Ajimobi charges religious groups on sustenance of peace

AKINOLA COMMENDS OYO GOV ON HIJRAH HOLIDAY

          Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi Ajimobi

RELIGIOUS groups in Oyo State have been urged to sustain the peaceful coexistence and tolerance for one another currently existing among them.

The state governor, Senator Is-haq Abiola Ajimobi, made the appeal at the 1440 Hijrah grand rally organised by the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), Oyo State chapter.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Community Relations, Alhaji Mursiq Siyanbade, at the ceremony held on Tuesday at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan,in commemoration of a new Islamic year, the governor said his administration would continue to be fair to all religions and give each its rights.

He commended the Muslim community in the state for being law-abiding and civil in the demand for its rights.

In his address, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, commended Governor Ajimobi for adding glamour to the celebration of Hijirah by declaring Muharram 1 a public holiday.

Alhaji Akinola also applauded NACOMYO in Oyo State on its choice of the theme for the event, “Equity, Justice and Fairness: Essentials of Stable Polity, Muslim on Call,” describing it as apposite as the nations gears up for the 2019 general election.

“Administration of justice, equity and fairness are constantly mentioned in the Holy Qur’an because Allah (SWT) regards the trio as essential for healthy living among his creations.

“From the foregoing, one may conclude that justice is an obligation in Islam and injustice is forbidden. In fact, justice can be regarded as the goal of all revelations and scriptures sent to mankind. Therefore, Islam’s approach to justice is comprehensive and all-embracing. With this at the back of our minds, I want to appeal to all politicians to eschew politics of bitterness with a view to allowing for justice, equity and fairness during the forthcoming general election.

“It is on this note that I call on peace and justice-loving people to recognise the fact that there can be no justice and fairness where a large population of Muslims of South West is not recognised in the scheme of things and I know most politicians always defend their interest before public interest but we should always remember that certainly, we are going to render accounts of our stewardship here on earth on the Day of Judgment,” the Muslim leader said.

He appealed to Nigerians to eschew hatred and frivolities and do away with the condemnation of those in positions of authority.

Akinola commended the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdul Ganiy Abubakri Agbotomokekere, for providing quality spiritual leadership for the ummah in the city, saying all hands should be on deck to get things right in Hijrah 1440.

The coordinator of NACOMYO in the state, Alhaj Dawood Afolabi, described the Hijrah awareness rally as a moment for sober reflection on “our activities” and the sacrifices made by the early Muslims.

He implored Muslims to assert their numerical superiority over all other groups in the 2019 general election, saying “we must make statements that we hold the ace.”

Apart from competence, knowledge and integrity, he said “our choices should be informed by what candidates have for Islam,” using the forthcoming governorship election as a launch pad.

“The Hijab campaign, teaching of Islamic studies in schools, continued ownership of schools by government, declaration of 1st Muharram as work-free day, appointment of Muslims into prominent public offices and general welfare of the citizenry should guide our decisions, he added.

Afolabi commended the Saudi Arabian authorities for improving their services to the pilgrims that participated in Hajj this year and gave kudos to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards and private Hajj operators for the successes recorded this year.

He, however, called for urgent actions to address the challenges of biometric data capture which, he said, denied many Muslims the opportunity to perform Hajj this year.

“The carefree attitude of some Hajj operators and last-minute rush to beat deadlines should be avoided. We congratulate the new Hujjajs and ask them to refrain from what is forbidden by Allah,” Alhaji Afolabi said.

At the event, awards were presented to the family of Alhaji Jamiu Adedigba; Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Secretary General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Professor Is-haq Oloyede and “the heroine of the Hijab struggle at the Nigerian Law School, Barrister Firdaos Amasa Abdus-Salam, for their contributions to the advancement of the cause of Islam.

Dignitaries who graced the event included the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdul Ganiy Abubakri Agbotomokekere, who was represented by the Alfa Agba of Ibadan land, Alhaji Abdul Fatai Alaga; imams from across the state; the Bagi of Saki, High Chief Abdur-Rasheed Adegoke; the Iba of Kisi, Oba Moshood Aweda Lawal and the Asiwaju Adinni of Ibadan, Alhaji Mutiullah Abdul Azeez Oladejo (Onimalu), who was represented by Alhaji Abdul Akeem Lawal.

Others were the chairman of the Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Is-haq Kunle Sanni; Sheikh Ismail Busaeri; the Iya Adinni of Yorubaland, Alhaja Sekinat Adekola; the Amirah the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Oyo State, Alhaja Simiat Ogundiran; a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Alhaji Sulaiman ‘Diti Oladapo and the chairman of Ibadan Muslim community, Chief Bayo Oyero, as well as school children