The immediate past Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has recountered how he net his political associates under the guise of Ramadan preaching years ago when he was in the opposition.
The former minister was reminiscing on how he survived being in the opposition for about 20 years when he lost the governorship bid in Kwara State.
Speaking with pressmen shortly after a welcome reception in his honour by his community in his hometown of Oro, Irepodun Local Government Area, in Kwara State.
OsunDailyNG recalls that the former minister lost a governorship election in the state 20 years ago.
Recalling how he survived the political struggles of being in opposition till 2015, when his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), came to power at the state and federal level, Lai said he was asked to go home more frequently to relate with his people.
He said, “They suggested that I pick one activity yearly that would allow me to relate with my people in Oro regularly and suggested the Ramadan Talk.
“So, I will come to Oro every Ramadan, and under the guise of preaching Ramadan, I met my political associates, and we are where we are today.”
Speaking further, the former minister noted that his hometown, Oro was one of the most religious tolerant towns in the country.
While explaining how the proposed Ramadan Talk went, he stated that “It is instructive that I started the Ramadan at the Muslim praying ground, which I think is normal.
“But after two years, the Muslim praying ground was unavailable because it was undergoing renovation.
“I was then advised to move the event to Ilorin, the state capital, by some Muslim clerics.
“Then I informed my community of the shift in the venue, but they advised that we should hold the talk at St Andrew’s Catholic Church here in Oro. I felt a little bit surprised.
“They told me that in Oro, there is no difference between a Muslim and a Christian, and for the next three consecutive years, I held the Ramadan talk at St Andrew’s Catholic Church.
“To me, this is a big statement about the tolerance of people. I only hope that other communities will also borrow a leaf from Oro. Religion is a matter of choice. My people are religiously tolerant.”
