By Richard Thomas, Ibadan
The Special Assistant on Inter-Faith Affairs to Oyo State Governor, Reverend Olufemi Ibikunle has urged religious leaders in the state to preach messages of peace and tolerance to their members.
He maintained that such that will enhance development and have positive impact on the state and the people.
Reverend Ibikunle gave the urge at the instance of governor Seyi Makinde’s agenda for peace, and to make the state a haven of comfort and development for the citizens as the year 2022 activities began.
According to him, governor Makinde’ s message to Christian, Muslim and traditional leaders in the state is that they should embrace and preach peace from their Alter to their members since they command respect from their followers.
“Every believer respects and believes their religious leaders, hence, they command the respect of their followers, They should use their position to teach and preach messages of peace to their members, this is the message of the governor to them all.
Reverend Ibikunle encouraged the clerics to influence their members to make peace reign supreme in the state, adding that the three religions believe in peace.
He said the state under the leadership of governor Makinde is committed to make peace reign supreme, just as he urged them to complement the security gestures of the governor since inception of the administration to make peace reign in the state.
The Special Assistant urged religious leaders to influence their members and children with peace messages in order to make them adhere and comply with the peace agenda of the governor.
He said this is imperative since the children have roles to play in the peace agenda of the governor.
Reverend Ibikunle expressed the belief that when there is peace in the state, there will be an all round development, adding the development will in turn attract progress for the state.
Reverend Ibikunle appealed to clerics who no longer preach morals and messages of peace to do so in order to complement efforts of governor on his peace and development programmes.
He also urged them to pray for governor Makinde’ in order to make him achieve his vision of making the state great again.
