Religion

Make State’s Interest Foremost, Ayedatiwa Admonishes Politicians

By Web News 253

By Isaac Afolabi

Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa has called for religious tolerance with an appeal to political gladiators to put the state ahead of their interest.

The governor made the appeal during the breaking of the fast, iftar with the Muslim community at the Dome in Akure.

Ayedatiwa said his administration would solve all religious crises Inherited from past administrations, especially in Ikare and would do all it could to improve the welfare of the people of the state irrespective of religious affiliation.

In an Iftar lecture, the Imam Khalid Fawehinmi mosque government house Alhaji Yusuf Anola also advocated peaceful coexistence in the state and asked politicians ahead of the party primaries not to heat up the polity.

In a goodwill message, the Chairman, the League of Imams and Alfas Ondo State, Alhaji Ahmad Aladesawe commended the governor and declared support of the Muslim community for the governor.

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Politics

Tell us where you think we are wrong, we’ll adjust – Makinde

By Web News 712

Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has declared that his administration will continue to sustain the religious, and ethnic harmony being enjoyed in the nooks and crannies of the state.

The governor, who stated this while hosting Muslim faithful to Iftar at the Presidential Lodge of Oyo State Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, said the state would not allow anyone to create religious disharmony between Muslims and Christians in the state.

He called for citizens’ participation in government business adding that if anyone observes mistakes of government, he or she should call his attention to such mistake and would be promptly looked into and corrected.

Governor Makinde also pledged to address contending issues raised by the Muslim community about the management of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), adding that he is satisfied with the work of both the commissioner and permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education.

“In Oyo State, the spirit between Christians and Muslims shows that no one can succeed in creating religious disharmony in our midst. I will say once again that despite being the governor, I am not the richest, wealthiest or all-knowing. It was only the will of God that came to pass, which brought me here.”

“So, what this means is if you observe the government is making a mistake, point it out genuinely to us and we will look at it together. There are some people who are hell-bent on spreading fake news to cause disaffection in the public. I can assure everyone that we will not shy away from correcting any mistake we are making. If whatever decision we take is wrong, we will correct it. So, I beg you to always call our attention to whatever mistake you think we are making.”

“I have also noted what you said you observed about TESCOM. Most times, I try to balance things out but in certain instances, I try to look at what some people have to offer our government. The Commissioner for Education and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry are both Muslims. They are doing what is expected of them and I am happy with them.”

“I was reviewing some of the things we have done and I have seen instances where a Muslim was pushing for balancing in a particular area. So, since the issue of TESCOM is a concern to the Muslim community, we will address it. There is religious and ethnic harmony in Oyo State despite the confusion some elements are trying to create for us.”

“When the clash at Sasa happened, it would have snowballed into a serious crisis that would have even consumed Nigeria if God had not taken control. So, I want us to be circumspect. If anything bad wants to happen to Nigeria, it will begin from South West, particularly Ibadan.”

“Let me remind us that “Operation Wetie” started here and gradually snowballed into civil war and we are still battling the challenge till today because it was the civil war that led to the over-centralisation of power at the federal level.”

“Also, the restructuring we have been clamouring for can be traced back to all these past events. So, when some people think they can create confusion and cause disharmony so that they can take over power by force, sometimes, generation yet unborn can later suffer from the outcome of such act.”

Earlier, in their separate goodwill messages, representatives of the Imam and Alfas, from Ibarapa, Okeogun, Ogbomoso, Oyo and Ibadan, commended Governor Makinde for being fair and just to all religions.

Iyabo Adebisi

Politics

Oyetola Charges Journalists on Professionalism

By Web News 509

Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola has appealed to journalists in the state to be guided by need for peace, tranquility and progress of the state.
Addressing Head of media organizations in the state during  breaking of fast (Iftar) at the government house in Osogbo, the Governor commended them for the support for his administration so far.
Mr Oyetola also lauded the media professionals for being consciencious in their news reportage and programmes, saying if they have heat up the polity, the peace being enjoyed would have been impossible.
He noted that  with incoming electioneering, the state was entering a very sensitive period where the media would be required to be more professional.
The Governor charged journalists not to hesitate to draw the attention of the government to areas where more efforts were required.
The event was attended by all heads of media organizations domiciled in Osun State, including the General Manager of Gold FM, Mr Adedamola Tinubu.

