The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, recently declared that he is the first executive Governor of Osun State to practice both Islam and Christianity. However, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has countered the governor.
In a statement circulated to the media on Monday, 6th May, 2024 by the group’s executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC argued that nobody can be a Muslim and a Christian at the same time. The group insisted that Governor Adeleke is manifesting symptoms of personality crisis syndrome which often results in confusion in personal identity. The group also accused the governor of desecrating Islam with his shakala-shokolo antics.
The full statement reads:
“The governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, recently declared that he was the first executive Governor of Osun State to practice both Islam and Christianity.
“Adeleke made the declaration while answering questions at the second edition of the public enlightenment programme tagged ‘Ipade Imole’, held in Ilesa on Tuesday, 30th April, 2024.
“We are nonplussed by this declaration made by Governor Ademola Adeleke. It is egregious, odious, insidious and odoriferous. Nobody can be a Muslim and a Christian at the same time. It is either he is genuinely serious with one and hypocritical with the other, or he is playing Jekyll and Hyde with God Almighty whereas nobody can deceive God.
“It is the height of hypocrisy for anyone to make such a claim. The group insisted that in
“We are concerned because Adeleke is a public figure and the political leader in Osun state. We are aware that statements like this are capable of influencing the behaviour of ordinary Nigerians. The effect is likely to be mass emulation of the governor resulting in many citizens of Osun making similar declarations.
“If other religions accept this behaviour, Islam never will. This is because Islam is a religion of high discipline. There is no room for rubbish in Islam. That is why the Glorious Qur’an says, ‘Enter into Islam totally and categorically’ (Qur’an 2:208).
“A true religion must not be like flashy products where you buy one and get another one free. Otherwise Adeleke should let Nigerians know which one he is paying for and which one he is buying free.
“Adeleke is a Yoruba man and he is not unaware of a Yoruba proverb which says, ‘Bi o ba fe je Oshakala ki o je Oshakala, bi o ba si fe je Oshokolo ki o je Oshokolo, ewo ni Shakala Shokolo?’ Meaning: if you want to be Oshakala, then be Oshakala and if you want to be Oshokolo, feel free to be Oshokolo, but which one is Shakala Shokolo? The governor’s behaviour contravenes the Omoluabi culture of the Yoruba people.
“We are aware that the governor bears both Muslim and Christian names: Nurudeen and Jackson. There is nothing wrong with that based on present circumstances in the land. But we cannot accept his claim to be following both faiths. Names are mere tags but not so with faith. There is something wrong with you if your faith runs riot. But who did this to Osun State?
“Of course a governor can ‘identify’ and ’empathise’ with every religious group in his state. He is the father of all. But he should not go beyond that. He should not claim to believe in both as a follower. Such a claim is false, baseless and hypocritical.
“What Adeleke fails to understand is that MURIC is not saying that a governor must be a Muslim before the Muslims accept him. All we are asking for is fairness, justice and equity. A just Christian governor will enjoy the Muslims under him. It is only Christian rulers who marginalise Muslims and persecute them that we rise against.
“Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Bola Ige, etc were Christians who ruled in the South West in the past. Muslims did not reject them. Why is Adeleke jittery?
“Adeleke made three unacceptable declarations in his speech. Firstly, he said he would soon become Alhaji and Prophet. Our position is that he is free to become a Christian prophet any time but he is going to make a caricature of himself the day he attempts to become an Alhaji.
“Secondly, he claimed to be the first executive Governor of Osun State to practice both Islam and Christianity. This is an illusion. Adeleke is living in the world of self-deceit. He may have been practicing Christianity but he does not practice Islam and he himself knows it.
“Thirdly, the governor also said no religion would be neglected in the delivery of dividends of democracy. He can say that to the marines. Has he been practicing what he is now preaching? If so, was he not the same governor who appointed 17 Christians as commissioners but could only find 7 Muslims appointable? Has he not neglected Muslims?
“We advise the governor to stop playing hide and seek with his Creator. God is a Merciful Lord. He listens to all regardless of their creed, race, gender or colour.
“Adeleke is insulting the collective intelligence of Muslims in Osun State. Even politicians do not accept those who exhibit divided loyalty. You are either inside or outside. There is nothing like one leg in, one leg out. Adeleke should stop desecrating the religion of Islam with his shakala-shokolo antics.”