Oyo deputy gov attends Ramadan lecture, says Makinde will continue to be fair to all religious faith  

The deputy governor of Oyo state, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, has stated that Makinde’s administration will continue to take all necessary steps to promote harmony among the state’s various religions.

He also noted that the peace currently being experienced in the state will continue as the people of Oyo state were so determined to re-elect Governor Makinde for a second term.

The deputy governor made this statement on Sunday at the BCOS office in Ibadan during its Annual Ramadan Lecture.

Lawal, who used the occasion to thank the Muslim community for supporting the re-election of Governor Makinde in the March 18th governorship election, said that the current administration has always been on how to make the state governable for everyone with developmental strides, adding that more democratic dividends would also be done especially now that the governor has been re-elected. 

He commended Prof. Engnr Sabitu Ariyo Olagoke for his lovely Ramadan speech, noting that his exhortation to be liberal, to care so much about people, to be just and fair in society, among others would enable everyone to live happily.

Lawal backed up some of the points made by the lecturer, particularly the one about saving for the future by recalling how Okonjo Iweala saved some money for sovereign wealth to address problems that were later brought before the Supreme Court, emphasizing the significance of saving and urged people to go back to era of trying to save a little.

He reiterated that Governor Makinde has always been fair to everyone to the extent of organizing Ramadan lectures, building mosques, and also being fair to all religious faith, saying that there is no other recompense for good deeds than good deeds. 

“So, I can tell you on behalf of the governor that you would reap greater benefits from democracy than you have in the past.

“I thank you for your support of our administration in the Omitutun 1.0 and also appeal to you to keep supporting our administration for more developmental stride. 

“Once again, I say congratulations and I pray for many more Ramadans on earth.”

The lecturer, Professor Olagoke, who had earlier underlined the need for Bayo Lawal to be able to speak for Muslim interests, to act as an umpire, and to be a leader who does not discriminate, emphasized that effectiveness and impartiality should be everyone’s top priorities when choosing leaders, and that religion shouldn’t have been a factor in Nigerian elections. 

He asserted that in order to favorably impact society, one need to be a trustworthy leader before ever considering leading the state and stating that child custody is of utmost importance.

The lecturer who also quoted a passage from the holy Quran, described democracy as being about justice and equity as well as consensus of opinion, adding that one would be able to govern well by upholding the norms. 

Thus, he urged people to pay greater attention to children’s education and culture so that they can positively impact their immediate environment as they are the leaders of tomorrow. 

The speaker argued that education is a fundamental human right and that, given Nigeria’s over 14 million out-of-school children, only education can lower crime rates and stop wealthy people’s kids from being attacked.

While also urging everyone to emulate prophet Muhammad in both character and learning, he described the messenger of Allah as a trustworthy man and one to emulate.

Similarly, the deputy governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, also attended the Ramadan lecture held at Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, organized by the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN) Oyo state branch. 

At the event, he urged the lawyers to be up and doing and gave them his assurance that the Makinde-led administration would meet the needs of the Muslim community as the government would continue to be impartial toward all religions.

Even though some people claimed that he is not a Muslim and didn’t support him and Governor Makinde during the governorship election, Lawal noted that as a high ranking member of the government and a Muslim, whatever the Muslim community wants, and being their face in the government, his door is open. 

He stated that while there have been non-Muslim deputy governors in the past, there is now a Muslim lawyer requesting the Lawyer’s Muslim Association to take advantage of it and whatever help is required will be pursued vigorously.

Lawal added that the period of Ramadan is a period of spiritual cleansing that our sins would be forgiven, urging the Muslim community to also tap from the virtues of prophet Muhammad and also imbibe his virtue which would be good for the society. 

The former minister, Barrister Shittu, the senator-elect for Oyo South, Sharafadeen Ali, Lawyer Sanusi (SAN), the chairman of the Oyo MBA, and the president of the Customary Court were among those present at the event.