Osun government accuses MURIC of disseminating false statements about the Adeleke administration.

The Osun State Government has accused the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) of disseminating false information after its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, alleged that Governor Ademola Adeleke was marginalising Muslims within his administration.

In a statement released on Sunday in Osogbo, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Kolapo Alimi urged Professor Akintola to follow the teachings of the Qur’an and the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad in his interactions with the state government.

Alimi said the government believes Akintola acted on misinformation or has become “an agent of misinformation.” He reaffirmed that Governor Adeleke remains committed to inclusive governance and maintains cordial relations with people of all faiths.

“Governor Adeleke is a strong believer who relates well with people of all faiths, in line with the inclusive leadership example of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). His administration has appointed qualified Muslims to key positions,” the Commissioner said.

He cited the appointments of Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye as Secretary to the State Government and Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye as Chief of Staff as evidence of the administration’s inclusiveness.

Alimi also noted that the governor’s spokesperson, several commissioners, and heads of agencies are Muslims working alongside appointees of other faiths.

The commissioner highlighted projects undertaken by the administration that benefit the Muslim community, including the launch of the Osun Hajj Camp and the approval of a mosque within the Government House for Muslim staff.

“We urge Professor Akintola to verify facts before going public, as admonished in Qur’an 49:6. Government performance should be assessed through verifiable indicators such as budget implementation, debt management and healthcare outcomes,” Alimi added.

He maintained that elections should focus on issues such as employment, security, infrastructure, healthcare and education rather than identity politics.

“We expect MURIC to judge this administration by its record of service to all citizens, Muslim and non‑Muslim alike,” the statement added.

The commissioner also alleged that Professor Akintola was disguising political criticism as religious advocacy and challenged him to openly declare any partisan interest in the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

Alimi called on MURIC to condemn reported attacks on residents in Ile‑Ifẹ, Akoda, Owode‑Ede and Osogbo allegedly carried out by armed individuals in APC‑branded campaign vehicles if the organisation wishes to dispel accusations of political bias.

He also urged MURIC not to engage in a campaign of misinformation against Governor Adeleke’s administration.