Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Friday urged the Muslim Ummah to embrace humility, kindness, and forgiveness, and to continue observing the teachings and lessons of the Holy Quran beyond the Ramadan period.
Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal represented the governor in receiving Muslim faithful, including clerics and political officeholders at federal, state, and local levels, during a Sallah homage at the governor’s residence.
According to a statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Muslim community was welcomed by the governor’s wife, Tamunominini Makinde, shortly after the Eid-el-Fitr prayers at the Eid Ground, Agodi, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde congratulated the faithful on the completion of Ramadan and the 2026 Eid-el-Fitr celebration, appreciating their patriotism, prayers, and commitment to the state. He highlighted that the peace and stability in Oyo State had contributed to development and harmonious coexistence.
“Let me use this occasion to urge our Muslim Ummah to always imbibe the spirit of humility, kindness, and forgiveness, and also abide by the doctrines and lessons taught by the Holy Quran beyond the Ramadan period,” he said.
Makinde also thanked residents for their support of his administration and encouraged them to maintain it until the end of his tenure. Special prayers were offered for the governor, the success of his administration, and peace and progress in the state and country.
The delegation included former Deputy Governor and PDP National Secretary Taofeek Arapaja; Federal Representative Dikrullahi Olajide; Secretary to the State Government Musibau Babatunde; commissioners, chairmen of boards and parastatals; local government chairmen; and other senior officials.
Similarly, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, called on Muslims to use Eid-el-Fitr to promote love, unity, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
Speaking during a Ramadan lunch at the Government House, Yenagoa, Governor Diri, represented by his deputy Dr Peter Akpe, urged the community to practise forgiveness, compassion, and peaceful conduct, emphasizing that peace is central to development.
“On behalf of the governor, I thank you for your contributions to peaceful coexistence in the state. However, we urge you to deepen your commitment to practical peace-building. Bayelsa has been adjudged one of the most peaceful states in the country, and we expect the Muslim community to sustain and strengthen this position through continued acts of love and harmony,” he said.
Governor Diri also stressed that peace is a prerequisite for development and called on residents to foster unity across religious lines. He responded to community requests, including a state secretariat and an 18-seater bus, assuring that these would be considered within available resources.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters, Rev. Godspower Asingba, highlighted Ramadan as a period for spiritual renewal and noted the government’s ongoing support for the Muslim community through food and financial assistance.
Acting Vice President-General of the Bayelsa State Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Yahaya Okee, expressed gratitude for completing the Ramadan fast, describing Eid-el-Fitr as a time for spiritual growth, reconciliation, and thanksgiving. He also commended the Diri administration for its support and appealed for rehabilitation of the council’s secretariat.