Following the death of Ondo state Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, MMWG, has called for the appointment of a Muslim as the new deputy governor of Ondo state as Lucky Aiyedatiwa took over as the substantive governor.

Specifically, the group, in a statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi and the Ondo State Coordinator, Alhaji Ali Abdul-Yekeen, advised Aiyedatiwa to appoint the Muslim deputy governor from Ondo North Senatorial District, especially Owo, the hometown of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, in the spirit of inclusivity in governance, equality, justice and fairness.

It recalled that past administrations in the state, including the military, appointed Muslim deputies, stating that repeating such action now, would enhance religious tolerance, peace, stability and progress in the state.

The group called for mutual understanding among political leaders and cited Ekiti State as example where both the governor and deputy are Christians, but a Muslim was made Secretary to the State Government, SSG, warning that “for a single religious group to hold 10 topmost political offices in a state is not only unfair and disproportion, but absolute injustice.”

It, therefore, urged those in governance to always remember that balancing appointments religiously is a way of promoting peace, citing Lagos, Osun, Ogun and Oyo States as example that Governor Aiyedatiwa should copy for promoting mutual understanding.