Osun 2026: Muslim leaders reject call for Christian Gov
..says Adeleke running a Christian-dominated government
Muslim leaders in Osun State, on Wednesday, condemned recent calls by some leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) that the next governor of the state must be a Christian
The Muslim leaders under the aegis of the Concerned Muslim Stakeholders and the League of Alfas, described the call as “a display of greed, religious bias, and a clear attempt to hoodwink the good people of Osun State.”
Addressing newsmen in Osogbo, the president of the Group, Sheikh Qozeem AbdurRahamon, stressed that the call for a Christian Governor in 2026 is not only unjust but also a deliberate act to manipulate public sentiment.
According to him, our good people of Osun State. The recent and consistent calls by some leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Osun State, demanding that the next Governor of Osun in 2026 must be a Christian, are deeply worrisome.
“Osun State was created out of the old Oyo State on the 27th of August, 1991, by then Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
The first military administrator was Colonel Akaleh, a Christian. He was succeeded by Colonel Segun Leo Ajiborisa, also a Christian. After him came Navy Captain Anthony Udofia, another Christian. Udofia handed over to Colonel Anthony Obi, and after him came Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye again, a Christian.
“So, between Oyo and Osun, our Christian brothers have conveniently ruled for a total of 19 years, while Muslims have had only 2 years in leadership. It is therefore not surprising that both Oyo and Osun States have a civil service workforce that is about 75 to 80 percent Christian.
“Yet, today, some CAN and PFN leaders, led by one Ayodele Owoofe and Pastor Seun Adeoye, are shamelessly alleging that Christians are being marginalised in Osun State.
That claim is false, provocative, and an insult to the peace-loving people of this State.
“For record purposes, let it be known that Osun has had a Christian-Christian ticket before.
The Governor, the Deputy Governor, the Chief of Staff, and the Head of Service were all Christians this is not too far just 2003 to 2010.
Yet, the Muslim community did not raise an alarm. Osun Muslims have been the most tolerant religious community in Nigeria, and nobody should take that for weakness.”
He further explained that the Adeleke-led government is currently running a Christian-Christian arrangement with Christian’s occupying major offices.
His words, “Even the current administration in Osun is more or less a Christian-Christian arrangement. The Governor himself who once bore a Muslim name no longer identifies with that name in his recent party certificate.
The Deputy Governor is a known Christian, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly is a Christian, and the Head of Service is a Christian.
“Yet, our Muslims have kept quiet in the spirit of peace and fairness. Is it not ironic that in a State with over 70 percent Muslim population, no Muslim has ever served as Head of Service or Chief Judge in 35 years?
And yet we are told that Christians are being marginalised? What kind of marginalisation are they talking about?”
He, however, called on all political parties in the state and at the national level not to fall for this divisive, sentimental, and parochial agitation.
