Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has received a commendation from the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) for removing his name from the signboard of Adogba Central Mosque, Iwo Road, Ibadan. This move comes after MURIC protested on Saturday, criticizing the governor for renaming the demolished but now rebuilt mosque after himself.
MURIC's Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, released a statement on Monday praising the governor for complying with the group's advice. Akintola noted that the mosque was demolished by the Makinde administration in 2020, despite MURIC's protestations. The governor had promised to rebuild it and was reportedly involved in renaming the mosque after himself, which MURIC had asked him to remove.
Reports indicate that the removal of the name was carried out on Sunday by some workers, led by the governor’s media aide, Oriyomi Hamzat, who is also the owner of Agidigbo FM. The mosque's inscription now reads "Adogba Central Mosque", which MURIC has expressed satisfaction with.
MURIC, though perceived as radical, insists that it is rational and affirms its belief that adherents of different religions can peacefully coexist and work together towards making Nigeria great. The group expressed its willingness to pursue cordial relations with both government and private institutions in Nigeria, as long as they give Muslims their rights and dues and allow their actions to be guided by the principles of equity, fairness, and justice.
It is noteworthy that the removal of Makinde's name from the mosque's signboard comes ahead of the gubernatorial election in Oyo State on March 18, 2023. MURIC had advised the governor to make the move before the election to avoid protest votes from Muslims in the state.
The relationship between the Makinde administration and MURIC has been frosty, with the group accusing the governor of marginalizing Muslims in his appointments and actions. In 2020, MURIC accused the governor of not having a single Muslim among the newly appointed permanent secretaries in the state.