PHOTOS: Oyo Deputy Gov leads top functionaries to prayer ground in Ibadan, preaches peace, unity

The Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, on Thursday, was joined by top government functionaries including the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta state, Alhaji Akinola De-damak at the Eid Praying Ground, Agodi, Ibadan.

He was equally joined by former Deputy Governor of the state and National Deputy Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarunmi; Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Muhammed Fadeyi and other Muslims faithful.

Addressing journalists after the two raka’t prayer, the Deput Governor congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the thirty days Ramadan fast, appreciating them for their support and for the peace, unity and harmony being enjoyed in the state.

He equally urged them to keep up with good deeds and should keep remembering the lesson of Ramadan, praying Allah accept the fast as an act of Iba’dah.

He said: “Today, is a day of celebration. I congratulate the Muslim ummah on the successful completion of the thirty days of Ramadan.

“We must stick to the lessons of ramadan and keep up with good deeds.

“In Oyo state, There is peace and unity. And I pray that the state will continue to progress under the leadership of His Excellency, Seyi Makinde.”

The Deputy Governor, who later led the Muslim Government Representatives and other Muslim functionaries on a courtesy visit to Governor Seyi Makinde Ikolaba residence, shortly after the Eid Prayer, appreciated Governor Makinde for his uncommon leadership, saying his ascension to the office of Governor was ordained by God.

He equally thanked the governor for engendering religious harmony in the state and called for a special prayer which was offered by Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim Wing, Sheik Hashim Atere, for the governor and the entire people of the state.

Excited by the courtesy visit, the Governor, Seyi Makinde, charged the people of the state to imbibe discipline as one of the lessons learnt in the month of Ramadan.

He noted that the new Oyo state has been renowned for peace, unity and harmony, admonishing individuals bent on dividing the state with religion to take their trade elsewhere.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to greet our Muslim brothers and sisters and to wish all of us a happy Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

“One of the lessons of Ramadan is discipline, because for these last 30 days, we disciplined our bodies. Though the body was seeking for nutrients and food, we said no for the duration of the fasting. So, it is a lesson we have to imbibe in our daily life.

“We should also use this experience to settle our differences with people around us. We are all together and united now, as it is a new Oyo State where everybody is coming on board.

“Those whose stock in trade is to keep looking for what to divide us should look for something else to do. They should rather focus on things that will unite us.”

Governor Makinde, who declared that there is no cause for alarm over the selection of the next Olubadan, warned individuals peddling divisive tendencies over the matter to desist from such acts.

The governor maintained that the due process on the matter includes the nomination of the next Olubadan by the Olubadan-in-Council and the forwarding of the same to his office, which is yet to be done.

Also speaking on the forthcoming local government election in the state, slated for April 27th, 2024, Governor Makinde charged the electorate to go out en masse and vote for their leaders at the grassroots level.

Governor Makinde maintained that the April 27 election would make it the second time his government is conducting the local government elections in less than five years, whereas the previous administration in the state did not conduct local government elections for seven years out of its eight-year tenure.

He said: “For the forthcoming local government election, our people should come out and vote. It is less than three weeks away.

“And for those trying to look for negative narratives, they did not conduct local government election for seven years out of the eight years their party spent in office. But we have done one and we are doing another one.

“We are not allowing any gap. It was planned and we funded it, because we want to show that that level of governance is as serious as other levels.”