By John Olaiya
Kwara no doubt is a heterogenous State but one part of this status that has all along remained unattended to is religion. It is a part of the people like in any other climes to give less attention to religion but the imbalance in the recognition of one religion over the other has always been the order of the day in this North Central State. Worse still, it is done with lots of pretence. The belief everywhere is that Kwara is predominantly Muslim and that had been the trend over the years. Outside the State, the belief is same that though Christians also abound in Kwara but that they are insignificant in number.
Ilorin, the State capital which houses the largest concentration of Christians in Kwara State, is said to be often hostile to people of other faiths especially the Christians. The tradition has spread to other parts of the State where Christians are subjected to second-class treatments and by that, they are believed to have rare opportunities in public offices. Such people, few in number only get opportune when they are favoured by someone who is an Ilorin man or has strong connections with Ilorin.
The same is said to be the story and fate of non-Muslims on the political terrain. This applies to political appointments and elective aspirations. The powers that be are the ones that decide who becomes what or who contests what even in the Christendom in the State, particularly from the Southern part of Kwara. The Christians this trend affects most are the Igbominas from three Local Government Areas: Irepodun, Isin and Ifelodun. The other groups are the Ekitis in Ekiti and Oke Ero Local Governments as well as the Ibolos in Offa and Oyun Local Governments. The Igbominas are, however, worst hit in this ordeal.
Traditionally, political seasons are the time the discriminations manifest most. It is to the effect that only political chiefs in Kwara dictate who carries the ticket in all the parties. It begins by asking aspirants to first disclose their religion and that had in the past raised concerns. In many cases those from a particular faith may not get there except they are favoured by the perceived Lords of the manors.
The people of Ifelodun appear to be more affected by this feeling which they said is a reality. Come any political season, they can only aspire but the hope of getting there is often slim. Though they occasionally are lucky to get there, especially by God’s grace, yet aprons are often tied to the slots they get politically.
As if this is not enough, a particular section of Ifelodun composed mainly of Christians is most hit by this culture of discrimination. They have never been able to clinch political power no matter how much they are qualified. The record in this dispensation is worse against them; and they have carried this burden since 1999. But now, they feel the time has come for them to talk.
Using the Ifelodun/Oyun/Offa Federal Constituency as a case study, facts showed that since this democracy started in 1999, all Members of the House of Representatives have been from a particular religion. They are Hon. Raufu Kolawole Shittu, (Offa LG, Muslim); Hon. Adebola Oyedele (Offa LG/ Muslim); Hon. Kolawole Yusuf; (Ifelodun LG/Muslim); Hon. Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (Oyun LG/Muslim) Hon. Olarinoye Olayonu (Offa/Muslim); Hon. Ismail Kolawole Tijani (Oyun LG/ Muslim). This is a clear case of gross discrimination against Christians and Ifelodun Local Government as a Federal Constituency in the National Assembly.
Also, the people are worried that of the18 Wards with nine (9) Districts in the same Ifelodun Local Government: Share; Oke Ode; Oro Ago; Ile Ire; Agunjin; Ora; Igbaja; Omupo and Idofian, only Ora District has never been given the privilege of having any elective positions since 1999.
The concentration of Christians in the District is believed to be used against them in a place where by birth, they have equal eligibility like the other eight (8) Districts.
It is against this background that everyone has risen to make a case for a candidate of Ora District origin to represent Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency seat in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly. And instructively, for decades, there had never been a representative of Ora District in either the State House of Assembly or the National Assembly.
It will be good enough to give the District a sense of belonging for once and give a Christian who had not in any way been considered for either elective or appointive positions both as Ora District and the Christian body as well.
Over the weekend, a group tagged GURUS VENTURES (Reg. BN: KW 6934) TEAM OF POLITICAL ANALYSTS circulated a table in Ilorin which showed how much Kwara South, made up of seven Local Governments – Irepodun, Isin, Ifelodun, Oke Ero, Ekiti, Offa and Oyun – had been denied slots in political calculations in Kwara State. It also showed more prominently, less reckoning with Christian population in the State.
The table, for instance showed that Kwara has approximately, a population of 3,393,550 people. The table showed that Christian population is averagely 40% and Muslims 60%.
To prove that Christians are discriminated against in Kwara State, the table showed that while Muslims occupy 18 out of 24 seats in the State House of Assembly, only six (6) seats are for Christians. Also, out of 20 Commissioners holding portfolios in Kwara, seven (7) are for Christians while 13 are Muslims.
Currently in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, three (3) seats are for Kwara and all are occupied by Muslims. The state has Six (6) seats in the House of Representatives and all occupied by Muslims. Of the 26 Local Government Areas in the State, Muslims have 12 Chairmen and Christians just four (4).
The table further stated that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had in the past alleged marginalisation of Christians in the state. They stressed that Christians are under-represented in appointments in Kwara without the issue being addressed by political leaders. It is clearly stated that political representations are grossly deficient, with Christians having lower share of appointments which means less influence over budget allocation and projects.
The group also complained of centralization of most state developments in Ilorin to the disadvantage of the agrarian Southern part of the State that produces cocoa, kola nuts and other crops in the forest belt but lacks processing industries and road networks.
As the journey to 2027 begins in earnest, it is imperative that this lopsidedness and discrimination against Christians must be addressed. It is now time that a Christian must represent Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency seat in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly for the first time since the beginning of the current democratic experiment 35 years ago.