Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, said on Thursday that his government will continue to be honest with the state's residents if re-elected.
The governor promised to continue being fair to all religious adherents in the state while addressing the Oyo State League of Imams and State Rabith's Acquaintance at the Rabitot-ul-Aimmat Wal Ulama South West headquarters, close to Bodija Market, in Ibadan.
Makinde was cited as adding that since taking office, his government has objectively handled matters about religious organisations in the state by Taiwo Adisa, the governor's chief press secretary.
He claims that the previous state administration in Oyo State upheld the policy enacted on wearing the hijab in the state's public schools.
He urged voters to cast their ballots based on merit and declared that anyone seeking to split the populace along religious lines would not be tolerated.
The governor said: “I have noted all the things you have said and if I summarise everything, what you mean is that I am returning as the governor of the state. “And I can assure you that the next government will be better than we currently have.
“I agree that there are some misconceptions and if I did not address them, people might not be well informed about certain things.
“You talked about appointments into the pilgrim’s welfare board and Education Secretaries. We appointed the education secretaries about two days ago and have 10 Muslims out of 33.
“The current Commissioner for Education is a Muslim and you know education is one of the central pillars of this administration. Let me repeat it again: it won't be possible if our elites want to cause division with religion. As we speak, we have more Muslims holding top positions in this government and I am the only Christian in this echelon.
“What is important is to ensure that those we have appointed deliver dividends of democracy.”We have been trying to balance appointments but must be careful with how some critics manipulate data for us. When this government came in, we said there is a gap in our secondary schools, and the standard had become low. That was why we recruited 5,000 teachers. I met with stakeholders and said if we must reverse the rot in the sector, 80 per cent of the teachers must be recruited on merit, and 20 per cent can be given special consideration.
“And I am happy that we are seeing the result now because the report is that the best teachers came from recruitment, and they are the ones in our schools now.
“On hijab-wearing, there is a policy we met on the ground, and I have not changed it because it has served us well. If we need to review it, we will go through that process. I am the first sitting governor to greet Baba at home and play with him. I will still come back to greet him.
“Out of the 10 Ramadan lectures we have had, I can tell you that six guest lecturers who have been featured are from Oyo State. Four are not from here. The two guest lecturers are from Oyo for the two Hijrah lectures we have had. These are data. I believe that if we want knowledge, we should look both inward and outward.
“On the pilgrim's welfare board, when I got into government, I was told it is the government in charge of the appointments. But I did not do that. Instead, I consulted Baba, and he did the needed.
“Now, let me tell you, if I have the opportunity to serve you again, I will remain truthful.
“And most of the things you pointed out are challenges for us to look at. There are things they said would not be achieved by our administration when we made the promise, but today, we have achieved them.
“We have been able to secure the sole ownership of LAUTECH.
“Also, we have been able to upgrade Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to the University of Education. We also have the First Technical University, a specialised institution looking towards the future. Oyo State, by the virtue of the foundation we are laying, in 40 years to come, we will be at the forefront of the knowledge economy.”
Earlier in their various remarks, Prof, Kamil Oloso and other representatives of the Imams, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his magnanimity towards the Muslim community in the state, as they charged him to be more diplomatic in handling religious issues.
In his sermon, Imam Mufasir Okunmebo, charged Governor Makinde and other political leaders in the state to be unbiased and just in managing the affairs of the state.
The programme featured special prayers for Governor Makinde and the state by the Chief Imam of Ibadan land, Sheik Abdul-Ganniy Agbotomokekere.
The event was graced by the deputy, governor, Barrister Abdulroheem Adebayo Lawal, former deputy Governor of the state, Hon. Taofeek Arapaja, former State House of Assembly speaker, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, Commissioners and other political functionaries.