Delta Muslims Pilgrim Welfare Board – Indigenous Muslims Decry Exclusion From Board
By Our Correspondent
Indigenous Muslims in Delta State have decried the non-inclusion of it’s members into the Delta State Muslims Pilgrim Welfare Board reconstituted by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
The indigenous Muslims in an open letter to Governor Okowa and made available to our correspondent lamented that the current board was made up of non indigenous Muslims of Igala, Yoruba and Hausa tribes as against the normal tradition of appointing indigenous Muslims of Delta State to the Board, saying “This departure from previous regimes of Chief James Ibori and Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan is an insult to the indigenous Muslims.”
The letter was signed for and on Behalf of Indigenous Muslims by Alh. Mohammed Isimah (Representing Delta North), Alh. Mahmud Kolodi (Representing Delta Central), Engr. Nurudeen Ejakpovi (Representing Delta Central), Mr. Harun Akora (Representing Delta South), Alhaja Khadijah B. O. Alegimenhen (Representing Delta North) and Alh. Sadiq Oniyesaneyene Musa (Representing Delta South).
They called on Governor Okowa to revisit the constitution of the Board for the interest of the indigenous Muslims in the state.
They also prayed the Governor to direct the Secretary to the State Government to put aside the constitution of Delta State Muslims Pilgrims Board as published in The Pointer Newspapers of Wednesday, December 16, 2015 and reconstitute the Board with indigenous Muslims.
The Indigenous Muslims in Delta urged the Governor to have faith in indigenous Muslims to develop and grow Islam in the state and to hold Islamic prayer sessions for Delta State and the Government.
“We are few compared to the indigenous Christians but for the sake of EQUITY that brought you to power we humbly appeal that you treat all known religions in the state with fairness. Our REQUEST is to reconstitute the Board with 100% indigenous Muslims. We don’t have another state to run to but Delta State. Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers among other states Muslims Pilgrim Boards are wholesomely 100% indigenous composition,” they said.
They added that the composition of the new board in Delta State was a misnomer as no state in the country has non-indigenes in their Pilgrim welfare boards.
They said: “The above composition Sir, is injustice and oppression to the indigenous Muslims. It is to be noted that Deltans are traditional practitioners in term of religion and with the passage of time majority converted to Christianity while others converted to Islam.
“We want to inform that Islam and Christianity were faiths brought to us by foreigners to Nigeria and that adherents of these faiths believe in the existence of God and peaceful relationship to the development of mankind. In all the states and tribes in Nigeria every indigene is proud to associate with his /her own. A Deltan cannot go to Sokoto State to claim what belongs to the indigenes of Sokoto. There is no Urhobo or Ika man/woman that is presently representing the Christians in Sokoto Christians Pilgrims Welfare Board. Why in Delta?
” It is of note that some non indigenes (tribes) resident in Delta State voted for you and it is expedient to compensate them by appointment. This appointment cannot be to the detriment of Deltans. Again Igalas, Yorubas, Hausas, Fulani etc resident in the State are not all Muslims and at such representing them in a Muslims Pilgrim Board is a misnomer. Their appointment in the state should be as Special Assistants or Personal Assistants or even Commissioners representing these interest groups/tribes if His Excellency deems it necessary.”
