Friday, June 27 has been designated as a day off for all Oyo State employees by the administration, which is led by Governor Seyi Makinde.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo, made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday, June 25.
Hijrah, the start of the new Islamic calendar, was celebrated by declaring the day off from work, according to Naija News. Phones from POCO
Muslims and other citizens of the state were urged by the statement to commemorate the Islamic New Year and consider the time’s spiritual significance.
Governor Makinde encouraged the state’s citizens to embrace the occasion to offer prayers for long-term harmony, peace, and prosperity for Oyo State and, by extension, Nigeria.
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The statement partially said, “The Governor encourages everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to pray for the peace, harmony, and prosperity of the state in particular, and the nation in general.”
The declaration states that the holiday is to be observed by all state offices and public institutions.
However, Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress’s (AAC) 2023 presidential candidate, has claimed that the government is more terrified of unarmed demonstrators than of violent threats.
In an interview with Arise Television on Wednesday, Sowore reportedly stated this while denouncing the government’s continued crackdown on nonviolent demonstrators.
“I do,” Sowore responded when asked if he thought the administration was afraid of protesters. I do, in full. They are more terrified of placards than they are of firearms because, although they are capable of responding to those who are shooting at the government, they lack the ability, capacity, and plan to stop the majority.
“Those with guns in their light numbers are less dangerous than those with placards.”
