By Funso Alarape
Tuesday, March 12, 2024
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Oyo State governor, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde, has congratulated the Muslim Ummah in the state and across the world on the commencement of the month of Ramadan 1445.
The governor, who described the Holy Month as a blessed month in which Allah rewarded the worship of the Ummah, charged Muslims to increase their prayers for the country and the state.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Pastor Sulaimon Olanrewaju, on Sunday, noted that Governor Makinde called for increased prayers for the country amid the economic hardship facing the people, noting that though leaders had been doing everything to turn the situation around, prayers were of greater essence at this time.
He equally charged Muslims around the world to demonstrate the lessons of love, kindness, and good neighborliness as taught by Prophet Mohammed (SAW), admonishing those who had enough to remember their neighbors, as more people were going through hard times.
According to the governor, his administration had been doing everything possible to mitigate the effects of the economic hardship and it would not relent until life became better for all residents of the state.
“I felicitate my Muslim brothers and sisters on the occasion of the commencement of the month of Ramadan 1445.
“This is another opportunity offered to us by Allah (SWT) to serve Him and seek His face and I will encourage all and sundry to make good use of the opportunity as always.
“I charge the Muslim Ummah to, as they have always done, pray for our dear state and Nigeria, as we have all come to realize that prayer remains the greatest key for believers to make things happen.
“We do know that our country is in a bit of economic hardship, but while we continue to look up to the leaders to do the needful, we must also support our hopes with prayers to God.
“I also want to charge my Muslim brothers and sisters, especially those who have in abundance, to remember their neighbors and show kindness.
“It is my prayer that Allah SWT will reward your acts of worship and accept it as Ibadah,” he said.
Bodija Explosion
Meanwhile, the Oyo State government has debunked insinuations that it has abandoned the welfare of victims of the Bodija explosion in Ibadan, the state capital.
A statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, on Monday, said the rumor was unfair and unnecessary.
The commissioner revealed that ever since the January 16 explosion, the government had been spending between N15 and N20 million weekly on accommodation and feeding of the victims in the past eight weeks.
“As we speak, the government has spent over N160 million on accommodation and feeding alone for the victims who were immediately accommodated in hotels, and 38 of them are still residing in the various hotels,” he said.
“In the same vein, the government has picked up a medical bill of over N17 million, while those still in hospitals are being actively catered for.”
The commissioner said that seven decent hotels, some in highbrow areas, were being used to accommodate victims of “the unfortunate incident.”
Oyelade also said that N2 million was spent weekly, amounting to N16 million in eight weeks, for security operatives to protect the property left behind by the victims.
On the rumor that some of the victims were ejected from their hotels, the commissioner said nothing could be farther from the truth.
“One of the hotels at Idi-Ape informed their occupants that they would like to fumigate their premises and the state government took it upon itself to immediately arrange transportation for the explosion victims to be accommodated in another hotel at Jericho alongside members of their families.
“The government does not think making an issue of fumigating a facility is the correct thing to do because such an exercise is routine and the prerogative of the hotel owners.
“On the accusation that victims’ meals have been reduced to one, the government sees this as equally spurious, because many hotels provide complimentary breakfast; and most of our wards go out in the daytime; hence, the government’s decision to provide dinner,” he explained.
Prince Oyelade said the government was humbled by the gratitude and understanding shown by the victims and the populace alike “who see the genuineness of government spending millions of naira to protect the property left behind by the victims, including the large sums of money spent on their medical bills, accommodation and feeding so far.”
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