Resist Tendencies That Divide State, Makinde Urges Muslims

Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde has urged the Muslim community in the state to continue to resist tendencies that could divide the state through religion or politics.

The governor stated this while receiving the Muslim community of Oyo State, led by its leader, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, on a courtesy visit at the executive chamber, office of the Governor, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan  donated a bus to the community,

He commended them for their immense support for his administration and the Muslim Ummah’s contributions to the state’s growth and development since he assumed office.

The governor said, “Since 2019, I can say without bias that some of the quality advice I have gotten in governance came from our Muslim leaders. So, I don’t discriminate.

“When some people came and said that the cabinet is lopsided, while I try to balance things, I also look for quality. If you look at the education sector, the Commissioner for Education is a Muslim. The SUBEB Chairman is a Muslim. Barrister Abdulraheem Abiodun, the chairman of the Education Trust Fund, is a Muslim. I have nothing to hide.”

He added, “They said the appointment of a commissioner for budget and economic planning is lopsided.

“It used to be finance and economic planning, but when we came in, we split it into two. Almost everything in finance is visible to someone who is doing budget and financial planning.

“Anything they want to bring to Exco, they will ask if it has been captured in the budget. If it is there, they will check how much has been spent and how much is remaining. He is the custodian and a Muslim. So, we have nothing to hide.

“I will keep saying that if people want to divide us along religious or political lines, we as leaders must resist that attempt and expose them.

“So, I want to say that it is our state; some have come and gone, and I will go too. Whatever we do for our state is what the successor will meet and continue from there.

“I am begging you that we should resist their attempts because people will profit from our division. But if we don’t allow division, they will go elsewhere.’’