The Oyo State Government has rejected allegations by the Muslim Rights Concern that Governor Seyi Makinde is anti-Islam, citing his longstanding support for Muslim communities and Islamic activities.
The government, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, described the allegation as baseless, insisting that Makinde’s actions contradicted claims of religious hostility.
Olanrewaju said, “One of the oldest principles of justice is that actions speak louder than words. By that standard, the allegation by the Muslim Rights Concern that Governor Seyi Makinde is anti-Islam falls flat on its face.”
He argued that Makinde’s record of building mosques, employing imams, supporting Islamic programmes, donating buses to Muslim organisations and declaring public holidays for the Islamic New Year demonstrated his commitment to the Muslim community.
The aide added that the governor’s involvement in Islamic activities predated his assumption of office in 2019, noting that he built the Omituntun Mosque and employed a resident imam before entering public service.
According to him, the Omituntun family also maintained longstanding relationships with Muslims through Ramadan lectures and other religious programmes, which he said were funded before Makinde acquired political power.
Olanrewaju questioned the basis of the allegation, saying, “Why would a man allegedly driven by anti-Muslim prejudice invest his personal resources in building and maintaining a mosque years before becoming governor?”
He challenged MURIC and other critics to identify any Islamic practice abolished, Muslim institution proscribed, religious celebration banned or right withdrawn by the Makinde administration since 2019. He maintained that the government had instead recognised the Islamic calendar by declaring a work-free day for Hijrah.
The government also dismissed allegations that Muslim students and teachers were compelled to participate in Christmas carol activities or Christian crusades in schools, saying no official directive or policy had been presented to substantiate the claims.
Olanrewaju said, “These are serious claims. However, no official directive, circular, executive instruction or policy of the Oyo State Government has been produced showing that Governor Makinde ordered or approved the alleged forcing of Muslim students or teachers to participate in Christmas carol activities or Christian crusades.”
Addressing concerns over the demolition of the Adogba Central Mosque during the reconstruction of the Iwo Road Interchange, the government said Makinde personally visited the mosque before its demolition, worshipped with Muslims and explained the need for the structure to give way to the infrastructure project.
The aide said the governor subsequently fulfilled his promise to rebuild the mosque, handing over the reconstructed facility, equipped with modern amenities, to the Muslim community.
He noted that the commissioning ceremony was attended by prominent Islamic leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, whom he described as the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims.
“The commissioning of the mosque was attended by eminent Muslim leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims. Would the Sultan publicly align himself with a programme meant to estrange Muslims? The answer is a loud ‘No’,” the statement added.
The government maintained that Makinde’s record reflected religious inclusion rather than discrimination, citing his support for Muslim organisations, Islamic programmes and the rebuilding of the Adogba Mosque.
Olanrewaju further expressed confidence that the governor, if elected president, would uphold the constitutional rights of Nigerians irrespective of their religious affiliations.
