Ahead of the 2023 general election, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has called on Nigerians to eschew politics of rancour and acrimony, but give serious consideration to the future of the country. He made this call at the inauguration of the Southwest  Executive of Arewa Consultative Forum and conferment of the award of Peace Ambassador on him by the forum, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, on Saturday.

He said: “We should rather consider the greater good of our nation as paramount in our thoughts and deeds. We must not allow politics to truncate what we have enjoyed in Ogun State. This administration has done everything within its capacity to lower the political temperature, to ensure that all issues relating to crime, criminalities and thuggery are lowered so that our people can be free to go about their businesses.”

He explained that as a multi-cultural and multi-religious society, tolerance and understanding remain the prime attributes needed for the overall economic development and well-being of the people. He emphasised that the state has a standing reputation as a place where different tribes, religions and ethnicity have been managed with good success, adding that Ogun State is proud to identify with all endeavours that help in promoting peaceful and conducive environments for investments and creation of individual prosperity.

Read Also: 2023: ‘I will defeat Abiodun, others’

“As I recognise this event as another contribution of the Arewa Community towards the promotion of peaceful co-existence in Nigeria, I am also very delighted to be honoured by the loving people at this gathering. I want to commend all our brothers and sisters from the Arewa Community across the southwest of Nigeria for today’s inauguration of the southwest executive council and the presentation of today’s award.

The governor, while appreciating the forum for the honour done to him, said the award would further propel his administration to take more proactive measures that would secure the people in the state irrespective of where they come from. In his address earlier, the National Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, Chief Audu Ogbe, represented by the Administrative Secretary, Alhaji Munir Mohammed, appreciated the state government for making Ogun conducive for all to carry out their daily business activities without molestation.

He noted that the state is one of the few that accommodate people from diverse culture, religious and political affiliations, stating that his people have enjoyed the hands of friendship extended to them by the indigenes of the state.