The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde on Thursday, said his administration would inaugurate the state inter-faith committee to solidify the relationship between adherents of Islamic and Christian faiths next month.
Governor expressed this while paying traditional Sallah visits to Islamic and political leaders in Ibadan, the state capital. The governor cautioned those trying to use religion to divide the people to desist from the act.
According to Engr Makinde, “in Oyo State, all of us have Christians and Muslims in our families,” adding that religion should not be used for divisive tendencies.
The leaders visited by the governor included the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola Akinola; a former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja; the Seriki Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo and former President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Bayo Oyero.
The governor, who thanked the Almighty for seeing Muslims and residents of Oyo State in general through the festive celebration, said his visit to the respected leaders was to felicitate with them on the occasion of this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
He said: “Let me also use this opportunity, once again, to inform those trying to use religion to divide us in this state that it is not possible because all of us have Christians and Muslims in our families.
“And I am happy that Aare Musulumi, during his remarks, reminded us of the Inter-faith Council we are planning to inaugurate, which will solidify the relationship between those practising both religions.
“So, we will inaugurate the council within the first or second week in August.
“When we make an appointment, we look at competence and where people are coming from. In the PDP of today, the Chairman and Secretary of the party are Muslims. And today, the Head of Service and Chairman of Civil Service Commission are both Muslims too. So, those who don’t know where we are coming from cannot know where we are going.
“I am very sure that the people of Oyo State will never listen to them because the people know what they want but there is no need to keep overheating the polity. We have so many things we want to do and they should allow us to focus on those things.”
