Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde, has been honored with a prestigious Peace Award by the International Association of World Peace Advocates, a global organization with United Nations ECOSOC Special Consultative Status with headquarters in Sweden.
The award was in recognition of Governor Makinde’s commitment to public peace and sustenance of tranquillity across the state through the maintenance of harmonious coexistence among all the religions in Oyo state.
The event held on Thursday, September 26, at the historic House of Chiefs, Oyo State Assembly complex, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The event, themed “Cultivating the Habit of Peace,” which showcased series of interfaith dialogues, entertainment performances, and peace-building interactions, also witnessed the convergence of leaders across the three major religions in the state comprising the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), League of Imams and Alfas, and Traditional worshippers.
Speaking shortly before presenting the award to the governor, World President of the Association, Ambassador Per Stafsen represented by the body’s South West Coordinator in Nigeria, Ambassador Adefowope Kayode Orioye, described Makinde as a true democrat and an ambassador of peace.
The governor was particularly commended for his administration’s promotion of peaceful coexistence among Christians, Muslims and Traditional worshippers culminating into the sustained public peace in Oyo state.
The event which was organized by the Office of the Special Assistant on Interfaith Matters to Governor Seyi Makinde was in commemoration of the 2024 International Day of Peace being celebrated all over the world annually on September 21.
Speaker of the Oyo state House of Assembly and Chairman Conference of Speakers of state Legislature, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin represented by Hon. Akintunde Olajide representing Lagelu state constituency, and the chairman House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters said the root cause of most crisis was the unwillingness of either aggrieved party to apologize to the other.
The two-term lawmaker stressed that people must be intentional and deliberately seek peaceful coexistence in the society by cultivating the habit of peace and respect for the rights of others stressing that there can be no alternative to peace for any society to witness any meaningful development.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Olubunmi Oni (MNi) represented by Mrs. Evelyn Akintunde in her address reiterated the commitment of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to public peace while calling on participants and all residents of Oyo state to cultivate the habit of peace and respect for human rights.
She maintained that for any meaningful development to take place in any society, peace must remain constant and also embraced by all. She stressed that the relative peace being enjoyed across the state was a result of Governor Makinde’s entrenched promotion of peace and harmony among all the religious groups in the state.
Chairman of the occasion, Barrister Ayodele Adekanbi Beulah, while deliverying his brief address described Governor Makinde as a man who not only epitomizes peace but also exemplifies it stressing that there can be no alternative to peace, urging the people to continue to support the present administration in the state in its giant strides to attain entrenched culture of promoting peace even at the community level.
He emphasized the importance of cooperation and show of mutual respect for one another among individuals in the society, different religious and interest groups, and also within official and unofficial gatherings.
Governor Makinde, who received the award from the International Association of World Peace Advocates, expressed his gratitude and reiterated his administration’s commitment to promoting an inclusive environment where peace will continue to thrive.
The Executive Assistant on Administration to the executive governor, Reverend Idowu Ogedengbe received the award on behalf of Seyi Makinde.
“We must recognize that our diversity is our strength and by working together, we can overcome the challenges facing our society and build a more peaceful and prosperous future for all,” Ogedengbe said.
Religious leaders, women and child rights groups, socio-cultural organizations from various faiths and bodies took turns to address the audience, highlighting the role of spirituality in promoting peace while emphasizing the significance of love and mutual respect and peace building in any society.
Governor Makinde was particularly commended for the actualization of annual Isese Day celebration which was approved by Governor Makinde and gazetted by the state government as a public holiday to be celebrated every August 20.
Earlier in his welcome address, convener of the event, Reverend Femi Ibikunle, who is the Special Assistant on Interfaith Matters to Governor Makinde, said the 2024 International Day of Peace celebration in Oyo serves as a reminder of the potential for collaboration across religious lines and promoting a message of tolerance and understanding.
“We stand united in our commitment to peace. In a world rife with division, we must lead by example, and continue to show that our religions in Oyo state can coexist and enrich one another without strife or violence.
“Governor Seyi Makinde who has demonstrated by all ramifications and standards of measurement as true democrat and ambassador of peace out of his passion for harmonious coexistence graciously approved in an unprecedented manner, the annual celebration of Isese. We as the people owe it a duty to support and cooperate with the present administration in our collective quest for sustained public peace and tranquility.
Present at the event were the Commissioner for works, Professor Dawud Sangodoyin represented by R. A. Amoo, Oyo state CAN Chairman, Bishop Joshua Akinyemiju, Araba Awo of Oyo state, Chief Ifalere Odegbola, Chief Imam of Oyo Government House, Alhaji Adebayo Rofiu, SA on Islamic Affairs, AbdulRasheed Adewale, SA Culture, Hon. Adebayo Omolara, SA Project Monitoring, Seun Laurel, Executive Assistant on People Living With Disabilities, Olufemi Timothy, Baale Ekotedo, Chief Taye Ayorinde, and other top political and religious leaders in the state.
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