Less than a week after his inauguration as Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi has been warned against religious bias.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in a statement signed by the Director and Founder of the human rights organisation, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, wondered why no single Muslim was among the first three appointments since both the governor and his deputy are Christians.
The newly inaugurated Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday evening, made his first appointments naming Abiodun Oyebanji as Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Biodun Omoleye as Chief of Staff (COS) and Yinka Oyebode as Chief Press Secretary (CPS).
MURIC in its statement said, “Under Fayose’s administrative misadventure, the deputy governor, speaker, deputy speaker, SSG, COS, all the judges in the state, all the 14 commissioners, all the special advisers except one, all the 26 permanent secretaries, all the 14 permanent secretaries, all the board chairmen, all the chairmen and members of boards of Ekiti State University, the colleges of education and health technology as well as all the sixteen (16) local government caretaker chairmen except one were Christians. Muslims in the state who constitute no less than 35 per cent of the total population were totally eclipsed. It had better not happen again under Fayemi.
“Tuesday’s appointments hit us pretty hard. Three straight appointments at a go and none went to a Muslim. Incidentally all three appointments are very crucial. They are personnel who must essentially stay close to the governor every hour of the day. We are becoming disillusioned.
“How can the Muslims start getting the same treatment they received under Fayose when they gave you massive support during the election? We know you as a moderate and tolerant Christian. Have you changed? What went wrong? We hope our fears will be addressed in the next few days and weeks as your government takes proper shape. It is only fair that Muslims are given proper representation in the appointment of commissioners, board chairmen.”
The group urged the governor to close ranks with Muslims in the state and to show the world that he is not a religious bigot like his immediate predecessor.
