Ramadan: Governor of Oyo State donates bus, hajj slots

Governor Seyi Makinde has donated a bus at the 8th annual Omi tuntun Ramadan lecture, at the Government House Arcade, Agodi, Ibadan.

The governor donated a bus and promised hajj slots to the Muslim community on Tuesday, reassuring his commitment toward sustaining religious harmony and peaceful coexistence in the state.

While delivering a keynote address at the event, Makinde said, “One expects that even the 32km should have been completed, they did not even do 3km including the bridges before we came into office.

“But we thank God today that Kabiyesi is with us, not even as High Chief but as Olubadan of Ibadanland. Very soon, I am sure we will invite the Olubadan when the road is ready for commissioning.

“There are two things I must address so that it won’t look as if we are shying away from those issues.

“One of them is the issue of appointments. Some critics said we sidelined Muslims in Ogbomoso.

“But I want to say that as things stand in Oyo State of today, I am sure that there is nothing that can divide us as far as religion is concerned. If some people think they can achieve division, it is not possible.

“Concerning the Ogbomoso appointment, I tried to go down the memory lane and all the senators we have in the 9th Assembly are Muslims – Kola Balogun from Oyo South; Teslim Folarin from Oyo Central and Fatai Buhari from Oyo North, which I see as the will of God and that of the people.

“In the 8th Senate, the same thing transpired. They were not appointed because they were Muslims but because it was the will of God and the wish of the people of the state.

“So, I want to urge our leaders and clerics to always ask for correct data when some critics come to you with erroneous data.

“On the Hajj pilgrimage, we will send few people to go on the journey.”

The guest lecturers, Alfa Uthmah Sannu Sheu and chairman of pilgrims welfare board (Muslim wing) Professor Sayeed Malik urged the Governor to the people’s hope alive by continual fulfilment of his promises.

All the clerics present, commended Governor Makinde for introducing developmental projects throughout the state.