Oyo State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, Seyi Makinde, has urged Nigerians not to allow religious differences to divide them, stressing the need for unity and peaceful coexistence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Makinde spoke on Saturday while declaring open a three-day conference organised by the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, at Jogor Centre, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, the state capital.
The governor urged people of different faiths to promote mutual understanding and resist attempts to exploit religion for division.
Disclosing his family’s religious background, Makinde noted that his grandfather was a Muslim and 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 appealed to Islamic scholars and other participants to use the conference to promote religious harmony.
“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.
Meanwhile, leaders of the league declared that the organisation would not endorse any political party or candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that its responsibility was to pray for credible leadership.
The Chairman of the league’s Board of Trustees, Muhammad Abdullahi El-Ilory, said the clerics would remain non-partisan despite their influence on political leaders.
READ ALSO:
- 2027: Makinde urges Nigerians to shun religious division
- Rivers warns butchers against using tyres, chemicals to process meat
- Ogun ADC insists on elected leadership, warns against political interference
He said, “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.”
El-Ilory added that the league would not allow its platform to be used to advance partisan interests.
The President of the league, Jamiu Kewulere, also urged Islamic clerics to concentrate on religious guidance and preaching rather than partisan politics.
He said, “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.”
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 Pilgrims 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.
