Makinde, Abiodun, Fayemi, Oyetola, others task Muslims on tolerance, co-existence

Oyo APC urges prayer for Nigeria at Eid-el-Kabir
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has urged Muslim faithful to be tolerant and imbibe religious harmony at all times, urging them to reflect on the essence of the Eid-el-Kabir, which he described as the “Festival of Sacrifice.”

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as admonishing Muslim faithful to lay aside all forms of religious, ethnic and tribal sentiments in the interest of unity, peace, progress and prosperity of the state and country.”

IN a related vein, Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Timothy Owoeye, have in their separate messages to Muslim faithful, yesterday, urged worshippers to take cognisance of the symbolic significance of the Eid-el-Kabir and imbibe the lessons of obedience and sacrifice as demonstrated by Prophet Ibrahim.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, the governor urged the faithful and Nigerians to use the celebration to pray to Allah to save the country from the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic, insecurity and other challenges facing the nation, just as he emphasised the need for unity, love, tolerance and peaceful co-existence among people in the state and Nigerians in general.

The Speaker, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Kunle Alabi, urged Muslim faithful to uphold their obedience to Allah in the spirit of forgiveness for one another.

OGUN State Governor Dapo Abiodun and his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, have urged Muslims to emulate the resilience, patience and steadfastness, as well as absolute faith in Allah, as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim.

Dapo, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said the festival should be used to further foster unity and spread love in the state, and Nigeria.

He added that the Eid-el-Kabir should serve as an opportunity to supplicate and seek the face of God for restoration and healing.

Fayemi, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, urged Muslim faithful and adherents of other faiths to always emulate level of obedience to higher authority in their daily activities.

He urged the Muslims Ummah to continue to uphold the lessons after the festival.

MEANWHILE, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo, yesterday, implored Muslims and Christians alike to continue to uphold obedience to God in the spirit of forgiveness and true love for one another.

In a Sallah message jointly signed by the bishop and Director of Inter-religious Dialogue of the Diocese, Rev. Fr. Joseph Ogundipe, Muslims were urged to reflect on the need for peaceful co-existence and be ready to combat religious fanaticism.

RELATEDLY, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has congratulated the Islamic faithful in the state, urging prayers to curb insecurity in the country.

Publicity Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of the party in the state, Dr. AbdulAzeez Olatunde, stated this, yesterday, in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said: “We are urging the Muslims to allow the lessons this Sallah brought to guide us now and in our daily lives after the Sallah festivities.”

In his own felicitation, a Lagos monarch, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, the Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom, has admonished Muslims to use the Eid-el-Kabir celebration to promote peace and co-existence between all Nigerians, regardless of their faith or ethnic background.