Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun has called for religious tolerance,
harmony and peaceful co-existence among the people of the state.
Oyetola also urged religious leaders to desist from sermons
that could divide the people along religious lines.
He made the call at the New Year Inter-Religious Prayer
Service on Wednesday in Osogbo.
The governor noted that religious harmony and cohabitation by
people of different faiths was fundamental to the progress and development of
the state.
“I want to urge all the people of the state to continue
living together in peace, irrespective of their religious and political
differences.
“We gathered here today, both Muslims and Christians, to seek
the face of God in the beginning of 2019 for the progress of the state.
“We should tolerate ourselves; there should not be religious
discrimination and intolerance.
“Our religious leaders should do away with sermons that do
not preach unity and harmony among our people. Our God is one; but we are
serving Him in different ways,’’ he said.
He, however, called on the people to vote for all the
candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election.
Oyetola also urged them to be peaceful and orderly before,
during and even after the poll.
“We must not allow the people that bastardised the economy of
the nation and subjected us to untold hardship to come back,’’ he said.
The Mufasir of Osogboland, Malam Maruf Isola, and President
of Osun Baptist Conference, Rev. Paul Kolawole, enjoined the governor to be responsive
and sensitive to the plight of the people.
The duo also called on the people to pay their tax regularly
to support the government.
The Head of Service, Mr Oyebade Olowogboyega, assured the
governor of a supportive and productive civil service, adding that the workers
in the state would support his
quest of having a better state.