The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has alleged that Yoruba Muslims have been deliberately sidelined in political appointments under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group claims that a powerful caucus is preventing true and practicing Yoruba Muslims from securing key government positions.
In a statement signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola on Monday, MURIC accused unnamed forces of manipulating the system to exclude Yoruba Muslims from leadership roles.
The organization also claimed that some Yoruba Christians have been fraudulently taking up political slots meant for Muslims by retaining Muslim names on official documents.
“Those who sabotaged the attempt to make Mallam Nasir El-Rufai a minister in the present administration have also undermined our mission to liberate Yoruba Muslims from educational backwardness, economic impoverishment, social ostracization, and political marginalization,” the statement read.
MURIC expressed frustration over what it described as a systematic effort to ensure that no real Yoruba Muslim gains access to the corridors of power.
The group lamented that despite its role in mobilizing the North to support President Tinubu’s election, it has been shut out of the political process.
“As matters stand today, most Islamic organizations in Yorubaland (including MURIC) have no access, direct or otherwise, to the presidency. Neither do we have any minister with whom we have established rapport. We have been shut out,” Akintola stated.
The group also called on President Tinubu to intervene in what it described as religious identity theft.
According to MURIC, some individuals who have converted to Christianity but still bear Muslim names are securing appointments meant for Yoruba Muslims.
“It is the names of Yoruba Muslims who have converted to Christianity (either willingly or unwillingly) but who retained their Muslim names in their official documents that are allowed to reach the president. Only two or three real Yoruba Muslims have succeeded in getting political appointments,” the statement alleged.
MURIC further urged President Tinubu to reconcile with former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, whom it described as a key figure in mobilizing northern support for the president’s 2023 electoral victory.
The group argued that sidelining El-Rufai has weakened efforts to empower Yoruba Muslims politically.
“For mobilizing the whole North to support the incumbent, for going to court to challenge the emefialisation of the naira (which was aimed at sabotaging the emergence of Tinubu as president), efforts should be made to close the gap between El-Rufai and the president,” MURIC stated.
The organization concluded by urging President Tinubu to review the process of identifying qualified Yoruba Muslims for appointments, warning that the continued exclusion of Muslims from governance in the South West could deepen divisions.
“Mr. President is advised to review the methodology for identifying true Muslims with the right qualifications to fit into his vision. Cross-checking with the right quarters will go a long way in stemming the incident of identity stealing and religious impersonation,” MURIC stated.