Ijebu-Ode (Ogun) – The Chief Imam of Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, Sheikh Abdul-Razak Salaudeen, has called on Muslims to always practice love with all men and live in peace with one another as enshrined in the Holy Quran.

Eid-el-Adha

Salaudeen made the call while delivering his sermon at the Ijebu-Ode Eid Praying Ground on Friday in commemoration of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

He said the fear of God and the message of the Holy Quran should always be the utmost guide for all Muslims in their affairs with their fellow human beings.

Salaudeen further stressed the importance of living in peace and being united, saying that without peace, there would be no development in the nation.

The cleric condemned the recent wave of hate speeches by some Nigerians and urged them to eschew such behaviour in order not to heat up the polity.

“Let’s be clean with whatever comes out of our mouths, we must watch what we say as our utterances go a long way in shaping who we are.

“We must diligently practice our faith in accordance to what the Holy Quran preaches; being a Muslim should not be by mouth alone.

“We must not dilute what Islam preaches with falsehood and pagan worship as the Holy Quran must always guide our affairs in life,” Salaudeen said.
The cleric also called on Muslims who he said made violence and blood-spilling of fellow men their practice to refrain from such heinous crime, no matter the differences or grievances.

“Ours is not a religion of violence but of peace and as such, we must live in unity and one accord with all men.”
The chief imam called on political heads to be truthful and accountable in their dealings, urging them not to fail those who entrusted them with their mandates.

Similarly, Olawale Alausa, Ogun State House of Assembly member representing Ijebu-Ode Constituency, said Eid-el- Kabir was an opportunity for Muslims to thank God for being merciful to them.

Alausa, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said plans had been concluded for a successful hosting of the annual Ojude-Oba festival to commemorate the ‘Ileya’ festival on the third day.

High Chief Fassy Yusuf, the media aide to the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona defended the monarch’s conspicuous absence at the occasion.
“As we all know Kabiyesi never misses this event, but based on his health, his doctor advised him to rest so that he will be stronger for the Ojude Oba festivities on Sunday,” he said.(NAN)