Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has reassured the public and residents of the state in particular that the pupils and teachers abducted on May 16 in schools located in the Oriire Local Government Area (LGA) will be rescued soon.

Mr Makinde gave the assurance on Wednesday at his Ikolaba residence while hosting his deputy, Bayo Lawal and other Muslim appointees in the state.

Addressing the Muslim faithful, he diverted from conversations on the Eid-el-Kabir celebration to the recent abduction of schoolchildren in the state.

The governor said, “We’re working around the clock to ensure the abducted children are united with their families. I pray that God Almighty console those in despair at their point of need.”

He urged the residents to continue to imbibe the spirit of tolerance as political campaigns approach, stressing that the state’s reputation for tolerance would be its shield.

“We are moving toward the political season, and for us in Oyo State, we are very liberal and tolerant people. It is difficult to use ethnicity or religion to divide us.

“Even as we move toward the political era, remember that governments will come and go, but the state and our country will remain. In another seven or eight months, the president-elect and governors-elect would have emerged. We all have to work together with whoever emerges in the interest of our state and our country,” he stated.

Earlier, the state’s deputy governor told journalists at the Ibadan Central Praying Ground, Agodi, how good it is to obey God’s commandment as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim.

Mr Lawal said, “Prophet Ibrahim obeyed, and at the point of the sacrifice of his son, Allah spared the son and replaced him with a ram. This signifies the need and importance of obedience to lawful authority. Secondly, today’s event also signifies the need for sacrifice.

“Wherever we are as Muslims and in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, we must imbibe the spirit of sacrifice. Muslims must also imbibe the spirit of charity by helping one another.”

He stated that the state had enjoyed peace under the present administration and prayed it would continue.

He urged the people of the state to continue to pray for stability and peaceful coexistence.

In his sermon, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Abdulganiyy Agbotomokekere, called on all Muslims to be tolerant and accommodate one another.

Mr Agbotomokekere urged Muslims to emulate the deeds of Prophet Ibrahim, maintaining that tolerance and obedience should be prioritised in their daily lives.

He cautioned politicians to refrain from anything that could lead to violence and disrupt the state’s peaceful atmosphere as the nation moves towards electioneering.

 (NAN)