Adenitan Akinola

Religion

It is Islamic to obey constituted authority – Chief Imam of Akure

By Web News 1775

As Muslims begin this year’s Ramadan, the Chief Imam of Akure, Alhaji Abdulakeem Yayi-Akorede has insisted that there would not be convergence of the faithful for any religious activity in line with the directive to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Alhaji Yayi-Akorede while speaking to Radio Nigeria in Akure explained that it was Islamic to respect constituted authority and desist from whatever that could cause harm to the society.

The cleric urged all Muslim faithful to observe their Ramadan at home with their families at this period that coronavirus was wreaking havoc across the globe.

Alhaji Yayi-Akorede also advised Muslims to give zakat during Ramadan and pray fervently for the well-being of the nation and its leader.

Adebukola Bardi

Religion

Bodija Muslim Community Donates Relief Packages to 500 Indigents

By Web News 1857

Not less than 500 less-privileged are to benefit from food items tagged “COVID19/ Ramadan Relief Package” sponsored by Bodija Estate and Environs Muslim Community.  

The food items include rice, beans, Semovita, garri, groundnut oil, and sugar.

Chairman of the community, Alhaji Abidemi Siyanbade at the commencement of the distribution of the package at the Islamic Centre, Bodija Housing area, Ibadan said the gesture was to cushion the effects of the current economic situation on the people as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

He explained that the project which gulped about five Million naira was through the support of members as well as others and used the opportunity to call for more donation so as to cater for another set as “there are over one thousand people on the list”.

“So, we want to assist some members of our community and the less privileges, we have various relief materials here including face masks which are washable”.

Alhaji Siyanbade said the community used to organise daily breaking of fast annually but because of the current situation, they decided to assist the needy with the packages.

“People, should spend in the way of Allah. What we do here for 30 or 29 days during Ramadan is provision of breaking of fast for people. We also have Itikaf, but due to Coronavirus ravaging the world, we know that it is from Almighty Allah, the prophet told us that when there is an epidemic, people in a place should stay where they are.”

He said in line with the social distancing order, messages had been sent to beneficiaries on when to come to get their packages stressing that at no time would they be more than ten people for each batch.

“The plan is for 500 people, we have sent messages to them. People will come here and pick and go. We have suspended the weekly Jummat prayer here and we have suspended the five daily compulsory prayers here.”

“The package has cost us close to 5 million naira. We don’t want the less-privileged to know the impact of this Coronavirus. We have the list of those whom are beneficiaries already”.

Some of the beneficiaries appreciated the community and said the support had brought succour to their families.

Radio Nigeria correspondent reports that precautionary measures were put in place to prevent spread of COVID-19 at the mosque as soap and running water as well as hand sanitizers were provided at the gate while social distancing was also maintained.

Ridwan Fasasi

Religion

Ramadan: Makinde Felicitates with Oyo Muslims

By Web News 650

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has felicitated with Muslims in the state for witnessing the commencement of the Ramadan fast.

A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, he urges Islamic faithful to pray relentlessly during the fasting period and specifically ask the Almighty Allah to show mercy on the people.

Governor Makinde said Muslims must embrace the piety demanded of them during the Ramadan and ask Allah to put an end to Covid-19, which is ravaging the whole world. 

He also enjoined Muslims in the state to use the month-long fasting period to pray for the peace of the state and the country at large.

The statement reminds Muslim across the state not to gather for Tafsir, Iftar and Tarawih prayers during the Ramadan, due to the restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He enjoined Muslim to use the opportunity of this month of blessings to seek Allah’s forgiveness to make the pandemic a thing of the past.

He also admonished Muslims to tune their minds to the messages of love, brotherliness and peaceful co-existence inherent in the messages of the Holy Prophet, while also being their brothers’ keepers.

Iyabo Adebisi