The spokesperson of the World Bishops’ Council (WBC), Africa, Bishop Seun Adeoye, has accused Professor Ishaq Akintola of clandestinely making moves to cause religious mayhem in Osun State.
In a statement in Osogbo, Bishop Adeoye also expressed dismay at a statement issued by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, over the names of the commissioner-nominee sent by Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to the State House of Assembly.
Prof. Akintola, in a statement on Monday, alleged that there was a religious disparity in the list of Osun cabinet nominees made public by the House of Assembly on Friday.
The MURIC boss had explained that there were more Christians than Muslims among the nominated cabinet members.
Bishop Adeoye maintained in the statement: “The mere fact that Christians had in the past ignored series of inciting statements issued by Akintola against their faith should not be seen as cowardice but rather as a way of keeping away from a man whose hiding intention has always been to cause religious crisis in the country.
“There is nothing wrong if Akintola was asking for fairness for Muslims from Governor Adeleke, as according to him, ‘7 of his commissioners-nominee are Muslims while 17 are Christians, but this man surreptitiously hid in his statement what can cause chaos between peace-loving Christians and Muslims in the state.
“Akintola knew what he was doing when he said Governor Adeleke is a secret agent of the Christian Association of Nigeria and that what the Governor did by the commissioner-nominees was a wanton blockage of Muslims to over-pampered and over-fed Christians in Osun State.’
“This is a call to violence against the Christians in the state. Unfortunately, this Akintola, an indigene of the state, was dumb when Governor Adeleke, a Muslim himself, announced his first three key appointments six months ago.
“These three men are all Muslims, and they included the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), the Chief of Staff (COS), and the Governor’s Spokesman,” the statement reads.
Bishop Adeoye, who is the General Overseer of Sufficient Grace International Christian Church and the Lead Bishop of Worldwide Anglican Church (WAC), Nigeria, urged Akintola to tread lightly and give peace a chance not only in Osun but in Nigeria.
Bishop Adeoye added: “I am not in a position to defend Governor Adeleke’s political appointments. I am not a politician. And I wish to say that it is not a bad idea to speak out against marginalisation.
“But for Akintola to cause mayhem between Christians and Muslims who have been living harmoniously together because of political appointments will not be tolerated.
“Before MURIC Executive Director puts pen to paper and signs any statement again, he needs to think of its consequences.”
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