Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, said that the support of the Muslim community has been a major tonic driving development in the state, adding that peaceful coexistence among the citizens remains a viable platform upon which real development is built.
He commended the Muslim community in the state for their unalloyed support for his administration, and their demonstrated commitment to religious harmony and peaceful coexistence with adherents of other faiths.
During the iftar (breaking of fast), which he hosted on Monday for Muslim leaders across the 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state at the Government House, Ado Ekiti, the state capital, Oyebanji also called for continued support for President Bola Tinubu, explaining that the various achievements of his administration were made possible because of the support he received from the President.
He stressed that President Tinubu has fulfilled all the promises he made to the state during the electioneering campaign in 2022.
While thanking the President for his provisional approval of the construction of Itawure-Aramoko-Ado Ekiti road, Oyebanji said that the road is capable of improving the socio-economic development of the state, and serve as an impetus for electoral victory in the 20 June governorship election and the January 2027 presidential election.
He added that the contractors handling the project had promised to move to the site in the next two weeks.
The governor spoke glowingly about the excellent performance of the Muslims serving in his administration, stressing that he would cede more appointive positions to members of the Muslim community, if re-elected for a second term.
‘There is no doubting the fact that the support from the Muslim community is unadulterated. I know you love us genuinely. I promise to continue to do more for you because all the Muslims in my government are doing creditably well — from the Secretary to the State Government — and that is the reason it is possible for us to count 51 of them.
‘Every achievement in Ekiti is due to the support of President Tinubu. Please, as you are praying for me, pray more for the President because when he came here for the campaign, he made some promises. He has fulfilled all the promises he made; even the one I thought may be impossible before the election, that Itawure–Aramoko-Ado road, I am glad to say that the contractor received a provisional letter of award two weeks ago to commence work pending the ratification by the Federal Executive Council. The contractor has promised to move to the site immediately after Ramadan to commence work’, Oyebanji said.
Presenting the iftar lecture, the Imam of Ansar-Ud-Deen, Ado Ekiti, Sheikh Abdullahi Abdulmutali, called on Muslims to live their lives in the fear of God by doing what is right all the time, stressing that that is the only way they could receive heavenly reward.
The President-General, League of Imams and Alfas for Southwest, Edo and Delta States, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, who prayed for the state, the governor and President Tinubu, hailed the two leaders for creating an atmosphere of peace and shared prosperity.
Also present at the programme were former Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Muslim members of the state House of Assembly and the Executive Council, and representatives of the Muslim community from all the LGAs, among others.
