The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, assured the people of the state not to allow religion to divide the state, as they are one and will always remain one.
- +We won’t allow religion to divide us in Oyo – Makinde
He gave this assurance while bidding farewell to pilgrims intending to perform the 2026 Hajj at the state Hajj Camp, Olodo in Ibadan, the state capital.
He gave this assurance while bidding farewell to pilgrims intending to perform the 2026 Hajj at the state Hajj Camp, Olodo in Ibadan, the state capital.
The governor urged the intending pilgrims to pray for God’s guidance in choosing the next set of leaders, who would continue where his administration stops in 2027.
Makinde equally tasked the pilgrims to use the opportunity of their pilgrimage to the Holy Land to pray for both the state and Nigeria as the electioneering period approaches.
He also enjoined them to be good ambassadors of the state.
“In Oyo State, we are all one. We won’t allow religion to divide us. I charge the intending pilgrims to pray for our state and country when they get to the Holy Land, because this is the period leading to the next election, and a new set of leaders will emerge.
“Whatever decision we make, we will have to live with it for the next four years. So, I want you to pray for our state and country. There is a lot of discussion going on right now on the choice of who would become the next governor. The conversation going on is about a Muslim being my successor, but I want you to pray that God should choose the person who would sustain the achievements and the good works we are doing in the state.
“What matters most is that we must stay united. The progress of Oyo is what is important to us, and I believe God will answer our prayers.
“For us in this state, religion is not an issue. We have all religions in our various families, and we have always coexisted peacefully. So, I have told those talking about Muslim candidature that we should not be stampeded into taking decisions on the basis of religion, and I know they understand me.”
The governor, while responding to some of the requests of the board, promised to complete the ongoing mosque construction and also donate a bus for the use of the board in the state and another bus for the ease of movement of the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia during Hajj.
Commenting on how the state pilgrims have always been good ambassadors of the state, the governor said, “We have been extremely lucky in this state, because our pilgrims have always been different; they have always been good ambassadors of the state.
“So, for the ease of the Hajj operations, I will give a new bus to the state pilgrims in the Holy land. I will also donate another one for the use of the board here. On this note, I want to congratulate the intending pilgrims and wish you a safe journey.”
Makinde also used the occasion to commend the Chairman of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board, Wahab Atere, and members of the board for the successful planning and coordination of the 2026 Hajj operations.
Earlier, Atere informed the gathering that 1,036 intending pilgrims would perform the Hajj rites from the state, appreciating Governor Makinde for his continuous support to the Muslim community and the board towards a smooth 2026 Hajj exercise.
He explained that with the support of the governor, the state has secured the visas and befitting accommodations for all the intending pilgrims, who would be airlifted in batches starting from May 3, 2026.
Also in their separate goodwill messages, the state Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu, thanked the governor for his unwavering support to the Muslim Ummah, urging them to remain focused, be good ambassadors of the state and to perform the Hajj rites devotedly.
Dignitaries at the event were the Secretary to the State Government, Musibau Babatunde; President, the state Customary Court of Appeal, Tajudeen Abdulganiyu; Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Bayo Lawal; PDP South-West Woman Leader, Bose Adedibu; Chairman, Ibadan Airport Upgrade, Bimbo Adekanmbi; state Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Sikiru Sanda; Commissioners and other top government functionaries.
Also in attendance were the Chief Imam of Ibadanland and Grand Imam of the State, Abdulganiyu Agbotomokekere; Executive Secretary, Muslims in South-Western Nigeria, Wole Abass; Kamil Oloso; and members of the League of Imams and Alfas.
