The attention of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Osun State Chapter had been drawn to the emerging political and religious scheming in Osun State. Ahead of the November 2026 gubernatorial election, various actions had begun in the State to emplace yet another Christian Governor and Deputy.
The call was contained in the Press Conference recently held by the Youth Wing of Christian Associations of Nigeria (YOUWICAN) in Osogbo, Osun State capital where it was categorically demanded that Christians must emerge from any political platform as number one and two persons in the state administration during next year's gubernatorial election.
We of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Osun State chapter are perturbed by this development and we condemn it in the strongest terms given the antecedents in the political history of the state.
Going down memory lane, that Osun State was created from the old Oyo State in 1991 is not far from the truth. The four Military Administrators (MILADs) who ruled the state including MILAD Ajiborisha with only four months experience were all Christians. The short-lived regime of late Governor Isiaka Adeleke (Sherubawon) was tainted with Muslim coloration. The last twenty-five (25) years of civilian rule featured Chief Olabisi Akande (1999-2003), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (2003-2010), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2010-2018), Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola (2018-2022), and the incumbent Governor Jackson Adewale Adeleke (2022 to date). It is indubitably clear from the above analysis that only in 48% of the twenty-five years of civilian rule that Osun state had Muslim governors and their deputies.
YOUWICAN's demand for a Christian Governor and Deputy at this moment of our national religious and security development would not only be an affront but also a slight on the personality of the teaming Muslim majority of Osun State.
It must be stated unequivocally that if MURIC is not calling for Muslim/Muslim ticket at this moment, the Muslims of Osun State deserve a Muslim governor in the November 2026 gubernatorial election from any political platform.
This position is informed by the fact that the fundamental human rights of Osun State Muslims may not be guaranteed if the minority Christians continue to perpetuate themselves in power as against justice and all-inclusive nature of democracy.
Having at least a Muslim/Christian Governor and Deputy candidates respectively in the next political dispensation would not only restore hope but also give Osun State Muslims a sense of belonging against possible marginalization. This would also water-down religious volatility which Osun State had experienced in the last few years.
While MURIC calls on the peace-loving Muslims of Osun State to remain calm, necessary arrangements from the grassroot should be engineered to ensure that a Muslim/Christian ticket emerges during the November 2026 gubernatorial election in Osun State. This is necessary in view of the prolonged and bare-faced deceit exhibited by Governor Adeleke who was neither bold enough nor transparent enough to let the citizens of Osun know where he belonged. Osun does not deserve such cowardice a second time.
#YOUWICAN'sdemand
#OsunGuberhistory
#Christian/Muslimticket
DR. RAZAQ BOLAWAYE UTHMAN,
CHAIRMAN, MURIC OSUN STATE.
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