The Minister of Interior, Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has hosted his annual Special Ramadan Programme and Iftar for Muslims in Ondo State in line with his yearly practice.
The iftar held at his residence in Okeagbe, Akoko North-West Local Government Area of the State attracted leading Islamic leaders in the State including the State Vice Chairman of the Ondo State League of Imams and Alfas, Sheikh Abass Abubakar, who is also the Chief Imam of Ikare AKOKO; the Patron of the League and Chief Imam of Akureland, Sheikh Abdulhakeem Yayi Akorede; the Chief Imam of Owo, Sheikh Yunus Anola who served as the Guest Speaker at the occasion as well as the League’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Shehu Batuta among others.
In his lecture, the Chief Imam of Owo, Sheikh Yunus Anola, who commended the Visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the giant strides of the Interior Minister, urged Nigerians to continue to to support the current administration to tackle insecurity in the country.
The cleric said deploying more security personnel and investing in modern security equipment would help curb insecurity and restore public confidence.
He also commended the Interior Minister for organising the Ramadan gathering, describing the gesture as thoughtful.
Delivering a lecture titled “Islam and Humanity,” Anola emphasised the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence among people.
He said, “Humanity begins with family ties and blood relations, which should be a priority for every human being, whether from Nigeria or elsewhere.
“We should remember that we all originate from a single source, Almighty God, who has given us guidelines on what to do and what to avoid in order to ensure peaceful coexistence.”
The Islamic scholar also stressed the need for global respect for human life, warning against actions that undermine peace and justice.
“For instance, the so-called United Nations has had its aims and objectives defeated. There is no peace in the world. Where then is the United Nations?” he asked.
“If any country can move against another at any time, it shows that humanity must be properly recognised so that we do not lose lives as if they were tissue paper.
“Life is very precious. Blood ties must be protected and there must be a level playing ground for everyone to ensure social justice and preserve our shared humanity.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, a former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Taofiq Abdulsalam, commended Tinubu for his economic reforms, saying the policies were already yielding positive outcomes.
Abdulsalam, who is a member of the Code of Conduct Bureau representing the South-West, also praised Tunji-Ojo for his performance as Minister of Interior.
“Without mincing words, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has tried his best. He is making efforts to improve the situation in the country,” he said.
“If you look at what he has done over the past three years, you will see that he has performed well. Our minister from Ondo State, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has also made us proud with his performance.”
Also speaking on the sidelines of the event, the Chief Imam of Akureland, Sheikh Abdulhakeem Yayi Akorede, highlighted the spiritual lessons of Ramadan, noting that the period encourages Muslims to draw closer to Allah and promote peace.
He urged Muslims to embrace unity and continue to pray for the country and its leaders.
“We pray that Almighty God will continue to guide President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I urge Muslims to live in peace, embrace unity and show love to their neighbours,” he said.
Similarly, the Chief Imam of Allahu Wahid Central Mosque in Ondo, Alhaji Ajiboye Lagbaji, emphasised the importance of charity during Ramadan and encouraged Muslims to support the needy, citing the example of the Interior Minister’s gesture during the programme.
