My Administration Has Done More for Osun Muslims Than Previous Governments – Adeleke
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has declared that his administration has recorded unprecedented achievements for the Muslim community in the State, insisting that his government’s contributions to the Islamic faith surpass those of previous administrations.
The governor made the assertion on Sunday while addressing members of the Osun State Muslim Community in Osogbo during an interactive session organised by the umbrella body of Muslims in the state.
Adeleke said his administration had taken deliberate steps to address long-standing concerns affecting the Muslim community, including the construction of a Hajj Camp, the establishment of a mosque within the Government House, the reconstitution of the Osun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, and the formalisation of Islamic marriage certificates.
According to him, Osun had remained the only South-West state without a Hajj Camp before he assumed office.
“I am happy to report that my administration is almost completing the Hajj Camp to remove the shame on the Ummah. Those who were in office before us did not deem it fit to build one for intending pilgrims.
“They also spent years in government without providing a mosque at the Government House. My administration is correcting that by constructing one.
“For years, they failed to constitute the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board. We not only reconstituted the board but also introduced several measures to improve the welfare of Muslim pilgrims.
“Just recently, Osun became the first state in the South-West to formalise the issuance of Islamic marriage certificates. The process is now operational, and I have directed that it should henceforth be domiciled with the Osun State Muslim Community as the umbrella body for Muslims in the state.
“Many of my principal officers and cabinet members are Muslims. We have ensured fairness and inclusiveness in appointments and governance. I have highlighted these achievements so that the people can judge our commitment by what we have done,” Adeleke said.
The governor also challenged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the August 15 governorship election to campaign based on the performance of his party while it was in power.
Speaking at the event, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Alhaji Muniru Raji, said Adeleke had demonstrated genuine commitment to the welfare of the Muslim community through policies and projects implemented during his administration.
“The previous administration neglected the Muslim Ummah. We appreciate Governor Adeleke for implementing policies and projects that have directly benefited Muslims across Osun State. We are confident that he will do even more if re-elected on August 15,” Raji said.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Osun State Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, explained that the meeting formed part of the community’s engagement with governorship candidates ahead of the August 15 election.
He commended the governor for what he described as his administration’s achievements and appealed to him to sustain his inclusive approach to governance while considering additional requests presented by the Muslim community.
Governor Adeleke attended the event alongside members of the Imole Campaign Council and the Osun State Executive Council.