By Adeyinka Adeniran
The Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland and a former governor of Oyo State, Oba Rasidi Ladoja has explained his reasons for staying away from the official state Eid Prayer Ground, located at Agodi Gate, Ibadan.
The former governor who recounted that he last joined worshippers in 2011 said his staying away was not for anything political, as been speculated in some quarters.
He said, he opted for the Eid Prayer Ground inside the University of Ibadan, Ibadan because the environment is more conducive to listen to sermon and concentrate more.
However, he assures that, he has discussed the issue of good audio quality for people who are also attending the Agodi Eid and that with the improvement, he will participate more there from the next Eid.
He spoke in a remark while joining other faithful who visited Governor Seyi Makinde on Sunday, shortly after observing the Eid-el-Fitri prayer at the Agodi, Ibadan, Prayer ground in commemoration of the end of the Ramadan fast.
The visit held at the Ikolaba private residence of Governor Makinde.
Oba Ladoja urged Nigerians to be more patient with the government both at the state and federal levels, saying there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Ladoja said, “I was last at the Agodi Eid Prayer Ground in 2011. I have since been attending the University of Ibadan (UI) Eid because there, we usually have opportunity to listen to sermon. The place is usually calm, maybe it’s because they have plenty security operatives.
“Everyone sits there quietly until the Imam finishes all the prayers and sermon before we leave for home.
“I have discussed with some people that we must make arrangements for sound quality audio (at Agodi Eid Prayer Ground) so that everone will be able to hear the sermon clearly. There should be a difference from the next Eid.”
He also delivered the goodwill message of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, urging all residence to be optimistic of a better state and country.
He recounted the sermon of an Imam who preached sometimes ago and who foretold the faithful that God was going to test the people with some inconveniences for a while after which there will be ease and surplusity.
He expressed confidence in God, the leadership of President Tinubu and Governor Makinde to bring about better tomorrow.
“The Olubadan asked me to greet everyone on the occasion of the Eid. He asked me to assure us all that everything that is not enough now will soon be in excess.
“Let us all the enduring with the current situation of the country. The President has asked us to be patient and I know that by the grace of God, everything will soon get better.
“And I remember that, the Imam who sometimes preached at the UI Eid said God will test us with insufficiency, lack, trouble and others and that after the short trial, peace, joy and ease will come.
“May God preserve our loves until the time that the ease and surplusity will come.
“I greet us all in the name of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, I greet the governor and all Ibadan residence.
“By God grace, things will be better than what we have today and with the leadership of President Tinubu and Governor Makinde”, Oba Ladoja added.
