Oyo State Governor and 2027 presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has urged Nigerians to resist attempts to exploit religious differences for political gain ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Saturday at the opening of a three-day conference organised by the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland (Rabitatul-Aimmat Wal Ulamai Fi Bilaadi Yoruba) at the Jogor Centre in Ibadan, Makinde maintained that faith should serve as a bridge rather than a fault line, declaring that religion could never divide Oyo State.
To illustrate the deep religious harmony within his own lineage, the governor revealed that his late paternal grandfather was a Muslim and that Muslims make up the majority of his extended family.
“Makinde is the name of the father that gave birth to my father, who is my grandfather. He lived and died as a Muslim,” the governor said. “If I call our extended family meeting today, as we speak, 65 per cent will be Muslims. So, religion cannot divide us in Oyo.”
Addressing the gathering of Islamic scholars and stakeholders, Makinde appealed to clerics to use their pulpits to foster national cohesion as electioneering gathers momentum.
“I want to plead with you that we cannot be divided by religion. We are created by the same God. So, as this conference starts, let’s preach unity among us and don’t let us be divided by religion,” he added.
Clerics Rule Out Endorsements
In their remarks, leaders of the League of Imams and Alfas distanced the body from partisan politics, stressing that it would not endorse any political party or aspirant ahead of the 2027 polls.
Chairman of the League’s Board of Trustees, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullahi El-Ilory, stated that while clerics act as spiritual fathers to politicians, their constitutional and moral duty is strictly to pray for the emergence of credible leadership rather than campaign for candidates.
“We are religious leaders; we are not politicians, but we are the fathers of politicians. We will not declare support for any political party or politicians. We can only pray to God for Him to give us credible leaders,” El-Ilory said.
Echoing this stance, the President of the League, Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere, cautioned Islamic clerics against partisan entanglement, reminding them that their primary mandate is spiritual guidance.
“An Imam is not supposed to be involved in politics. Our focus should be to guide people and preach the religion of Islam in line with Islamic principles,” Kewulere stated.
Roll Call of Dignitaries
The conference drew prominent Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, and political figures across the South-West states of Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Lagos, and Ondo to deliberate on pressing issues affecting the Muslim Ummah and Nigerian society.
Notable attendees included the APM governorship candidate in Oyo State, Bimbo Adekanmbi, alongside his running mate, Open Salawu; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the state, Hazeem Gbolarumi; the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Afolabi Olaoye; and the Onigbeti of Igbeti, Oba Bashir Abioye.
Also present were the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Daud Akinola; Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulganiy Abubakar; Alfa Agba of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulbari Adetunji; Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh AbdulRasaq Ishola; Secretary-General of the League, Sheikh Mustapha Hamzat; Chairman of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Hashim Atere; Iyalode Adini of Yorubaland, Alhaja Sedeekat Aderibigbe; as well as Professors Amidu Sanni, Kamil Olosho, and Adam Surajudeen.
