The National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) has expressed deep concern over the recent donation of seven hybrid buses by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN).
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Alhaji Sani Suleiman Maigoro, NACOMYO’s National President, and Alhaji Mas’ud Akintola, its National Secretary-General, the group said that while it acknowledges and respects the First Lady’s prerogative to support youth initiatives across religious divides, the gesture reflects “growing insensitivity and bias against Muslim youths,” and deviates from “the principles of fairness, inclusivity, and national balance expected from the highest office in the land.”
NACOMYO noted that the donation, coming from the Office of the First Lady — a public institution sustained by national resources — raises constitutional, ethical, and moral questions about the selective nature of government-backed largesse in a multi-religious and plural society such as Nigeria.
“The perception of favoritism toward a particular religious youth group, especially at a time when Nigeria is in dire need of unity and equitable leadership, undermines public confidence in the federal government’s impartiality and fuels feelings of marginalization among Muslim youths who have been critical partners in national development,” the statement said.
According to NACOMYO, leadership from an Islamic perspective must be built on justice, fairness, and equity to all citizens regardless of their faith or background.
“Selective generosity contradicts the ethical principles of governance, which obligate leaders to act with trust and benevolence toward all citizens equally,” the group stated.
The organisation said it was “particularly disturbed” by the impression that Muslim youths, who are equal citizens and active supporters of the current administration, are being sidelined in access to opportunities, recognition, and empowerment.
“This brazen marginalization feeds into a dangerous narrative of exclusion, threatening social cohesion and reinforcing suspicion between faith communities,” NACOMYO warned.
The group further stated that the Office of the First Lady, though informal, should serve as a unifying symbol of hope and inclusion, not a platform for sectarian patronage.
“By singling out one religious group for such a high-profile donation, the First Lady is inadvertently deepening religious fault lines at a time when Nigeria desperately needs healing and trust-building,” the statement added.
NACOMYO called on the First Lady to extend similar gestures of support to the Muslim youth constituency in the spirit of fairness, justice, and inclusivity.
“Such action would not only demonstrate leadership sensitivity but also strengthen interfaith harmony and public confidence in her office,” it said.
The organisation also urged President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to ensure that the principles of equity and inclusiveness are upheld across all arms and offices of government.
It reminded the Tinubu administration that it was elected on the promise of national unity and shared prosperity — values that must be reflected in all official actions, including those of the First Family.
NACOMYO reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful coexistence, national development, and moral leadership in line with Islamic teachings.
“However, we will continue to speak truth to power where fairness is compromised and where the dignity of Nigerian Muslims is undermined,” the group concluded.
