By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The At-Tanzil Islamic Foundation has appealed to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to give Muslims greater opportunities in government, alleging that members of the faith have been left out of several important appointments.

The foundation’s founder and chairman, Abdul Ajiboye, made the appeal in Akure during activities marking its 20th anniversary.

According to Ajiboye, the concern extends beyond political offices to the state’s judiciary, where he said Muslims are not represented among the High Court judges.

He also raised questions over the recent selection of High Court judges, alleging that a Muslim candidate who performed best in the examination was not appointed.

“We clamour for balanced recognition of people of all faiths in the governance of Ondo State, where a Muslim will serve as deputy governor to a Christian governor, and vice versa,” Ajiboye said.

He said the situation was particularly concerning because Muslims, according to him, constitute about 45 per cent of the state’s population and have supported successive administrations.

“We, the Muslims in Ondo State, are like 45 per cent of the population. How can we have a governor who is a Christian, deputy governor a Christian, Secretary to the State Government a Christian, and Speaker of the House a Christian? We voted for them, yet we are being counted out of governance,” he said.

Ajiboye also expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of Muslims from the state’s judicial bench.

“In Ondo State, we have several judges on the bench, and there is no single Muslim among them. We have refused to keep quiet on this,” he said.

Beyond the issue of government representation, Ajiboye used the anniversary to highlight the foundation’s work in supporting vulnerable people and developing communities across the state.

He said the organisation had provided training opportunities to residents from different parts of Ondo, with more than 250 people participating in its latest programme.

According to him, the foundation’s activities include promoting education, empowering women and youths, providing humanitarian assistance and working with government agencies, non-governmental organisations and Nigerians in the diaspora.

The foundation said its 20-year journey was built around responding to community needs and expanding support for people requiring assistance across the state.

Source: Daily Trust