The Lagos State House of Assembly has been urged to reject the list of commissioner-nominees submitted to it by the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu over alleged marginalisation and religious bigotry.
The Lagos Muslim community, which made the demand yesterday during a protest at the Assembly complex, urged the lawmakers to impress on the governor the need to respect the diversity of the state’s population and to appoint a more representative cabinet.
Muslim groups in the state had claimed that only eight Muslims made the list, while there were 31 Christians.
Yesterday’s protest was attended by heads of Islamic organisations, scholars and hundreds of Muslim faithful, who displayed placards, with the inscription.
President, Muslim Community of Lagos State, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, who read a petition, described the list as a classic case of discrimination and religious bigotry.
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He said, “This is not a new development, especially since Governor Sanwo-Olu assumed leadership of this state, as a matter of fact, it has been elevated to a level of official state policy to deny Muslims their deserved positions under the Sanwo-Olu administration.”
The group said the list violated the constitution of the country as it failed to recognise the diversity of the people and the need to promote a sense of belonging and loyalty among the people.
It called on the lawmakers to reject the list until the state governor sends another list reflecting 60% in favour of Muslims.
Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Gboyega Akoshile, told Daily Trust that the grievances expressed by various groups over the list would be addressed.
“I can’t tell if the list would be withdrawn or if more names would be added, but it’s being addressed. There are ways of addressing these things,” he said.
From Abiodun Alade & Abdullateef Aliyu, Lagos
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