Following the criticism that trailed the comments allegedly made by the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde on Thursday at the commissioning of the Adogba mosque, which was built by him, the Executive Assistant to Governor on Administration, Rev Idowu Ogedengbe has said Governor Seyi Makinde’s speech was not to disregard the efforts of Christians during the last Governorship poll in the State.
Rev Ogedengbe in a release on Friday evening stated that it wasn’t the intention of the Governor, as was speculated, to underestimate the massive support that was given to him by Christians at the last gubernatorial elections in the State.
“We were all witnesses to the fact that all wings of the Christian Association of Nigeria as well as the large and small congregations of believers across the length and breath of Oyo State voted for the reelection of Governor Seyi Makinde.
I sincerely believe that our Governor did not in anyway attempt to deny the fact that he enjoyed massive support from both the Christian and Muslim communities. What our Governor was obviously seeking to communicate was the fact that despite being faced by an opponent that was from among the Muslim community, he enjoyed the support of a significant number of their votes such that his major Muslim opponent suffered a defeat of historic proportion which led to his loss in his parents house, in his hometown, in his village and even in his poling unit.”
Rev Ogedengbe appealed to the Christian leadership to rightly interprete what the Governor said as what was simply intended to appreciate the Muslim community for giving him the massive support from their rank and file despite having one from among their fold that contested against him.
He added that this is the way to view the intent of the heart of the Governor and not to see his speech at the inauguration of the Adogba mosque as one that was not appreciative of the huge support that the Christian community gave to him during the last election.
“Knowing that our Governor is a peace loving gentleman, I am quite sure that he will soon speak to make clarification on his speech which was not in anyway intended to stoke any form of religious conflict in the State.
We all can bear witness to the fact that we have enjoyed significant religious harmony and peaceful coexistence under the administration of His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde. He has promised to promote that atmosphere under Omituntun 2.0 just as he did in his first term,” he concluded.
