Renowned Islamic musician and Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Artiste Matters, Alhaji Ibraheem Abdulhameed Labaeka, has resigned and gave reasons why he could no longer continue to work with Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
In a letter dated September 12, 2024, Labaeka explained that since his appointment as Special Assistant on Artiste Affairs on January 6, 2023, he had not been given any opportunity to contribute or showcase his talents.
Labaeka further emphasized that, as an Islamic cleric, it goes against his beliefs to receive a salary without fulfilling any responsibilities.
“Your Excellency, as you may recall, I was offered an appointment to serve as your Special Assistant Artist on 6th January, 2023. I accepted the offer because I saw it as a call to service and an opportunity to showcase my talents. Regrettably, I have not been able to achieve any of these things,” Labaeka stated. He added, “Aside from the fact that I don’t have a specific schedule of duty, circumstances have not availed me the opportunity to perform my responsibilities maximally,” he said.
“Since my appointment is based on public trust, I cannot continue to break that trust by taking a salary for doing nothing. I haven’t been at peace with myself, so I want my salary to be stopped immediately,” he added.
While expressing gratitude for the confidence placed in him, Labaeka said he hopes to one day fully utilize his talents for the development of the state, concluded that his resignation raises concerns about the need for political appointees to have clearly defined roles and active participation in governance.