Oyo State governor,’ Seyi Makinde has declared that the state is peaceful and secured, both for residents and outsiders desirous of investing in the state.
This was as he added that his government has been promoting religious tolerance and harmony in the state without bias or sentiment for any religion.
Governor Makinde said these while receiving a delegation of Saudi Arabian government led by the Head of Arabic Language Department, Umm Al-Qurra University, Makkah, Professor Hassan Hameed Bukhari, in his office, on Monday.
The Saudi Arabian delegation was in Ibadan for a workshop on peaceful co-existence targeted at judges and university lecturers.
Makinde Declares Oyo Peaceful in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said the state is peaceful and welcoming for everyone, irrespective of religious affiliations.
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He thanked the Saudi government for bringing the workshop to Ibadan, noting that it would further promote harmonious relationships in the state.
“Some of the things the S.A Islamic Affairs mentioned are things that we did but he did not mention the most important one that is so much after my heart. And I will tell you why.
“You know, when you do things that are physical like sending people on Hajj, building a mosque, those are physical things.
“The one that is very spiritual is the Ramadan Lecture we do organise for our people, which basically is giving the people spiritual food. You can give people physical food but when you feed them spiritually, I think that is the most important thing.
“For us, as an administration, we are almost blind to religion. That is why in Oyo State today, people are unable to divide us along religious lines. They may say a whole lot of things but, at the end of the day, the truth always prevails.
“Finally, I want to thank you for the workshop. It is a confirmation, not just to the people of Nigeria, but the international community that you can come from different places and be comfortable within us here.
“We want the message to go out that Oyo State is peaceful and welcoming even to outsiders,” Governor Makinde told the visitors.
Earlier, the Head of Arabic Language Department, Umm Al-Qurra University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Professor Bukhari, said the team came for a workshop at the University of Ibadan, for judges and university lecturers.
He said the essence of the workshop is “towards promoting religious coexistence among the people.”
Bukhari, who spoke through an interpreter, lauded the Oyo State government for fostering a peaceful atmosphere in the state, adding that it has also been fair to the Muslim Ummah.
The head of the delegation expressed the readiness of the Saudi authorities to assist the state in the areas of development.
He thereafter decorated Governor Makinde with a special recognition award of the Umm Al-Qurra University Makkah, for his good deeds towards Islam.
