…Asks SA Islamic Affairs, Abdul-Rasheed To Speak More On Religious Tolerance
…Says Abdul El-Sayed Becomes First Muslim Elected To US Senate In Michigan Without Religious Bigotry
A renowned Islamic cleric in Ibadan, Sheikh Lateef Akande, has reiterated that as a practicing Muslim who upholds the norms and values of Islam, he would rather support a man with visionary and digital ideas to advance the development of Oyo State than toe the line of religious bigotry in selecting the next governor.
He stated this on Friday while reacting to a statement credited to the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, purportedly endorsing the APC governorship candidate, Oba Sharafadeen Alli, and directing all Muslims to support him because he is a Muslim, claiming that the governorship is for a Muslim and that Alli is the Muslim choice.
Akande, who wondered why Islamic clerics fail to weigh the gravity of their statements especially in a country where individual families have both religions under the same roof, said religion should not be the basis for selecting the next governor, but competence, credibility, capacity and character.
According to the Islamic cleric, in Michigan, United States, a candidate of the Democratic Party, Abdul El-Sayed, won Michigan’s open US Senate seat on Tuesday, becoming the first Muslim elected to the chamber while preserving a crucial Democratic seat in the party’s fight for Senate control.
El-Sayed’s victory in the closely contested election marked a breakthrough for the Democratic Party’s progressive wing and denied Republicans a chance to flip the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters, despite President Donald Trump’s religious card being played to oust him. He later won convincingly.
Akande, however, noted that one with God is majority, stressing that only Allah gives power regardless of any campaign of calumny or money being used to lure the electorate during election.
Recounting further, he said the same religious card equally failed in the recent Osun election when the APC ganged up and used it against Governor Ademola Adeleke, claiming their candidate was the more practicing Muslim, but Adeleke still won with both Muslim and Christian votes.
Sheikh Akande equally cited the recent New York election, where Zohran Mamdani won as Mayor of New York with both Christian and Muslim votes, saying that only Allah gives power and not religious leaders.
He called on the Special Adviser on Islamic Affairs to Governor Seyi Makinde, Alhaji Abdul-Rasheed Abdul-Azeez, the Chairman of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sheikh Hashim Atere, and other practicing Muslims in the state to speak more on the true teachings of Islam on tolerance, unity and peaceful coexistence, rather than allowing religious leaders to wrongly use religion to divide the people for political gains.
He urged residents of Oyo State to reject religious bigotry and embrace politics of ideas, competence and development, adding that the Adekanmbi/Salawu ticket represents inclusivity, innovation and genuine commitment to the progress of all, irrespective of faith or background.
The Islamic cleric added that Oyo State has always thrived on religious harmony and mutual respect, and must not allow desperate politicians to import divisive narratives that could threaten the peace and unity the state currently enjoys.
