…says competence is the major criteria in selecting political appointees
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has said that religious differences cannot be used by political enemies as a weapon to divide Oyo state adding that, in making cabinet appointments, competence is the major criteria being used by his administration in selecting appointees.
The Governor said this on Wednesday when he paid a visit to the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States on the occasion of his birthday.
He said, “I want to use this opportunity to address those that think they can use the religious differences to divide us in Oyo state. I keep telling them that this won’t be possible because here in Oyo State, most families have roots in both Christian and Muslim religions, even traditional worshippers, in some cases.
“So, if one person says he hates people from the opposite religion, that means he has to hate some members of his family.”
The Governor noted that contrary to the rumour being peddled that Governor Seyi Makinde hates Muslims and doesn’t like including them in his appointments, the reverse was the case.
His words “I hear people say Seyi Makinde does not like Muslims. Let me say this again, the man who was named Makinde, that I bear as my surname, was a Muslim till he died.
“So, when making appointments, we first evaluate for competence, geopolitical zones.
“In the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, the Chairman is a Muslim, his secretary is a Muslim and the two of them signed my form when it was to be taken to INEC. I never thought that because they were Muslims that they won’t carry out their duties.
“Today, at the secretariat, the Head of Service is a Muslim. The chairman of the civil service commission that is in charge of every employment in the state, Alhaji Aderibigbe, is a Muslim.
“So, those that don’t know our vision, can’t understand our mission. I just want to tell them that there is no need to keep overheating the polity.
“We have so many things to do, they should allow us to focus on those things. Rather, they should cooperate with us to have the type of state we deserve and desire because government and governors will come and go but our state will always remain. It is wherever we stop the job of developing the state, that those coming behind will pick it up.
Meanwhile, the Governor announced that the interfaith council which will be in charge of matters involving religion in the state will be inaugurated in August.
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