Oyebanji urges Muslims to back Tinubu’s re-election

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, and Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, during the Jumat thanksgiving service at the Central Mosque, Ado-Ekiti.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has urged Muslim faithful in the state to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, citing the Federal Government’s interventions in the state.

Oyebanji made the appeal on Friday at a special Jumat thanksgiving service held at the Central Mosque, Ado-Ekiti, as part of activities marking the commencement of his second term in office.

This was contained in a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Saturday.

The governor also pledged to sustain inclusive governance by ensuring that stakeholders, including members of the Muslim community, continued to have opportunities to participate in his administration.

Oyebanji thanked the Muslim community for its prayers and support during his first term and appealed for continued prayers as he begins his second term.

He said, “I am here to give thanks to God and my father, the Grand Imam. Thank you for your support; I also thank the Muslim community for your prayers.

“I want to appeal to you today to continue to pray for us so that we will be able to do more.

“I assure you that my government will ensure that more Muslims will be given the opportunity to serve during the second term.”

The governor said Muslim appointees in his administration had performed well, adding that he consulted the Grand Imam before appointing some of them.

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“I have to say this publicly: all Muslims that worked with me performed exceptionally well.

“The wisdom I used when we want to appoint them is that I consulted the Grand Imam, who gave me the best, and I thank all of them for their exceptional performance,” the governor said.

He subsequently appealed to the Muslim community to support Tinubu’s re-election, urging them to appreciate what he described as the Federal Government’s interventions and support for Ekiti State.

Oyebanji said his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of residents and work with religious institutions and other stakeholders to promote peace, unity and development in the state.

Earlier, the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas for the South-West, Edo and Delta States, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere Bello, commended Oyebanji for appointing Muslims to positions in his administration.

Bello said the appointments had enabled members of the Muslim community to contribute to the development of the state.

He also commended Muslim appointees in the administration for their performance and urged them to continue justifying the confidence placed in them by the governor and the Muslim community.

The cleric called on Muslims to continue praying for Oyebanji and other leaders, while promoting religious harmony and peaceful coexistence in the state.

The thanksgiving service was attended by the Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye; Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; Secretary to the State Government, Habibat Adubiaro; members of the State Executive Council; and Senator Babafemi Ojudu.