Governor Seyi Makinde has assured residents of Oyo State that the government is working closely with security agencies to secure the release of students and staff abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area and reunite them with their families.
Makinde gave the assurance on Wednesday while addressing journalists after receiving a Sallah visit from a delegation of the Muslim community led by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal at his private residence in Ikolaba, Ibadan.
The delegation, made up of government officials and Islamic leaders, visited shortly after observing the Eid al-Adha prayers at the Eid Ground in Agodi, Ibadan.
The governor said the state remained united despite political, ethnic and religious differences, stressing that residents could not be divided along such lines even as political activities begin to gather momentum ahead of future elections.
Speaking on the abduction incident, Makinde said: “The challenges that we have, especially in Oyo State, with our school children being kidnapped, we are working round the clock to ensure that the children are united with their families.
“So I also use this opportunity to say to those that are in despair right now, that God Almighty will meet them at their point of need.”
He further urged residents to sustain the spirit of tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the state.
“Well, let me use this opportunity to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters, and standard in Oyo State and Nigeria happy Eid celebration, and I wish all of us many, many more of it in the land of the living, particularly as we are moving towards political season.
“For us in Oyo State, we are very liberal and tolerant people. So it’s difficult to use ethnicity or religion to divide us. Even as we move towards this political season, government will come and go, but our State and our country remain.
“Even when we disagree with ourselves, it’s a temporary thing. In another seven-eight months, the president-elect would have emerged, governors-elect would have emerged. And whoever emerges, we will have to work together in the interest of our state and our country with such individuals and set of people. So I want to use this opportunity to wish us again happy Eid celebration.”
