By Abdul-Kadir Abdullah
The Edo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting unity, inclusion and constructive dialogue within the Muslim community, urging stakeholders to embrace peaceful engagement in resolving issues affecting the faithful.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Religious Matters, Hon. Ahmed Musa Momoh, gave the assurance when he received representatives of the Okpella Council of Ulamas at his office in Benin City.
The delegation visited the Special Adviser following concerns over the recent constitution of the Edo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Momoh urged the Ulamas to make dialogue their first approach whenever issues arise, stressing that constructive engagement remained the best way to address concerns and strengthen relationships between the government and the Muslim community.
He assured the delegation that the concerns raised would be communicated to the appropriate authorities for consideration, adding that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo remained committed to creating opportunities that would benefit both Muslims and non-Muslims across the state.
According to him, the government was already taking steps towards the constitution of the Musaabaqah Board, which he said would create opportunities for more Muslims to contribute to the development of Edo State.
The Special Adviser also called for greater unity among Muslims, noting that a united community would be better positioned to benefit from opportunities being created by the Okpebholo administration.
Momoh further highlighted what he described as the administration’s unprecedented level of inclusion, citing the appointment of Muslims into key positions in government.
He described the Okpebholo administration as the most accommodating government to the Muslim community since the creation of Edo State and urged Muslims to continue supporting the Governor while adopting constructive engagement whenever grievances arise.
A major outcome of the meeting was an apology by the Okpella Council of Ulamas to Governor Okpebholo and the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq., over comments made during a recent protest concerning alleged marginalisation in the constitution of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.
The Council explained that its earlier action was not intended to disregard the contributions of the Governor and the SSG to the welfare and development of the Muslim community, create division among Muslims or undermine the administration’s support for the faith community.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Barr. Oseni Momodu, who represented the delegation, said the Council decided to engage the government because it believed dialogue was the most appropriate way to resolve the disagreement.
“On behalf of the Okpella Council of Ulama, we have visited the Edo State Government through the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Religious Matters, Ahmed Musa. We are here because we believe in dialogue as Muslims,” he said.
Momodu described the meeting as fruitful and said the matter had been resolved, insisting that the Muslim community in Edo State remained united.
“By the grace of God, we have resolved. Islam in Edo State remains one. There is no crack by any way by any man. By the grace of God, we have had a very fruitful dialogue with the government of Edo State,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Okpebholo for his support for Muslims in the state and commended the SSG, whom he described as a brother and friend.
Momodu particularly thanked the Governor for appointing Ikhilor as SSG from the beginning of the administration, as well as for appointing other Muslims to key positions in government.
