Christians warn Ajimobi against establishing Islamic Bank in Oyo

The umbrella body of Pentecostal Christians in the South West, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, has advised Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State against turning the state into a theatre of war through his plan to introduce Islamic Banking in the state.

National Vice President of PFN in the zone, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, spoke at the weekend in Ibadan.
Bishop Oke who is the presiding Bishop of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, advised the governor and Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao to shelve the plan because it will have adverse effect.
But in a reaction to Vanguard’s enquiries on the matter, the governor through his Senior Special Adviser on Public Communication, Dr Festus Adedayo said; “We believe that the highly revered man of God was misquoted as this allegation is not only untrue, it is spurious. In the event that he was not, we ask that he cross-checks his facts very well as there was never any such discussion between Governor Abiola Ajimobi and anybody over such matter.”
PFN’s allegation
According to Bishop Oke; because of the volatile nature of the state, it would be safer not to rupture the relative peace by leaving the controversial banking system untouched.
He said in a statement, “My attention has been drawn to a news item both in the print and electronic media on the ongoing move by the Oyo State Government to partner with Saudi Arabia to establish Islamic Banking in the state.
I am of the opinion that, within the few months that Governor Ajimobi has been in office, he has demonstrated a firm and passionate resolve to improve on the welfare of the masses and has come across as a just, non-sectional leader who wants to be fair to both Christians and Muslims alike.
“Likewise, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola–Alao is a man I know very well as a decent and responsible leader, a fervent muslim and a man of integrity. May I however state, that by dabbling into Islamic banking, the duo are setting a bad precedence in the state which may ignite unnecessary chaos.
“When it comes to religion, people don’t yield because it is a matter of conviction. Moreover the Word of God says in Proverbs 22:7 “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” In this wise, if such a deal is struck, then the whole of Oyo State will become a servant to Saudi Arabia/Islamic Development Bank.

Source: Vanguard Newspaper