Abiodun: Ogun Committed to Religious Tolerance
James Sowole in Abeokuta
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has said that his administration’s commitment to religious tolerance has ensured peaceful co-existence among various adherents in the state.
The governor noted that though people living in the state practice different religions, with Ogun being the “religious capital of the country”, they have imbibed the spirit of tolerance by seeing themselves as one.
He said that this is due to the fact that his government has been promoting acts that unite and encourage peaceful co-existence among the people of the state.
The governor stated this in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, when he received the national leadership of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, who paid him a courtesy call.
Represented by his Deputy, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Abiodun assured that his administration would continue to give equal treatment to all religious bodies operating in the state.
He said: “Our administration is committed to religious tolerance. Our state is the religious capital of Nigeria with headquarters of Muslims and Christian organisations. We are a very tolerant state, and we have lived together peacefully. The government is also reflective of that with the appointment of a consultant to the governor on Islamic affairs.
“This is done so that issues that pertain to religion can be channelled to him so that we do not have biases or any issue between our faiths. We work together to maintain that harmony in our state.”
He also called for synergy between government and religious organisations in addressing social ills currently prevalent in society.
The governor decried the moral decadent that is gradually tearing the society apart, emphasising collaborative efforts in stemming the tide.
He challenged the Ansar-Ud-Deen society to work with the government to make sure that some of the ills are tackled and eliminated to create a better community.
Abiodun lauded the society for its various philanthropic work especially in the area of education, nothing that it had helped in providing health facilities to ensure that quality health services get to all the nooks and crannies of the state.
He called for the sensitisation of its members to take advantage of the various government intervention schemes aimed at elevating the suffering of the people due to the removal of subsidy on fuel.
“Just as you are going round helping the indigents and vulnerable people, the government at states and federal levels have so many schemes that are out there to support the people but our people can be very sceptical of politicians.
“But if a Chief Imam gives the introductions, they will obey. So we need you to help educate our people so that they can take advantage of these programmes to reduce the burden in the society,” he added.
The governor noted that the society founded in 1923 by 42 young men in Lagos had grown into a giant in the last 100 years, contributing positively to the socio-economic development of the nation.
He urged the leadership of the society to introduce technology into its programmes and activities to draw more people, especially the youth, for continuity and preservation of the society’s legacies.
Speaking earlier, the National President of the Society, Dr. Are Sanni, condemned the get-rich-quick attitude of the youths, which has led them to be involved in cultism, fraud, kidnapping and money rituals, assuring that the society was ready to work with government to nip it in the bud.
He said the society in the last 100 years, had through contributions from members, embarked on the provision of education and health facilities as part of its efforts to build an egalitarian society.
Sanni said the visit to the state was to intimate the governor with the programmes lined up to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the society and to explore areas of collaboration for the benefit of the people.
