The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state has extended its felicitation to Muslim Faithful across the state on the auspicious occasion of 2023 Eid-el Fitr celebration.
The party commended the Islamic community in the state for what it described as fighting against all odds to protect the sanctity of the unity in the nation’s multi-religious structure in Oyo state.
The Oyo state chairman of PDP, Honourable Dayo Ogungbenro, in a press statement on Friday morning, (today), which was made available to journalists in Ibadan by the Publicity Secretary of the party, Akeem Olatunji, urged Muslims not to jettison the significance of the holy month of Ramadan as a mere annual religious exercise but to imbibe and exhibit them daily.
The ruling party noted that if humans, regardless of their religious affiliations, would put humanity, which has its roots in love and compassion and deeply entrenched in the tenets of Islam according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W), the world would be a better place for it.
Impressed by the performance of the party in the 2023 general elections, the ruling party particularly expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for providing the needed political leadership which made it extremely impossible for divisive elements in the state to create disaffection and religious disharmony using religion as a tool prior to the elections.
The ruling party disclosed that much was negatively speculated from different quarters prior to the 2023 elections but for the confidence reposed in the Makinde led government, many unsuspecting members of the public would have been swayed to believe the false religious propaganda.
While specially thanking Governor Seyi Makinde and his Deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal for exemplifying an example of what a typical harmonious interreligious relationship should be, the ruling party maintained that such example has yielded far reaching positive effects among political followers especially in PDP in Oyo state.
“We heartily rejoice with our Muslim Ummah across the state for the peaceful and successful completion of the year 2023 Ramadan fast which has exposed our eyes to the fact that with religious tolerance and harmony, we can create an egalitarian society devoid of fear, discrimination, segregation or denial on account of religious difference.
“We can not overemphasize the beauty of our religious diversity not only as a people but as a state with a collective destiny. It is therefore, imperative to all Muslim Ummah across the state to dutifully put to practice the teachings of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W), especially during the just concluded holy month of Ramadan.
“While looking ahead of the next democratic dispensation under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde, with renewed vigor and hope, we appeal to every resident in the state to eschew all forms of divisive vices and tendencies capable of truncating our fragile democracy.
“We also want to particularly appeal to our religious leaders and Clerics to only deliver sermons that promote peace, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians such that religious ideologies exhibited by their followers will depeen the spirit of compassion for one another among residents of the state.” Ogungbenro said.
