ISLAMIC NEW YEAR: Place Utmost Premium On Unity, Gov. Oyetola Appeals Nigerian Muslims

Gov. Oyetola

Osun Muslim Community on Monday applauded the socioeconomic, political and religious prowess displayed by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in managing the affairs of Osun since assumption of office, describing him as a symbol of “hope and inspiration.”

They equally said they were proud to identify with him as he has remained a good asset to mankind.

The community spoke through its President, Alhaji Mustafa Adeleke Adewuyi, at the grand finale of the 1443 AH Hijrah celebrations organised by the Osun Muslim Community in collaboration with the State Government held at Community Secretariat, Ringroad, Osogbo.

He said: “Osun Muslim Community is very proud to identify with you as you remain a symbol of hope and inspiration to this body and Muslims at large.

“You have been a good asset to mankind and your good deeds are not hidden even to the blind. May Allah reward you all with the best of your wishes both here on earth and in the hereafter.”

In his lecture, the Vice Chancellor, Fountain University, Osogbo, Prof. Ahmeed Sanni, also commended Governor Oyetola for keeping faith with the promises made to the residents of the State.

He said the governor’s tremendous achievements in the last three and half years remained the pointer to the fact that Muslims are good in leadership positions.

He said: “We really appreciate what Governor has been doing to transform the State. He has been performing wonderfully well and he has not disappointed us. We appreciate his support for our university, Muslim community and the residents in general.”

While identifying unemployment, illiteracy, insecurity and poverty as bane of Nigeria’s socioeconomic progress, the university don advocated equity, fairness, justice and fear of God as panacea for the nation’s development.

“The issue of security is very key and important. We must ensure safety for all and be our brothers’ keepers. We must make efforts to protect our souls and the souls of others. Let us take the issue of security as a common property.

“The issue of security is not a thing that must be left for government, it is a duty of all. We must strive to strengthen the security. Though the primary assignment of government is to ensure the security of lives and property, but yet, we must support Government to achieve this.

“I urge the governments not to relent in their efforts to protect the people and provide employment opportunities for the citizens, particularly the youth.

“Our education curricular must be reviewed to cater for the need of the citizens in such a way that they will be self-employed and financially independent,” he added.

On his part, Governor Oyetola charged Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the unity, peace and security of the nation.

He said the country’s oneness must not be compromised for anything regardless of ethno-religious and political differences.

He therefore urged the citizens to embrace things that are capable of strengthening the existing unity in diversity.

Oyetola urged the citizens to always propagate good virtues, promote love, brotherliness, tolerance and peaceful coexistence and have no recourse to geographical, ethnic or religious boundaries in the interest of peace and development.

This is even as the Governor appealed to Nigerians, particularly Muslim Ummah, to take advantage of the Hijrah celebration to offer prayers for the peace, progress and sustainable development of Nigeria.

Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Prince Abdulah Binuyo, Oyetola bemoaned the pocket of challenges facing the country, saying with divine prayers, collective will and determination, Nigerians would overcome.

He said the time has come for the citizens to pursue goals capable of setting the country on the path of greatness and socioeconomic turnaround as envisioned by the nation’s founding fathers.

According to him, every citizen must strive hard to be ambassadors of harmony and peaceful coexistence, and reflect the virtues in their daily conducts and interactions with one another, as preached by the three most popular faiths in the state.

He said: ” We must place utmost premium on the unity and security of the country because without love, unity and security in the country, nothing much in terms of development can be achieved.

“Though the challenges we face as a country are huge, with divine prayers, collective will and determination, we shall overcome them and make our country great.”

While felicitating Muslims across the globe on the occasion of this year’s Hijrah celebration, Oyetola urged them to reflect on the significance and lessons of the season by drawing moral and psychological lessons from the Prophet’s journey from Mecca to Medina and demonstrate same in their conducts and daily affairs.

“We must also use this period to reflect on our deeds and activities during the past year, abandon our bad habits, and rededicate ourselves to the worship of Almighty Allah. This is one of the essence of Hijrah.

“I urge all Nigerians irrespective of their faith, to continue to live together harmoniously and peacefully with religious tolerance and understanding.

“I also enjoin us to take advantage of today’s celebration to offer prayers for the peace, progress and sustainable development of Nigeria, the governor added.

He appreciated the leadership of the Muslim community and the entire Muslims in the State for their unflinching support and prayers for his Administration just as he assured them of his government’s commitment to continue to implement programmes and projects targeted at improving the quality of lives of the people in the State.

Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Abdul-kareem Adesokan, advocated the need for Muslims to always take cognisance of the teachings and lessons of the period as their guiding principles on earth.

He commended Governor Oyetola for being a good symbol of Islam despite his status, saying the Muslim Ummah are proud of him.

In his remarks, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi, called on government to invest more in the security architecture.

Oba Olabomi who described security as the most critical sector, noted that the time has come for all to rise to the occasion and pursue things that would foster peace and unity.

“I salute and greet all of us on the occasion of this year’s Hijrah celebration. It is my prayer that Allah will spare and sustain our lives to witness more.

“There are several challenges in the world but as we all know, the most critical challenge is insecurity. Security is what everyone must invest in. I must commend the governments for what they have been doing to ensure safety just as I implore them to do more,” Aragbiji said.