The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday, promised that his administration would provide N200,000,000 (two hundred million) to the Muslim Community in the state in the next three months to cushion the effect of hunger amongst Muslims in Edo.
Obaseki, who gave the assurance while playing host to the Edo Muslim community who were in the government house for a courtesy visit after the completion of the Ramadan fast, said his administration would continue to support the activities of Islam and other religious bodies in the state.
He said, “I want to use this opportunity to thank the Muslim community of Edo state, and in particular, the Chief Imam of Benin, Mallam Abdulfatai Enabulele, and those working with him, for their support over the years.
“I am grateful because, over the last seven and a half years, you have been a pillar of support to me and this administration. You have helped me consolidate and renew Edo and what we believe in as Edo people.
“For us, we are very open and fair; we believe in justice and equity, and we treat everybody the same, whether you are a Muslim or not.
I want to thank you for the peace you have continued to help us maintain in our state.
“The reason why we admire you is that, you practice your religion the way you leave, because Islam is a way of life.
“I can’t not continue to thank you enough, because listening to the Chief Iman today (Wednesday), he makes me realise that all of you (muslims ) are very close observers of what we are doing in Edo state and of the modest achievements that we have made”.
Continuing: “As government, we believe that we must work very closely with religious bodies, because, as I will continue to say, how many people can come to me at government house, how many people do I know personally that have not eaten today or are very sick and need medical treatment?
“But when citizens are in distress and despairs, they go to the Mosques and Churches to seek help. So, as religious bodies, you are dealing with lot of issues relating to citizens and that is why as government, I believe very strongly that we must corporate with religious bodies.
“There is hunger in the land, we need to support with palliatives. But beyond palliatives, as you always say, we should not just give you fish, but teach you how to fish.
“We will in the next three months spend about 200 million to Muslim community in the state to provide food/palliatives support. But, beyond that, we now want to work closely with you so that the young men and women who come to you everyday to look for support.
“We can bring our programmes to them, we can tell them that we have something called Edo jobs that gives people work, trains people in different fields”.
He added: “I want to thank you for the cooperation and the way you have conducted yourselves even when you are demanding and requesting government support , the way you go about it, leaves for me so much admiration that I am almost can’t say no.
“Going forward, I am using this opportunity to once again call on Muslim leaders and clerics to work much more closer with government that they have done in the past.
“I urged you to continue to have faith and believe that Almighty Allah will see us through this current challenges facing us as a country”.
Earlier, Mallam Enabulele, explained that Ramadan is a blessed period, where muslims are expected to attain abundant mercies, blessings, forgiveness of their sins as well as liberating themselves from shackles of hell and attain salvation of “our souls”.
He maintained that Ramadan Fast is one of the pillars of Islam, adding that Islam does not start and end with Ramadan as there is Islam after Ramadan, this is eve and he opined every Ramadan is aimed at guiding muslims against evils and sins in order for them to attain piety and righteousness.
He, however, commended governor Obaseki for his administration’s strides in the state, especially in the areas of civil service reforms, Education, Health, Sports and others. (Tribune)