Aregbesola Charges Osun Hajj Pilgrims On Prayers For Successful Guber Election
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has charged intending Hadj Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to offer prayers for the successful conduct of the governorship election in the state when they arrive the Holy land.
The Governor held that the prayer became necessary as this year’s Hajj remains the closest to any elections since he assumed the leadership of the state about eight years ago.
Governor Aregbesola gave the charge during the Farewell Ceremony for the 2018 Osun Hajj Pilgrims, held at the state secretariat, Osogbo.
He called on the 599 intending pilgrims from the state to seek the face of God for free, fair, credible and peaceful gubernatorial election.
Aregbesola stated that the state is in need of prayers, ever than before, noting that their prayers would go a long way to earn the state a peaceful conduct before, during and after the governorship poll.
He urged residents of the state on the need to support his administration for continuity, saying his administration has delivered on his electoral promises to the people of the state.
The Governor said since the state couldn’t afford to lose all the legacies built by his administration across sectors, there is the need for the residents to support continuity.
According to him, this is the most crucial period in our collective existence as citizens of Osun as we moving towards ensuring peaceful, free, fair and credible governorship election.
“We need prayers for the success of the governorship election as it is not a coincidence that this year’s Hajj is the closest period to our governorship election since we assumed office almost eight years ago.
“So, the only thing I need from you (intending Hajj Pilgrims) is to pray for the success of the 2018 gubernatorial election in the state because we want peace to continue to reign in our state.
“Since Saudi Arabia is the Holy Land where prayers are answered, I want you all to dedicate prayers for the free, fair, credible and peaceful election to elect a worthy successor who will continue from where we will stop.
“However, it is on records that Osun has witnessed all round growth and development in all aspects of life, a feat that can never be allowed to stop.
“We have recorded giant strides in all sectors, we have made a difference in the socioeconomic and political landscape of our state as these claims could be attested to in the successes we made in the last seven and half years of our administration.
“So, we appeal to our people to continue to support our administration and display same gesture by voting for continuity as our state couldn’t afford to be backward again”, he added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Simeon Obawale Adebisi, disclosed that 599 intending Hajj Pilgrims are leaving the state for this year’s Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia.
He held that the state was able to fill the figure out of 964 Hajj-seat allocated to Osun by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Abuja.
Adebisi commended Governor Aregbesola for being supportive to the needs of the intending pilgrims from the state, noting that Osun has been taking the lead in all assessment and performance of Pilgrims.
According to him, “The last editions of Hajj were a success story and it is our plan and hope that this year’s exercise will be much more successful in terms of planning, execution and result
“At the beginning of this year, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Abuja, allocated a total number of 964 Hajj seats to the state on the strength of which forms were sold to members of the public and people from other states.
“For the year 2018 Hajj, 599 self-sponsored pilgrims and officials are embarking on the holy journey to Saudi Arabia.
“In order to make adequate arrangement, the preparation for this year’s Hajj started in November last year with the interview and screening of intending pilgrims, with a view to ensuring their physical, medical and spiritual fitness for the exercise.
“Mr Governor has magnanimously approved all the expenses for the board to organise the Hajj operation and our pilgrims have been provided with uniform dress, bags, Saudi sim cards among other incentives”, he added
