A sociopolitical pressure group in Odeda local government, Odeda Young Patriots have sternly warned the immediate past high commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr. Sarafa Tunji Ishola to desist from brewing religious intolerance across the state because of his inordinate gubernatorial ambition.
The group in a statement signed by the coordinator of the group, Alhaji Akinyemi Sodiq, released Monday morning in Abeokuta, described the desperate moves by Ishola as ‘not only petty, but very dangerous and an attempt to cause chaos within the state’.
‘Mr. Sarafa, please sit up and be man enough to face your political ambition, and detest from causing religious chaos in our peaceful State. Elections are not won in mosques, churches and any religious places. Preach your ideas and ideals to the people, your party and the general public, stop using religion as a tool. It is silly, immature and very dangerous’
The group while exposing the moves of the erstwhile minister of the federal republic, alleged Sharafa as using his privileged position as Baba Adini of Ogun State as a tool to coerce and intimidate innocent faithful to support him merely on the grounds of being a Muslim.
‘Why would you be moving from mosque to mosque, meeting and coercing people to support you. Ogun state is a religiously tolerant state, we relate freely with ourselves, and we enjoy trust from one another. Even when we had a Muslim governor in Sen. Ibikunle AMOSUN, despite having a Christian wife in Mrs Funsho AMOSUN, the woman graciously supported, attended and encouraged Islamic religious activities within the corridors of power. That’s what we are known for in Ogun. So a man who should busy himself with how to better his health, complete his abandoned hotel project and even find a way to get hold of his life, shouldn’t be desperately meeting likes of our highly revered Baba Adegunwa in Ijebu, all to create a non existing narrative of a Muslim governor. No! That’s not our state.’
Akinyemi, the Group’s coordinator also advised Sarafa to take a cue from Hon. Ladi Adebutu, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who despite coming from the incumbent governor’s local government area, didn’t have to reason along any petty religious line, but busied himself with pure politics, and continue to mobilise without creating religious tension.
‘Why would a man think being a Muslim is the requirement to govern a state as cosmopolitan as Ogun state? Imagine a Ladi Adebutu who is from same area with Governor Dapo Abiodun, no one is pulling him down, because election is a contest of popularity not that of a pastor against one Baba Adini. It takes more of being a good politician, qualified administrator and development enthusiast to be the governor of Ogun state than just been an honourary Baba Adini. If we may ask, what benefit has his being Baba Adini done to the numerous Muslims across Ogun state?’
