Don’t Christianize your cabinet’ – Traditional worshipers group warns Adeleke
The Concerned Traditional Right, CONTRAR, on Wednesday warned Osun state Governor, Ademola Adeleke against what it termed “Christianizing” his cabinets.
CONTRAR charged Gov. Adeleke of Osun state to ensure that he form a balanced cabinet.
The body issued the warning in a statement signed and forwarded to NEWSMEN by its Director, Chief Mayowa Fakorede (Ojugbona Awo).
CONTRAR advised the Gov. Adeleke to reverse his newly appointed Commissioners and Special Advisers and to allow his cabinets to reflect the spirit of participatory democracy by ensuring that all Religions were not only consulted but fully involved.
The statement reads: “The Concerned Traditional Rights (CONTRAR) has called for the immediate reversal of Governor Ademola Adeleke proposed cabinets and we demand for immediate formation of balanced cabinets from Osun state Goverment.
“We are watching some of Governor Adeleke’s policies with keen interest. Traditionalists in the Osun state are aware that Governor Ademola Adeleke is a Christian. Governor Adeleke should not make the same mistakes made by Ayodele Fayose and his successor, Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti State.
“Fayose ensured that Traditional worshipers were politically strangulated during his tenure. The secretary to the state government (SSG), the chief of staff (COS), all fourteen commissioners, all permanent secretaries and all board chairmen except one were Christians. In spite of our exhortations, Fayemi sidelined Traditional worshippers in all his fourteen commissioners. This kind of attitude cannot promote peaceful coexistence. Neither does it represent good governance.
“Osun State is not a place where any governor can dare the population of the Traditional worshippers. We are waiting to see where the posts of Commissioner for Culture and Tourism and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs will go. The number of seats allocated to Muslims, Christians and Traditionalists in the cabinet and board appointments will determine Adeleke’s political sagacity”.
“For the avoidance of doubts, CONTRAR is aware of the essence of merit in making appointments. Therefore, we are not suggesting the contrary. If Governor Adeleke claims that he could not find competent Traditionalists to appoint is deceiving the people of the State. The truth is that political appointments have become indices for the general welfare of various groups. Failure to pay attention to the Traditional worshippers population in terms of appointments therefore tantamounts to deliberate attempt to impoverish Traditionalists.
“To conclude this, We urge the Osun state Governor to reverse his newly appointed commissioners and give every sector its fair share in governance. We counsel against the christianisation of governance in Osun state. Rather, the governor should give his subjects balanced cabinets”.
