Makinde restates commitment to religious equity as YOUMBAS celebrates 50th anniversary

THE Oyo State governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, has reiterated his commitment to relating equally with Muslims and other religious adherents in the state.

Makinde spoke last weekend in Ibadan at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Young Muslim Brothers and Sisters of Nigeria (YOUMBAS).

The governor, represented by his Commissioner for Environment, Mr Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, said like other religions, he had never wavered in his support for Islam.

Governor Makinde congratulated YOUMBAS on the milestone event of its golden jubilee and praised the organisation for propagating Islam in a peaceful manner over the years.

The chairman of the occasion, Alhaji Kazeem Olaniyan, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Omo-Ola Travels and Tours, commended the organisation for promoting peace, which he said is one of the ideals of Islam, through its activities.

Olaniyan announced a donation of N1 million towards the commencement of the fencing of the 10-acre YOUMBAS City Centre land in Arogo, along Olomi-Ayegun Road in Ibadan.

The national president of YOUMBAS, Alhaji Abdulfatah Oloyede, commended Makinde “for his tremendous work in the state,” noting that the governor had continuously increased the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) since 2019 without raising taxes.

Alhaji Oloyede also praised the governor’s efforts in constructing roads, flyovers and bridges which he said had eased transportation of agricultural produce and boosted the state’s economy.

He said Governor Makinde “has done remarkably well for Islam” through his gestures and contributions to the uplift of Muslims in Oyo State.

Oloyede described Makinde’s reconstruction of the Organisation of Tadhamunul Muslimeen (OTM) Mosque, also known as Adogba Mosque, in the Iwo Road area of the city, whose original structure gave way to a development project of the government, as one of the governor’s many gestures of goodwill towards Islam and Muslims in the state.

He appealed to the governor, other well-meaning Nigerians and Muslim stakeholders to sponsor some of the projects proposed to be sited on the land, the fencing of which he said is also imperative.

He said: “Our organisation occupies 10.69 acres of land here, where we are conducting this special event. We are actively seeking sponsors among philanthropists who wish to support the cause of Allah (SWT). Nothing spent in His cause is ever in vain.

“We have proposed seven Islamic projects: a nursery/primary school, an Arabic school, a secondary school, a vocational centre, a school of Sharia and theology, and a general hospital. We invite you to consider sponsoring one of these projects and fencing of the land is also imperative as we are not requesting for cash donations.

“Development on this land will also help deter land grabbers from having access to the land.”

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