Oyo state Governor Seyi Makinde has called on religious leaders and those he described as seeking opportunity to divide the state on religious grounds to have the fear of God in their conduct.
This is as the governor reiterates that any of such plans will not work as he reiterates his commitment to building a united and peaceful state.
The Governor spoke while receiving religious leaders and members of the Muslim community serving in his cabinet at his Ikolaba, Ibadan residence shortly after observing the Eid-el-Kabir prayers.
The team which was led by the Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan had the Southwest Chairman of PDP, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, the State Head of Service, Mrs Amidat Agboola, Deputy Chief of Staff, Mojeed Mogbanjubola, Special Adviser on SDG, Mr Kunle Yussuf, Special Adviser on Tourism, Mr Ademola Ige, Permanent Secretaries among other political office holders in attendance.
Makinde said “In Oyo state, those who think they can use religiosity and religious sentiments to disturbed the peace of the state should go look for something else to do because it is not possible.
“I came from a Muslim background and about 60 percent of the Makinde’s are Muslims, let them go and find out to confirm from my family house.
“I urge them to desist from using religious sentiments to distabilize Oyo State.
“If they want political power, it is only God that can put them in position not any human, let them design their own programme, let them look at what we are doing and let them make it known to the people of Oyo State because it is only God that has all power and He gives to anyone he wills.
“They should tell the people what they can do better and how they plan to achieve it. This is what should be done rather than going around with rumours coated with religious misinformation to cause trouble.”
Apparently resting to claims by some groups that the state had taken over the Muslim prayer ground in Bodija as well as allegation of hatred for muslims by some religious leaders, the governor explained that all the allegations are not only baseless but are out of sentiment.
“They said the playground in front of Bodija Housing Corporation, everyone knows that when you pass through that place, you will see people who play on the recreation ground there.
“And if the community has been using that place as Eid ground for prayers in the past, even after we upgrade it, they can still use it for prayers. The fact that we upgrade it doesn’t mean that all the programmes that they use the field for can not be served again.
“They said I delayed the approval of those who want to become judges that are muslims. Well, what I will tell them is to fear God. Whatever you wish your neighbours will soon get to you too.
“We are very conscious of what would be said of our administration. So we do all things with the fear of God because we know that we will give account of all our deeds. Government will come and go but Oyo State will remain. And if you want to drink from a well, you should not pollute the well. We know they are seeking political powers but they don’t have to get it through the back door.
“This festival should be celebrated with sober reflection. We will appeal to them because our state will remain, and whatever we do is where those coming after us will continue, so they should be calm and give us the opportunity to do what we have planned to do for our state”, he added.
The governor also seized the opportunity of the visit to appeal to party leaders and members who are aggrieved and have splited, urging them to remember where the party is coming from up until it was able to reclaim power in the state.
He said “Also in the spirit of the season, we are pleading with members of our party who are angry. They should be calm because we know how we got to government. We know that Oyo State since 2003 has been a PDP state until 2011 when there was strife within the party.
“So rather than castigating us, point out our mistakes to us and we would make amendments because no one is infallible.
“Some people say Makinde is running a one man government and claiming that they supported us in 2019. I challenge the Baba to bring out any statement made to support us. They never supported us but what God will do, he will do and he will not come and ask him and he cannot play god till date.
“If you are an elderly person who cannot resolve the issues on ground, you don’t have to complicate it.”
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