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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Muslim community in Bayelsa State has thrown their weight behind the second term bid of Governor Douye Diri and his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, in the November 11 gubernatorial election in the state.
The Muslim Ummah gave their endorsement for the re-election of the duo as governor and deputy governor respectively at a special banquet put together for the Muslim faithful by the Bayelsa State Government to mark the 2023 Eid-el Kabir celebration at the Government House in Yenagoa on Wednesday.
Chairman of the Council for Islamic Affairs in the state, Alhaji Yakubu Otobo, said the Muslim Ummah were fully supporting the governor’s re-election bid in view of the numerous verifiable infrastructural projects his administration had successfully executed in the state.
Alhaji Otobo, who spoke through his vice, Malam Usman Galadenchi, listed the projects to include Phase Two of the New Gateway Road, the Nembe-Brass Road, Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, and the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road.
Others included the Onopa bridge linking the New Yenagoa City, New Judges Quarters, the state-of-the-art Ernest Ikoli Media Complex.
The Islamic leader noted that Eid-el Kabir was the most significant sacrificial feast in the Muslim calendar, and thanked the state government for always hosting Muslim faithful to mark their various religious festivals
He equally thanked the Prosperity Administration for creating a peaceful environment for businesses to thrive in every nook and cranny of the state and pledged that Muslims were poised to reciprocate the love shown them by working for the re-election of the governor despite his Christian background.
He said: “Your Excellency, Council appreciates this administration for your love for the Muslim Community in Bayelsa State. And will continue to appreciate the Prosperity Administration for creating a peaceful environment for our businesses across the state.
“Council also appreciates your administration for the following: Construction of Yenagoa-Oporoma Road, the Nembe-Brass Road, the Outer Ring Road, the Sagbama-Ekeremor Road, the Gateway-Tombia Road and several other completed and ongoing projects.
“We want to also thank you for giving 10 Hajj Seats to the Muslim Community. We are not Oliver Twist but we are asking for more Hajj Seats, come 2024.
“As Muslims in the state, we pray, may Allah continuously open all your doors of favour and more wisdom to pilot the affairs of Bayelsa State. We also say congratulations, Your Excellency, in advance for your re-election.
In his remarks, the deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, called on all Muslim faith in the state and across the nation to use the Eid-el Kabir celebration to learn to give sacrificially like the Prophet Ibrahim did.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, who encouraged Muslims to see everyone as members of the same human family irrespective of their religious faith, and make necessary sacrifices for all to live together in peace and unity in every part of the country.
He underscored the fact that the celebration was really “a true reminder for everyone to live for others and not to be self-centered”, adding that peace is when people sacrifice their anger and grievances to allow for peaceful coexistence.
Describing God as the Judge and Giver of power, Senator Ewhrudjakpo said Governor Diri and his team would do more for the state when they are re-elected in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.
He expressed gratitude to the Muslim Ummah for their support and assured that they would be carried along in the forthcoming governorship campaigns as requested.
His words: “It’s not everything we give that is sacrifice. Sacrifice must be appropriate and proper, if not it will not be accepted. God knew it was not the turn of man to sacrifice his son to Him.
“That is why He asked Ibrahim, our father to stop the sacrifice he wanted to make in total obedience, and substituted it with a ram, which we are celebrating today because ram was the appropriate sacrifice.
“That is why we must think through and know the sacrifice we are making. Sometimes we don’t make the right sacrifice and it affects God’s acceptance of our supplication and prayers.
“Today, let’s us reflect on what our father in faith (Ibrahim) did and learn how to give in this country. I want to use this festival, which is symbolic and profound to urge to learn how to sacrifice our money, property, ambition and anger for us to have ensuring peace.
“We thank you for your compliments and the support you are giving to us. We also thank God that you know the difference between them and us. We will continue to carry you along in our effort to make Bayelsa safer and more prosperous.”
In his welcome address, the special adviser to the governor on Religious Matters, Reverend Godspwer Asingba thanked government for hosting the Muslim faithful, and called on them to continue to pray for government.
The Speaker, Bayelsa House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Abraham Ingobere, member representing Yenagoa Constituency One, Hon. Ayibanengiyefa Egba, Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Hon Stanley Braboke, his Water Resources counterpart, Hon Kemebradikumo Wariebi, the State Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Very Reverend, Joseph Opelema, among other notable figures, attended the banquet.
