The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to sustain religious harmony and peaceful coexistence in the state.
He stated this while denying insinuations that his administration has been unfair to the Muslim community in some regions of the state, particularly, the Ogbomoso zone.
Makinde, who made the clarification, on Tuesday, while delivering a keynote address at the 8th Annual Omi Tuntun Ramadan Lecture, held at the Government House Arcade, Agodi, Ibadan, asserted that nobody can divide Oyo State people along religious lines.
The governor maintained that the people of Oyo State have grown and evolved through a family system that easily blends Muslims with Christians in harmonious coexistence, pledging to continually uphold a religiously unbiased Oyo State and a conducive atmosphere that would ensure that the masses and politicians co-habit peacefully.
He recalled that the day the first edition of the Ramadan lecture was held, the state, under the leadership of ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja, also turned the sod on the Circular Road.
He lamented that nine years after, the 110km road remained uncompleted, promising that the road would be ready for commissioning soon.
Makinde stated: “There are two things I must address so that it won’t look as if we are shying away from those issues. One of them is the issue of appointments. Some critics said we sidelined Muslims in Ogbomoso. But I want to say that as things stand in Oyo State of today, I am sure that there is nothing that can divide us as far as religion is concerned. If some people think they can achieve division, it is not possible.”
“Concerning the Ogbomoso appointment, I tried to go down memory lane and all the senators we have in the 9th Assembly are Muslims – Kola Balogun from Oyo South; Teslim Folarin from Oyo Central and Fatai Buhari from Oyo North, which I see as the will of God and that of the people,” he affirmed.
The governor explained that the same thing had transpired in the 8th Senate where senators were not appointed because they were Muslims but because it was the will of God and the wish of the people of the state, urging leaders and clerics to always ask for correct data when critics come to them with erroneous data.
The guest lecturers, Alfa Uthmah Sannu Sheu and the Chairman of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim wing), Professor Sayeed Malik, in their lectures, unanimously charged the governor not to dash the people’s hope, but ensure he fulfills promises made to the people at all times.
The clerics commended Governor Makinde for embarking on the projects that would bring development to all the nooks and crannies of the state.
Also, in their goodwill messages, the father of the day, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta states, Alhaji Daud Makanjuola, and the Chairman of the event, former Governor Rasheed Ladoja, amongst others, acknowledged that Governor Makinde’s disposition to matters of religion remained commendable.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mohood Lekan Balogun, and the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik Abdulganiy Agbotomokekere, muslim clerics, government functionaries as well as other dignitaries, graced the event.
Lateefah Ibrahim
