MURIC extols Tinubu’s unbiased, inclusive ministerial nomination

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has raised President Bola Tinubu’s profile for his diplomatic approach to choosing ministerial nominees without being biased toward any of the two main religious bodies in the country.

President Tinubu includes Muslim and Christian nominees in his cabinet without political marginalization.

This was contained in a signed statement by the Islamic human rights group’s executive director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, on Thursday, August 3, 2023.

Recall, MURIC had earlier requested the President to rewrite the history of the last two heads of state (Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan), whose ministerial cabinets in the South West were Christianized.

 Following the passing of the second list of ministerial nominees to the Nigerian Senate for approval by President Tinubu, the group hailed him for not turning deaf ears to the appeal of the Muslim Ummah.

President Tinubu appointed three Muslims out of six nominees from the Southwest, among whom were ex-governor Gboyega Oyetola and a Muslim nominee, Abubakar Momoh, from the Southeast.

MURIC also gave special thanks to Mr President for nominating the anti-graft leader, former governor Nasir El-Rufai.

The full statement reads:
“Although we requested for four ministerial posts for Muslims in the South West, we are grateful to Tinubu for giving us three. All the three are our Muslim brothers. In particular, the nomination of former Governor Isiaka Oyetola is a soothing balm to us.

“We give special thanks to the president for including Ex-Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his cabinet as he was our first special request more than a month ago. Muslims in the South South have also been given a sense of belonging with the nomination of Abubakar Momoh.

“It is a clear departure from the days of total political marginalisation and economic alienation which Muslims suffered under Obasanjo and Jonathan. They were 14 years of anguish and complete isolation. Southern Muslims were categorically marooned. There was water everywhere around us but not a cup to drink.

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“But Tinubu’s administration has made a difference, and with immense wisdom too. He has given the Muslims without denying the Christians. Out of the six states in the South West, he has picked three Muslims. This is unlike the two Christian presidents mentioned above who gave all the six states to the Christians. It all goes to prove that President Tinubu has listening ears plus Solomonic wisdom.”