The Osun State Government has accused the Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, of spreading misinformation following allegations by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, that Governor Ademola Adeleke was marginalising Muslims in his administration.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Osogbo, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said Professor Akintola should be guided by the teachings of the Qur’an and the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad in his engagements with the state government.
Alimi who stated that the government believed Akintola either acted on misinformation or had become “an agent of misinformation”, insisted that Governor Adeleke remained committed to inclusive governance and maintained cordial relationships with adherents of all faiths.
“Governor Adeleke is a strong believer who re,lates well with people of all faiths, in line with the inclusive leadership example of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).His administration has appointed qualified Muslims to key positions,” the Commissioner stated.
He cited the appointments of Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as Secretary to the State Government and Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye as Chief of Staff as evidence of the administration’s inclusiveness.
Alimi also noted that the governor’s spokesperson and several commissioners and heads of agencies were Muslims serving alongside appointees of other faiths.
The commissioner highlighted projects undertaken by the administration, which he said benefitted the Muslim community, including the commencement of the Osun Hajj Camp and the approval of a mosque within the Government House for Muslim staff.
“We urge Professor Akintola to verify facts before going public, as admonished in Qur’an 49:6. Government performance should be assessed through verifiable indicators such as budget implementation, debt management and healthcare outcomes,” Alimi added.
He maintained that elections should focus on issues such as employment, security, infrastructure, healthcare and education rather than identity politics.
“We expect MURIC to judge this administration by its record of service to all citizens, Muslim and non-Muslim alike,” the statement added.
The commissioner also alleged that Professor Akintola was disguising political criticism as religious advocacy and challenged him to openly declare any partisan interest in the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.
Alimi called on MURIC to condemn reported attacks on residents in Ile-Ife, Akoda, Owode-Ede and Osogbo allegedly carried out by armed individuals in All Progressives Congress-branded campaign vehicles if the organisation wished to dispel accusations of political bias.
He also urged MURIC not to focus on engaging in a campaign of misinformation against Governor Adeleke’s administration.
