2027: MURIC Rejects Makinde’s Alleged Succession Choice

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has rejected the candidate allegedly endorsed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for the 2027 governorship election, accusing him of attempting to impose religious dominance in the state’s political leadership.

The group alleged that the governor was “acting a religious script” aimed at marginalising Muslims in Oyo State by supporting a Christian candidate to succeed him after eight years in office.

MURIC argued that the alleged arrangement would extend what it described as “Christian dominance” in the governance of the state, claiming that Muslims had been politically sidelined.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, accused Makinde of diverting state resources in favour of Christians while alleging economic marginalisation of Muslims.

“According to MURIC, a Christian has spent eight gruesome years of Christianisation and suppression of Islam in the state,” the statement read.

Akintola insisted that political leadership in the state should rotate between religious groups, arguing that “it is turn by turn.”

“Seyi Makinde, a Christian governor, has spent eight years in office. He has no right to anoint another Christian as his successor. Christian monopoly of governance must be stopped in Yorubaland,” he said.

He further claimed that there was an unwritten power-sharing arrangement based on religion, which he said should be maintained.

“We have a convention. If a Muslim spends eight years in office, a Christian should succeed him, and vice versa. Why does Makinde want to change that unwritten protocol?” he asked.

MURIC also called on Muslim leaders in the state to resist what it described as political imposition, insisting that Muslims constitute a significant population and contribution base in the state.

The group added that political parties in the South-West should consider fielding Muslim governorship candidates, arguing that all six governors in the region were currently Christians.

“Why should all the governors in the South West be Christians when Muslims are the majority? Sharing is caring. We reject a winner-takes-all mentality,” Akintola added.

The group warned that the situation could escalate if not addressed, urging what it called political balance and inclusivity in future elections.