“I Cannot Continue to Take Salaries for Doing Nothing” — Cleric Resigns as Governor’s Special Assistant

Islamic singer and cleric, Ibraheem Abdulhameed, popularly known by his stage name Labaeka, has stepped down from his position as Special Assistant to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The resignation, effective immediately, was confirmed in a letter dated September 12, 2023.

In his resignation letter, Abdulhameed expressed dissatisfaction with the role, citing the absence of a clear job description or the opportunity to fulfill his responsibilities. “I cannot continue to break that trust by taking a salary for doing nothing,” he wrote, highlighting his ethical concerns about receiving payment without contributing meaningfully.

Abdulhameed was appointed to the role of Special Assistant, Artiste, in January 2023, and served in the position for nearly 20 months. Reflecting on his time in office, he lamented the inability to effectively showcase his talents or make a tangible impact, which had been his motivation for accepting the role.

“Regrettably, I have not been able to achieve any of these things. 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,” his letter reads.

As an Islamic cleric, Abdulhameed emphasized that his decision was rooted in his religious values, which do not allow him to accept compensation for unproductive work. “It is against my beliefs, and I haven’t been at peace with myself. So, I want my salary to be stopped immediately,” he stated.

Despite his frustration, Abdulhameed expressed gratitude for the opportunity and reiterated his commitment to using his talents for the betterment of Kwara State in the future.