KEY POINTS
- Wike’s aide refutes claims of religious bias in FCDA suspension.
- Minister’s decision defended as administrative, not influenced by religion.
- Olayinka calls for unity and criticizes attempts to stir religious discord.
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication and New Media, Olalere Olayinka, has dismissed allegations of religious bias in the indefinite suspension of the former Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Hadi Ahmad.
However, the accusations were made by the Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ishaq Akintola, who criticized the suspension, suggesting it was conducted without due process.
However, in his response, Olayinka refuted the claim, emphasizing that the suspension was not influenced by religion.
According to Punch, he stressed that Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is committed to running the city’s affairs based on merit and administrative needs, not religious considerations.
“The suspended FCDA Executive Secretary was not appointed based on his religion. Any attempt to frame this issue as religious is harmful to the country’s religious harmony,” Olayinka said.
Aide rebuffs due process concerns
MURIC’s Ishaq Akintola alleged that the reasons behind Ahmad’s suspension were not made public, which he claimed violates principles of fairness and transparency.
Moreover, he questioned whether due process was followed and criticized the lack of a clear explanation for the decision.
Responding to these concerns, Olayinka argued that the Minister is not obligated to publicly declare the reasons for suspensions, as long as the affected individual is aware of the grounds for the decision.
“It is not obligatory for an appointing authority to disclose reasons for suspension publicly, just as it is not mandatory to justify appointments. The suspended official knows why the action was taken,” he stated.
Furthermore, Olayinka dismissed suggestions that the suspension hindered the FCDA’s operations, pointing out that the office, now headed by Acting Secretary Richard Yunana, continues to function efficiently.
Call for religious harmony amid controversy
Olayinka criticized Akintola for using religion to frame the suspension, urging him to focus on promoting peace rather than “fanning the embers of discord.”
He invoked Islamic teachings to highlight the importance of respecting authority, referencing a saying attributed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that emphasizes obedience to leaders, even in challenging circumstances.
“Akintola should counsel the suspended Executive Secretary to accept the decision with faith rather than sponsoring media attacks against the Minister,” Olayinka said.
The FCT Minister’s aide reiterated that the suspension was an administrative decision unrelated to religion and emphasized Wike’s commitment to fairness and efficiency in governance.
