The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, has called on Nigerians to coalesce efforts with government to fortify the religious bonds that will guarantee the right of citizens to practice religions of his choice.
Mrs Afuye described religion extremism and intolerance as a destroyer of a nation, urging the Nigerian citizens to eschew such evil conduct to build a nation that will be cohesive, peaceful and crisis-free.
The Deputy Governor spoke in Ikere Ekiti, on Monday, while distributing food palliatives to members of Hausa Community to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr at Shasha Market, along Ado-Ikere highway.
A statement by Mrs Afuye’s Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, revealed that scores of Hausa Muslims, benefited from the largesse distributed by the State’s number two citizen in the spirit of sallah.
In her message to the Muslims domiciled in the market, Mrs Afuye, represented by her Special Assistant on Special Duties, Prince Akinboye Adegboye, eulogised the ethnic nationals resident in Ekiti State, for their solid backing and cooperation with the government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
She stated that the peace being savoured in Ekiti State could be predicated on the high level of existing tolerance and friendliness among all the leaders of religious bodies .
The Deputy Governor was upbeat that Governor Oyebanji as a lover and respecter of the rights of all religions, will continue to treat all practitioners as equal, saying no religion will be lorded over another or allow to take preeminence in the state.
“I am here to celebrate with you at this Sallah period to demonstrate our love for you. I bring greetings from Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who had during he Ramadan season showed that he held the Muslims in high regards by distributing food palliative and Cash gifts in mosques across the state.
“The governor even held Iftars with leaders of Muslim community in Ekiti, where all the ethnic nationalities were represented. He had assured you that such respect will be sustained, so that you can be relevant in the scheme of things.
“I want to charge you to continue to cooperate with us. Governor Oyebanji is for everybody, whether you are Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa or Fulani. We are one Nigeria and we must work together to make our nation great.
“I rejoice with you on this occasion and wish you long life to witness more of Ramadan season”.
The Sarkin, Hausa Community in Shasha market, Alhaji Musa Yaro, saluted Governor Oyebanji and the Deputy Governor for their detribalized postures, as reflected in their fraternities and smooth working relations with their members.
Yaro pledged that his members will continue to partner the government and other ethnic nationalities in the state to entrench peace and stability in the system.
The Special Assistant to the governor on Ethnic Matters(Hausa)
, Alhaji Hussain Bawa, appreciated the governor and pledged unalloyed support of Hausa Community to the administration of Governor Oyebanji
“We are pledging our loyalty to the government of our respectable and God-fearing Governor, Biodun Oyebanji. We are also joining others to say no vacancy in the Ekiti government house till 2030”.