Christian leaders drawn from the nine local government areas of Oyo South Senatorial District, under the auspices of Odidiomo Imole Vanguard, have endorsed the senatorial ambition of the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) candidate, Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Olajide Odidiomo, ahead of the 2027 general election.
The endorsement came to fore at a gathering of Christian stakeholders from across the senatorial district, with representatives of the five blocs of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) participating in the engagement. The meeting provided an opportunity for the candidate to interact directly with Christian stakeholders on his political aspiration, his record in public office and his proposed agenda for Oyo south senatorial district
Speaking at the gathering, Hon. Adedeji Olajide Odidiomo highlighted what he described as the important role of Christians and faith based organizations in promoting peace, moral values, education, community development and responsible leadership.
The APM candidate said his aspiration was not founded on religious considerations, stressing that his interest was to provide representation that would accommodate people of different faith, background and communities across the nine local government areas of Oyo south senatorial district.
Hon. Olajide Odidiomo said his relationship with the christian community had been built over time and was not limited to the 2027 political season. He maintained that public office should be used to bring people together and address issues affecting their welfare, irrespective of religious affiliation.
According to him, “I am an advocate of peaceful co-existence among all religions. I believe Christians and Muslims should work together, live together and build a better society together. Leadership should not be about dividing people along religious lines but about bringing everybody together.”
The lawmaker further solicited the support of the christian community for his senatorial aspiration, assuring the stakeholders that, if elected, he would remain accessible and responsive to the interests of the people across the district.
He said his proposed representation would place emphasis on human capital development, education, technology, employment, healthcare, infrastructure and economic opportunities, adding that the interests of both Christian and Muslim communities would be accommodated in his approach to representation.
Hon. Olajide Odidiomo also used the occasion to highlight his support for Christian religious activities, noting that his interventions in this regard were part of what he described as his commitment to supporting people of different faiths.
He disclosed that he had consistently facilitated the participation of Christians from the district on holy pilgrimage to Jerusalem, just as he had supported members of the Muslim community undertaking their own religious pilgrimage.
According to him, another 10 Christians have been shortlisted for the next pilgrimage, as part of the support being extended to members of the Christian community.
Olajide said the gesture was not intended to create religious preference, but to demonstrate his belief that public representatives should respect and support the religious identities and legitimate interests of the people they represent.
He said: “I am an advocate of peaceful coexistence among all religions. I will continue to support both Christians and Muslims because everybody deserves to be carried along.”
Responding, the christian stakeholders at the gathering, expressed support for the Odidiomo campaign and pledged to take the message of his senatorial agenda to their respective communities.
They said the engagement had provided an opportunity to hear directly from the candidate and examine his priorities for the senatorial district.
