The potency in the power of corporate prayers came on display at the Agodi Prayer Ground as Muslim faithful in Oyo State took the spiritual approach of seeking divine intervention to end insecurity, hunger, and high inflation affecting the citizens in the state.
The prayer was organized by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyy Agbotomokekere.
Addressing the gathering, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola Akinola said prayer was inevitable if the current fight against insecurity is to be won.
In an interview, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyy Agbotomokekere, said the prayer was organized in view of the growing rate of killings in the country.
The cleric also urged the congregation to intensify their prayers the more so as to end the security crises in the state as well as in the nation at large.
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Chief of Staff, to Oyo State Government, Mr Abdul-Mojeed Mogbonjubola, commended the religious leaders for organizing the prayers and pledged the resolve of the government to end insecurity in the state.
The event which attracted Islamic religious leaders in Ibarapa, Oke Ogun, Oyo, And Ogbomoso, also witnessed the presence of representatives of market men and women and political appointees in the state.
The Osun State Government has shut down Inisha Town Central Mosque in Odo-Otin Local Government Area over the crisis surrounding the installation of a new Chief Imam.
The state government noted it has banned all activities and any central congregation at the Mosque for Eid prayers.
According report from the community, a traditional chief, Eesa of Inisha, Chief Enoch Ajiboso, slumped and died on 20th December 2020 at the palace while settling a dispute between two parties who were contending for the position of Chief Imam of the community.
A statement by the Osun State Government, signed by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Adeyanju Binuyo, states that the decision was reached following the inability of the Muslim Community of the town to peacefully install a new Imam for the mosque.
The statement notes that the Mosque has recorded the death of two Imams in quick succession, adding that, as part of efforts to ensure the security of lives and properties in that axis of the state, the Governor directs that the Central Mosque be shut indefinitely to forestall religious or communal crisis.
Security operatives have been deployed to the town to enforce the closure and ban on Eid Prayers.
The directive will be in place until the reconciliation process towards amicable resolution is concluded.
Oyo State Security Joint Task Force codenamed “Operation Burst” has inaugurated a call center for optimal performance to combat insecurity in the state.
The numbers are 09040841573 and 09040841581.
Director-General of Operation Burst, Retired General Ajibola Oladipo stated that the centre was to make Residents of Oyo State heave a sigh of relief on the issue of security.
Retired Oladipo noted that, residents of Oyo state should be rest assured that the coming festive periods would be crime free.
Inaugurating the call centre, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who spoke through the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Olawale Mogbonjubola said his administration would do all it could to maintain a peaceful atmosphere in the state.
Governor Makinde therefore called on members of the public to fully support Operation Burst by giving out useful information to collectively fight against insecurity.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has urged butchers in the state to avail themselves of the soft loans for small business owners initiated by the state government.
Governor Makinde said this today at the swearing in of new state executive of the National Butchers Union of Nigeria held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.
Speaking through his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Olawale Mogbonjubola, Governor Makinde stated that the state government would always create enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
Earlier, the National President of the National Butchers Union of Nigeria, Chief Osamede Adun, said members of the union in the state have been able to repay thirty eight million naira from the fifty million naira given to them as loan by the past administration in the state.
Chief Adun equally commended the state government for mediating in the leadership tussle among members of the union which resulted into successful election of new executive members.
Highlights of the event were oath taking and presentation of certificates to the new executive members of Oyo State Chapter of the National Butchers Union of Nigeria.
The governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde has commissioned 2 blocks of 6 classrooms and teachers’ quarters at All Saints Primary School, Araromi-Aperin, Akanran, Ibadan.
The multi-million naira projects were donated by an alumnus of the school, Mr Olusola Alagbe Lutherking, and commissioned on Friday, November 13, 2020.
Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Olawale Mogbonjubola, Governor Makinde appreciated the donor for deeming it fit to remember his alma-mater by donating two (2) blocks of six (6) classrooms with toilet facilities and teachers’ Quarters.
Governor Makinde asserted that the kind gesture exhibited by him is very unique, highly commendable and a great challenge to other alumni of state-owned schools.
“This is a challenge to everyone here present, that there is nothing too little or big to do for our Alma mater. You will all agree with me that touching the lives of others is a great sacrifice that is pleasing and well acceptable before our creator”, he said.
Governor Makinde therefore implored all to join hands with the government to uplift Oyo State’s education sector to a more desirable and enviable height.
He said, “Basically, if we all contribute our little quota, the state will be a better place for us”.
He thanked Mr Lutherking for displaying such height of magnanimity, adding that the projects will go a long way to improve the moral and academic uprightness of pupils in the school.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran appreciated Governor Makinde’s citizen-oriented policies, noting that this has given ample chance for all and sundry to contribute their own quota to the development of Oyo State, in one way or the other.
“This is evident in the rate at which good-spirited individuals have been donating infrastructural facilities to schools in the state”, he said.
He promised the board’s commitment to keep providing necessary infrastructural facilities, instructional materials, training and re-training of teaching and non-teaching staff in the Basic education sector of the state.
Dr Adeniran added that, to ensure effective and efficient academic activities, the board complemented the kind gesture of the donor by supplying furniture items to the school for the use of teachers and pupils.
He then made a clarion call on private organizations, government functionaries and individuals to remember their alma-maters and do the needful to ensure they leave their footprints on the sands of time, as witnessed at the event.
The donor, Mr Alagbe Lutherking said he was inspired to give back to All Saints’ Primary school, Araromi-Aperin, because the school was the foundation of his success in life.
Mr Lutherking urged the school authorities to make a judicious use of the facilities and ensure that they are effectively utilized and well maintained to achieve the purpose they are meant to serve.
