Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Wednesday urged residents of the state to imbibe the culture of accommodation, truthfulness, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.
The governor, who spoke on the occasion of activities marking the end of the Ramadan, also urged Muslims to live by the virtues of the month-long fasting season.
Ajimobi further pleaded with labour unions, artisans, teachers, students and miscreants to promote peace in the state through dialogue.
“Our people should eschew the habit of rumour mongering and violence. We should always seek information and embrace dialogue at all times,” he said.
He said that democracy was about dialogue, adding that his administration was open to dialogue with the labour unions to move the state forward.
The Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniyy Abubakre, also urged Muslims to consolidate on the lessons of the Ramadan.
He told Muslim faithful at the Eid praying ground in Ibadan that lessons like piety, truthfulness, kindness, love, sacrifice exhibited during the period should not be jettisoned.
“It is sad that some people have returned back to their sinful acts immediately the fasting ends.
“I think it is in everyone’s interest to be closer to God and consolidate on the lessons learnt during the Ramadan period,” he said.
Abubakre further prayed for the peace and prosperity of the state and the nation at large.
Sen. Rilwan Akanbi (APC-Oyo South) in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) called on the people to be patient with government at all levels, saying the nation had the promise of prosperity.
Akanbi also called on the labour unions in the state to embrace dialogue and return back to the negotiation table with government in the interest of the state.
He further urged Muslims to embrace righteousness as they had done during the Ramadan. (NAN)