The Oyo State Government has rejected allegations by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) that Governor Seyi Makinde is anti-Islam, citing his longstanding relationship with the Muslim community and support for Islamic institutions and activities.
The government described the allegation as baseless, insisting that the governor’s actions before and during his administration contradicted claims of religious intolerance.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said Makinde’s record of building mosques, supporting Muslim organisations and recognising Islamic celebrations demonstrated his commitment to religious inclusion.
He argued that Makinde’s relationship with the Muslim community predated his emergence as governor, noting that he built the Omituntun Mosque and employed a resident Imam long before assuming public office.
According to the statement, the governor and his family also maintained relationships with the Muslim community through Ramadan lectures, Islamic programmes and other religious activities.
The government questioned why a person allegedly opposed to Islam would invest personal resources in building and maintaining a mosque before seeking public office.
It further challenged MURIC to identify any Islamic practice abolished, Muslim institution proscribed, Islamic celebration banned or religious right withdrawn by the Makinde administration.
The statement maintained that, rather than suppressing Islamic activities, the government had formally recognised the Islamic calendar by declaring a work-free day to commemorate Hijrah, the Islamic New Year.
On allegations concerning the participation of Muslim students and teachers in Christmas carols and Christian crusades, the government said no official directive, circular, executive instruction or policy had been produced to establish that Makinde ordered or approved such activities.
The government also defended the administration’s handling of the demolition of the Adogba Central Mosque during the reconstruction of the Iwo Road Interchange.
It said Makinde personally visited the mosque before its demolition, worshipped with Muslims, explained the need to remove the structure for the infrastructure project and publicly promised to rebuild it.
According to the statement, the governor fulfilled the commitment by reconstructing and handing over the mosque with modern facilities to the Muslim community.
It added that the commissioning ceremony was attended by prominent Muslim leaders, including the Sultan of Sokoto, whom it described as the spiritual leader of Nigerian Muslims.
The government questioned why the Sultan would attend a programme allegedly intended to undermine the Muslim community.
Reiterating its position, the statement said there was no evidence that Makinde had abolished Islamic practices, withdrawn Muslim rights, dismantled Islamic institutions or introduced policies designed to suppress Islam.
It maintained that the governor’s record reflected religious inclusion, engagement and support for people of different faiths rather than hostility towards Muslims.
The government further argued that Makinde’s conduct demonstrated his commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of Nigerians irrespective of their religious beliefs.
It expressed confidence that the governor would uphold religious freedom and peaceful coexistence among Muslims, Christians and adherents of other faiths if elected president of Nigeria.
