Abiodun holds Iftar with labour, religious leaders
…seeks more support for COVID-19 vaccination
…Calls for harmony, prayers
Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, at the weekend, hosted labour leaders and members of League of Imam and Alfas in the state, to Ramadan Iftar, at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, the state capital.
Addressing them at his Presidential Lodge residence, Abiodun urged the labour leaders and clerics to be apostles of encouraging people to take the COVID-19 vaccination.
He harped on the need for people to take the vaccine to mitigate the spread of the pandemic, stressing that the vaccine stimulates the body system as it neutralizes the effects of the disease in the body if one gets infected.
He disclosed that the state government had taken delivery of another batch of the vaccine, declaring that the state recorded the highest number of people vaccinated in the country.
He admonished the labour leaders to join hands with his government in persuading their members to be part of the ongoing vaccination exercise, noting “it has no side effects.”
Describing the month of Ramadan as a period of purification and sober reflection to strengthen one’s relationship with Allah, Abiodun urged the Muslims to use the period to pray for the country, stressing that the insecurity and other challenges militating against the nation would soon fizzle out through the help of prayer.
He posited that war is not an alternative, stating that the security architecture of the state is fundamental to the current administration and would do everything possible to reduce criminality across the state.
While assuring the labour leaders that government would continue to improve on the welfare of workers being the engine room of government, the governor allayed the fears of the workers over the the rumour making the rounds that government was planning to stop the minimum wage.
He said his administration had intensified its revenue drive and uncovered other areas to generate enough revenue to sustain the steady growth in the state
Earlier in their respective remarks, the Ogun State Chairmen of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Emmanuel Bankole, his counterpart from the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) Olubunmi Fajobi and that of Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) Olarenwaju Folorunso, commended Abiodun for the immense achievement recorded in every sector in the state including the willingness to pay the outstanding workers’ salary deductions.
They promised to continue supporting the incumbent administration in its determination to transform the state.
Addressing the Islamic clerics led by the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Sa’adalah Bamgbola, Governor Abiodun reassured that the current administration in the state would continue to partner the religious leaders for the growth of the state
The governor commended the body for promoting peaceful coexistence among the people of the state
Describing the clerics as important to the enthronement of good governance, Abiodun said the Iftar was organized in appreciation of the contributions of the Muslim Community for being supportive during and after the 2019 general elections.
The governor explained that the current administration since its inception, has been working round the clock in improving the condition of the state through the provision of necessary infrastructural amenities for the benefit of the people.
This, according to him, is in fulfilment of his promises during the electioneering, describing the current administration as “a silent achiever who doesn’t make noise on the pages of newspapers about its achievements.”
While urging the clerics to continue supporting his administration with prayers, the governor promised that his government would ensure that the existing mutual relationship between the government and the religious body is sustained by doing things that please and unite the people of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the League, the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Sa’adalah Bamgbola thanked the governor for the respect accorded the Muslim Community and for demonstrating a trait of ‘Omoluabi’ by keeping to his promise to the people of the state.
He assured that the religious body would continue to support the governor with prayers to ensure that he excels in the ongoing restructuring and repositioning of the state.
