fields of governance,” the statement reads in part.
According to the group, Muslims are not troublemakers. But what we have tolerated between 2015 to date is unacceptable.
This is where all the governors in the region are non-Muslims and not less than 70 per cent of the political appointees from the Southwest by the Federal Government are non-Muslims.
“Yet, it was the Christians in the Southwest, more than any other region, that fought the most and campaigned against the Tinubu-Shettima ticket.
“Southwest Christians publicly and unashamedly fought against their son to become the President of Nigeria, just because he is a Muslim.
“We the Muslims tolerated all these shenanigans of theirs for the sake of peace, love and harmony.
“It’s, therefore, time for the Muslims to lead in all the Southwest states.
“Southwest Muslims are the most tolerant in the country. It’s time the other religious groups start tolerating us too.
“NIMMEG is not asking for any undue favour against other religious groups. We only seek for balance, our due and our right,” TheNewsZenith quotes the group as stating.
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