The Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, RT. Hon Timothy Owoeye has called on Muslim faithful and Nigerians to emulate Prophet Muhammad’s shining virtues of compassion, tolerance and commitment to peace for a better future of the country.
The speaker in a message by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Alabi to Muslims on the occasion of Maulud to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad reminded Muslims that the greatest honour they could do to the Holy Prophet was to practise his positive examples by allowing for peace to reign in Nigeria.
Owoeye expressed sadness over the activities of the past weeks where some misguided elements in some parts of the country took to the streets to loot and destroy both government and private property, saying such actions are inconsistent with the virtues for which Muhammad was known for.
He held that Prophet Muhammad is famous for his respect for life, tolerance and avoiding violence against the innocent, adding that what was witnessed in Osun and other parts of the country was never part of the virtues that the Prophet lived for.
The Speaker therefore encouraged Muslims clerics to preach love and what the Prophet lived for and that the Maulud celebration should be an occasion for sober reflection and a reminder that we should be good ambassadors of Islam.
He said, “I want to admonish that we imbibe the spirit of love, patience and perseverance which are the virtues of the Holy Prophet, by doing so, we would be ensuring peace, security and development of our country.”
“We should always abhor violence, lawlessness, looting and destruction of property as witnessed across the country, our youth should embrace peace and cooperate with governments in their effort to build a virile state and a prosperous nation.”
“Youth should be seen and known as agent of development, hope and future of the nation as against what we witnessed from some few youths whose actions almost threatened the few gains of democracy in the land.”
The Speaker enjoined all Nigerians to avoid a repeat of the ugly incidents witnessed in the past weeks, saying it is in the interest of national development and peace.
