By Shina Abubakar Osogbo
Groups of Christian organisation in Osun State have insisted that the next governor of the State must be a Christian, saying record has shown that Christians were being marginalized politically in the state.
The group in a joint statement signed by Bishop Seun Adeoye, of Worldwide Anglican Church in Nigeria, Bishop Mike Adebomi, the Osun State Coordinator of World Bishops Council (Africa Chapter) and Rev. Theophilus Ayodeji, the National Leader of Gospel Pushers Association (GPA), noted that for justice, equity and fair play, a Christian should emerge as the governor in the August 8, 2026 polls.
According to the groups, after a thorough deliberation during their joint meeting held in Osogbo, it was discovered that since the current political dispensation which started in 1999, four out of five individuals who have governed the state were Muslims while only one person is a Christian.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we hereby listed the names of past and present governors. There are Chief Adebisi Akande (Muslim – 1999 to 2003), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Christian – 2003 to 2010), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Muslim – 2010 to 2018), Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola (Muslim – 2018 to 2022) and now Senator Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke (Muslim – 2022 till date).
“Out of the 26 years in this new dispensation, Muslims have ruled for 19 years and by the time His Excellency Governor Adeleke will be completing his tenure in November 2026, they would have spent 20 years as compared to just seven (7) years spent by Prince Oyinlola, a Christian.
“Based on these facts, it is our view that the next governor of Osun State should be a Christian and we strongly canvass for this position and that for the sake of equity and fair play, we call on all stakeholders in the Osun State project, and indeed all political associations to see our request as justifiable, reasonable and which we know aligned with democratic principles.
“We also know that Christians have equal population along our Muslim brothers and sisters in the state but unfortunately it appears we are being marginalized and treated as low castes. This has to be corrected.
The groups urged major political parties to present credible and competent Christian candidates for the upcoming governorship polls “and we promise to mobilize voters massively to support any political party that goes along with our position”.
They urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (OSCAN) leadership in the state, to as a matter of urgency, invite all aspirants who are Christians from all the registered political parties for dialogue and counsel on how to make this a reality in the forthcoming election.
It would be recalled that a Muslim group, Concerned Muslim Stakeholders and League of Alfas in the State had on Wednesday described the call for a Christian governor as divisive, unfair and deliberate attempt to manipulate public minds along religious line and a call that is dead on arrival
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