A business mogul and politician who is aspiring to represent Oyo South Senatorial district in the National Assembly in 2023 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Olusola Ayandele (Eruobodo), has urged Muslims in the country to use the opportunity of this year’s Ramadan fast to renew their commitment in the area of piety as well as service of Allah and humanity.
Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar (Hijrah) and it is a time Muslims from all over the world observe fasting for 29 or 30 days as prescribed in the Holy Qur’an.
The commencement of this year’s Ramadan followed the sighting of the new crescent in Saudi Arabia as announced on Friday at about 4.30pm (Nigerian time).
Dr. Ayandele, in a special message contained in a statement issued at the weekend and made available by his Personal Assistant (Media), Mr. Sola Adeleke, said that “witnessing another Ramadan is a golden opportunity for all and sundry since the sacred month affords all Islamic faithful a chance of spiritual rebirth as it also ushers in fresh blessing for all mankind.
“It would not be out of place to congratulate Muslim faithful and their brethren in other faith as we all witness another blessed month of Ramadan during which greater amount of blessings and benevolence of God almighty descend upon mankind from the heaven. As brothers and sisters, we owe ourselves the duty of using occasions like this to underscore the need to coexist with love, peace and unity particularly as it happens that Christians are also in their Lenten season.
“We therefore use this opportunity to congratulate all faith adherents in Oyo state and most especially the constituents of Oyo South Senatorial district who spread across Ibadan North, Ibadan South West, Ibadan North East, Ibadan North West, Ibadan South East, Ido, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa Central and Ibarapa North local government areas of Oyo state wishing hitch-free and spiritually rewarding fasting exercises.
“In the spirit of the seasons and in view of the prevailing unfriendly economic situation across the world, The Olusola Ayandele Foundation will soon begin the distribution of food items, daily needs and cash sums among the people of various communities within and outside Oyo South Senatorial district. We will soon make public the details of this in furtherance of intervention programmes of the Foundation established by the Ibarapa-born philanthropist to cater for the needy in the society.
“We also use this occasion to appeal for calm and steadfastness among members of the APC across the state even as we call for more commitment and dedication from all party stakeholders in view of our collective desire to have a good outing in the next year general election. It is time we all bury the hatchet and focus on how to ensure that only the tested and trusted aspirants are thrown up as APC candidates for elective posts in the interest of our Party and the society as a whole.” The statement concluded.
