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Oyo state Governor Abiola Ajimobi joined other Muslims in the state to mark Eid el Kabir on Tuesday. He observed Eid prayers at the Agodi Yidi praying ground, Ibadan.
Ajimobi who spoke to journalists after the prayers, said he has spent the last seven years in office working for the development of the state and not minding the insults that trail his change-oriented policies.
He stressed that under his watch, the rule of law will be upheld always.
“We will never allow this state to become a banana state. We will not allow it to be an animal farm. If you see any state that is doing well in the world, it is that they have rule of law and they obey them. Everybody must obey the law.”
His words: “By the time we came in, we met a state at the precipies and we needed to have a turnaround and in turning it around, we decided to have as our tripod of restoration that is to restore the old glory. When you restore, you must now transform. We have restored. We have transformed. And now we are repositioning and repositioning is always work in progress. You can never stop repositioning. Wherever we stop, somebody else will pick it up from there.
“We have restored peace and security to the state and today, Oyo state is one of the safest states in Nigeria. Today, everybody could go through Iwo Road, Beere, Molete, Challenge and all these hot spots have now become very cool spot. All the red light areas are now the green light areas. So, for peace and security, we have achieved much.
“And you will see that as a leader, anytime you want to make a change, some people, enlightened, unenlightened, ignorant, mischevous will play politics with them, but a good leader must have the courage to go ahead. If you remember the Great Prophet Mohammed, when he was talking about the Almighty God to the people, they sent him away from his home town.
“The lesson I learnt from the sojourn in the last seven years that we have been running the government is that, one needs to fear God. If one fears God no matter the curses placed on him, so long he is working for prayer, such curse can never have effect on him and if someone does what deserve curses and when people pray for such an individual, the prayer cannot work for such a person. For me, no matter the curses, it can never affect me because I know I am working for prayers and not curses and I am serving the people wholeheartedly and I am happy that God will give us success.
“Finally, let me say that, what we are celebrating today is godliness and service to humanity. I believe, most sincerely that I have served humanity rightly as the governor of Oyo state. Never persecute people but follow the law and stick to it. Those who say you are wrong today, tomorrow they will see and let me end it by the world of Robert Thomas, he said, a good leader will take his people where they want to go but a great leader will take his people to where they ought to be and that is what I am doing for Oyo state.”
The prayer which was led by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere in company of other prominent islamic leaders, faithful and scholars across the state held amidst tight security.