As Muslims celebrate sallah globally , the Ekiti State Commissioner for Youth Development, Hon. Gold Adesola Adedayo, has appealed to Muslim Youths to always act as proponents of peace and religious tolerance.
Adedayo described Islam as a religion of peace and unity, saying Muslim Youths under the umbrella of National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) must consider themselves strategic and relevant in propagating the ideal for which the religion incurably stands.
The Commissioner said these in a statement released on Friday, congratulating Muslim Ummah on this year’s Sallah celebration.
Speaking about the significance of Eid-el-Kabir, the Commissioner, urged the Muslim adherents to be virtuous and live by the doctrines of honesty, sacrifice, obedience and resilience manifested by Prophet Ibrahim, the father of faith.
Adedayo, who praised Ekiti Muslim Youths for their cooperation with Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration, said religious extremism remains a serious plague that hinders social order, unity and economic prosperity of any nation.
The Commissioner, said: “In most of the countries where there are religious upheavals and social disorders, Youths are always culpable. This is not limited to Islam alone, but across all religions.
“Youths are the ones often fond stoking the ember of religious dissonance shaking the foundation of any country. But I appreciate Ekiti Muslim youths for rising above this pedestrian thinking and are in one accord and convergence with their christian counterparts to move Ekiti forward.
“As patriotic Nigerians, we all owe it a duty to ensure that Nigeria enjoys limitless and invincible religious accord. No nation that groans under the burden of religious disturbance and acrimony can prosper.
“Let us all ruminate on how best we can deploy our God- given potentials to make Ekiti and Nigeria great. I congratulate you on this occasion and wish you a memorable time during this festive season”.
Adedayo pledged the resolve of Governor Oyebanji to ensure religious balancing in the state, saying no effort will be spared to protect the Muslim youths under this context.
He showered accolades on the Muslim youths for their contributions to the socio-economic and political development of the state, urging them to make more sacrifices for the shared prosperity for all mantra of Biodun Oyebanji to be attainable.
“Part of the sacrifices you can make as Muslim youths is to eschew violent conducts that can trigger religious violence.
“You should also desist from criminal tendencies like internet fraud, kidnapping, robbery, moral corruption and other tendencies that can portray Ekiti in bad light”, he advised.