Oyo State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday urged Nigerians not to allow religious differences to divide them, declaring that religion could not divide the state.
He made the appeal while declaring open a three-day conference organised by the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, known as Rabitatul-Aimmat Wal Ulamai Fi Bilaadi Yoruba, at Jogor Centre, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, the state capital.
Makinde urged people of different faiths to promote unity and peaceful coexistence as the 2027 general election approaches.
Speaking about his family’s religious background, the governor disclosed that his grandfather was a Muslim, adding that about 65 per cent of his extended family members also practised Islam.
He said, “Makinde is the name of the father that gave birth to my father, who is my grandfather. He lived and died as a Muslim. If I call our family meeting today, I mean the extended family meeting, as we speak, 65 per cent will be Muslims. So, religion cannot divide us in Oyo.”
He urged Islamic scholars and other participants to use the conference to promote religious harmony and discourage divisions among Nigerians.
“I want to plead with you that we cannot be divided by religion. We are created by the same God. So, as this conference starts, let’s preach unity among us and don’t let us be divided by religion,” he said.
In their separate remarks, leaders of the league said the organisation was not a political platform and would not endorse any political party or candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Chairman of the league’s Board of Trustees, Muhammad Abdullahi El-Ilory, said the clerics would not declare support for any politician or political party, adding that their responsibility was to pray for the emergence of credible leaders.
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“We are religious leaders, we are not politicians, but we are the fathers of politicians. We will not declare support for any political party or politicians. We, the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, cannot declare support or announce our support for any politician or political party. We can only pray to God for Him to give us credible leaders,” he said.
El-Ilory said the league would not use its platform to campaign for any political interest.
Also speaking, the President of the league, Jamiu Kewulere, said Islamic clerics should concentrate on guiding their followers and preaching the teachings of Islam rather than engaging in partisan politics.
“We are not politicians. An Imam is not supposed to be involved in politics. Our focus should be to guide people and preach the religion of Islam in line with Islamic principles,” he said.
Dignitaries at the event included Makinde; the APM governorship candidate in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi; his running mate, Open Salawu; and the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the state, Hazeem Gbolarumi.
Others were El-Ilory; Kewulere; the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Abdulganiy Abubakar; the Alfa Agba of Ibadanland, Abdulbari Adetunji; the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, AbdulRasaq Ishola; the Secretary-General of the league, Mustapha Hamzat; and the Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrim Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Hashim Atere.
Also present were the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Daud Akinola; the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Afolabi Olaoye; the Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oba Bashir Abioye; Professors Amidu Sanni, Kamil Olosho and Adam Surajudeen; and the Iyalode Adini of Yorubaland, Sedeekat Aderibigbe.
The conference brought together Islamic clerics, traditional rulers, political leaders and other stakeholders from Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Lagos and Ondo states to deliberate on issues affecting the Muslim community and society at large.
