Ekiti Muslim against Fayose over proposed Christmas dress for Children

The National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations, NASCOMYO, Ekiti State Chapter has against the governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose over the proposed Christmas dress for 10,000 Ekiti Children. The Muslim released the press statement on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

Last week, Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose says that at least 10,000 indigent children in Ekiti State will be provided Christmas dress made from Ankara and other materials during the yuletide season. He was disclosed this during a meeting with tailors in Ado- Ekiti.

This is the press released by Muslim Youth:

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF MUSLIM YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS (NACOMYO) EKITI STATE CHAPTER

PRESS RELEASE

RE: THE PROPOSED CHRISTMAS DRESS FOR 10, 000 EKITI CHILDREN

Our attention has been drawn to the newspaper publication on the plan of Chief (Dr.) Ayodele Fayose, the Governor of Ekiti State, to provide “Christmas dress” for 10, 000 Ekiti Christian children.

As long as we are not averse to any form of child welfare or development, as a youth organization, we are worried that our commonwealth as a state is being used to promote a particular religion and to placate the subscribers of the religion.

With all intents and purposes the objective behind the planned provisions of christmas dress to 10, 000 Christian children was borne out of the Governor’s passion for his religion–christianity–which he is making efforts at elevating to the state’s official religion.

The declaration of Fayose to the effect that “when we were young, we always looked forward to the Christmas and New year festivities that, at least our parents would buy clothes for us. But with the prevailing economic situation in the country, some parents may not be able to do that and we felt we can help to bridge such gap” is a confirmation of his motive that the planned provision of 10, 000 clothes for Ekiti children is meant to promote christianity as a religion.

For us, this is quite unacceptable and a breach of section 10 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which provides that “the Government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as state religion”.

Chief Fayose should note that just like the christians looked forward to Christmas and New year, the Muslims also looked forward to either the id–el–malud or id–el–fitri festivals. As the Governor of all, he is expected to patronize both the Muslims and the Christians in equal measure. While it is on record that Fayose is renown for wearing head gear (turban) in solidarity with the Muslims during any of the Muslim festival; the Governor of Ekiti State has never earmark any amount towards the empowerment of Muslims during any of the festivals.

It is on the basis of the above that we hereby call on Governor Fayose to suspend his planned celebration of Christians and Christianity during the forthcoming yuletide period. In the alternative, if the Governor is determined to go ahead with his planned provision of Christmas dresses, he should disclose the budget for the dresses to the public and be ready to expend the same amount for the Muslim children during the forthcoming Muslim festival. This is the justice of the matter.

While maintaining that the resources of our common wealth should not be made for the patronage of only a section or religion, we posit that the duty of providing dresses for children is fundamentally that of parents and not Government. Ekiti State Government should be more concerned about fulfilling her duty under the law, which includes that of prompt and adequate payment of staff salaries. In this way, parents will be able to make adequate care and provision for their children.

Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, Esq.
State Coordinator

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