Aregbesola Condemns Iran-Saudi Arabia Proxy Conflict, Advocates Tolerance, Peace

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has condemned in it totality the proxy conflict between the two powerful Islamic countries Iran and Saudi-Arabia that had claimed lives in recent time.

Aregbesola said the persecution of the victims would portray the two countries in bad light, hence the need to strengthen peace, tolerance and love.

He stated this on Tuesday while playing a host on the ‎members of Muslim Media Watch Group‎, at Government House, Osogbo.

The Governor who described as an ‘unchecked acrimony’, the cold war between the two countries maintained that if not quickly nipped in the bud could escalate to other parts of the Islamic world.

Aregbesola posited that a crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran spells doom for the entire Muslim world because of their position, stressing that it is totally wrong for an individual to be persecuted because of what he or she believes in.

He condemned in totality a situation where groups of people are being persecuted for their beliefs, saying such acts will make such group to feel being intimidated, thus leading to a strong revolt and resistance which may eventually lead to chaos and violence in the society.

Governor urged intellectuals of the religion to look for a means of mediating between the powerful countries that represent the religion of Islam, so as to guide against violence from erupting in other parts of the world.

According to Aregbesola, “The proxy cold war between the two powerful islamic countries, Saudi Arabia and Iran if not quickly checked could lead to bigger crisis which is not good for the entire muslim world.

“I know the crisis is all about tolerance and that is why I condemn in totality anything that can hinder peace, love and tranquility among the different religion adherents.

“There is no way you will show disaffection to people of other faiths or beliefs that it would not lead to resistance from them because they will feel persecuted and definitely violence will erupt.

“Many Muslims all over the world look to these two giant countries for the way they do things, hence the need to avert anything that could cause disaffection.

“I urge us to be more tolerant to one another‎ because that is what God preaches. No religion preaches against tolerance as God Himself preaches love and we can only serve God by showing love to one another.”

Earlier in his remarks, the National Coordinator of the group, Ustas Ibrahim Abdullahi applauded Aregbesola for promoting religious tolerance in the state.

Abdullahi also lauded the massive infrastructural developments which the present administration has achieved in the last seven and a half years.

He described the achievements made by the Aregbesola’s administration in all sectors as unprecedented since the creation of Osun.

The coordinator added the group decided to visit Mr Governor in recognition of success which the state has recorded since inception of the present administration.