SPEECH DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR ABIOLA AJIMOBI, GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE, AT THE GRAND FINALE OF THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS OF MUSLIM UMMAH OF SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA (MUSWEN) ON 18TH NOVEMBER, 2018 AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN

Protocols.

It is in the name of Allah {Subhanalahu wa ta’ala (SWT)}, the Most Merciful Gracious, the Most Merciful, the Greatest of all and on Whom we depend ultimately for sustenance and guidance, that I welcome you all to the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria (MUSWEN), holding in the heart of Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State today. I am happy to be at this august gathering of my fellow Muslim Ummah to celebrate the ten years of existence of MUSWEN, an organization serving as a united and effective voice for Muslims in the South-West zone of Nigeria, comprising Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti and Lagos States.

I am particularly happy with the array of personalities in the Islamic circle who are here gathered today, particularly our guest of honour, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Emir of Kano, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, CON, our royal fathers and others who are too numerous to mention. Your physical presence at this gathering is nothing but a demonstration of the love you all have for MUSWEN and your commitment to the promotion of Islamic religion in the South-West and Nigeria in general. I therefore welcome you all to the city of Ibadan which also serves as the headquarters of this all-important organization whose 10th anniversary we are celebrating today.

Let me also seize this opportunity to say hearty congratulations to the founding fathers of MUSWEN on this auspicious occasion of the celebration of their baby (MUSWEN) which has grown in lips and bounds to become one of the respected bodies within the Muslim community in the country. In particular, I want to specially commend the President of MUSWEN, Alhaji (Dr.) S. O. Babalola, the Executive Secretary, our revered Prof. Daud Noibi and others for your foresight and thoughtfulness as well as your financial, material and intellectual contributions, all of which have been sustaining this body in the last 10 years.

I am told that the overall aim of this organization is to raise the profile of the Muslims of this part of Nigeria.

While, in my own reckoning, MUSWEN has succeeded in achieving this, it has also moved a step further by providing the necessary leadership for, and helping to deepen peace and unity among Muslim stakeholders in the South-West zone.

It is also on record that MUSWEN has taken genuine steps that have set the Ummah in the zone on the part of development and progress. Besides, it is interesting to note that this body has grown to become one of the main constituent parts of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the supreme leadership of our father, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar. The organization has also given a good account of itself as the primary platform for engagements on matters relating to Muslims and inter-faith relations in the South-West zone.

Distinguished religious leaders, Islamic scholars, ladies and gentlemen, I should also openly acknowledge the unflinching support of MUSWEN to our administration and indeed, all my brother governors in the South-West zone. Your contributions, not only to good governance, but also to the pervading peace and tranquility as well as the overall socio-economic development in this part of the country must not go unacknowledged. MUSWEN has no doubt shown itself as a worthy partner in the progress and growth of the Yoruba nation.

In fact, the honour bestowed on me in October last year as “The Most Equitable Governor in the History of Oyo State” by the Oyo State Muslim Community for the promotion of religious harmony through equitable, fair and just relationship with Christians, Muslims and traditionalists across the state by our administration, is a further testimony to the role of the Muslim Ummah in the acknowledgment and promotion of good governance. Even though the award was given to us by the Oyo State Muslim Community, the full representation of MUSWEN at the event held at the main bowl of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, also added the necessary fillip to the occasion.

At this juncture, let me appeal to you all our religious leaders, Islamic scholars and preachers to continue to use your positions in the society to spread the message of tranquility, tolerance and peaceful co-existence of all and sundry in the zone. This has even become necessary as the 2019 general elections are fast approaching. You should continue to assist us, as you have been doing before, to hammer it to our people that it is only in the atmosphere of peace that development can thrive.

Let me once again congratulate MUSWEN on this occasion of its 10th anniversary. It is my prayer that the organization will continue to growth from strength to strength and more importantly, in its service to the nation and humanity.

Thank you all for your attention. God bless you.