Hunpe Calls For Religious Tolerance As Ramadan & Lent Converge
By Saheed Afolabi
The Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, has appealed to all religious faithful in the ancient town to embrace tolerance, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence as a foundation for progress and harmony.
This appeal came during the Annual Ramadan Lecture organized by the Unified Local Government Muslim Staff Association (Badagry Branch) at the Council Secretariat. The event, themed “From Submission to Excellence: The Journey of a Rising Muslim,” brought together Muslim staff and community members for reflection during the holy month.
Hunpe described Ramadan as a blessed season of spiritual renewal, self-discipline, and compassion.
He urged residents regardless of faith to draw from its profound lessons and apply them in daily life to foster unity and collective advancement in Badagry.
The council boss highlighted the remarkable coincidence this year, when the Islamic month of Ramadan and the Christian season of Lent began around the same time. He presented this as a divine sign of God’s love for humanity and a clear call for people of different faiths to live in harmony.
He emphasized that true leadership and community progress depend on peaceful coexistence, adding that his administration remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote moral values, interfaith dialogue, and the wellbeing of all residents.
The Guest Lecturer, Dr. Mustapha Adebayo Bello, a Senior Lecturer in Islamic (Cultural) Studies at Lagos State University’s Department of Religion and Peace Studies, delivered an insightful address aligned with the theme. He said that excellence for a Muslim and indeed for any believer comes through steadfast faith, good character, knowledge, discipline, and positive contributions to society.
Dr. Bello encouraged empathy across divides, noting that Islam teaches peace, compassion, and respect for humanity.
He advised participants to avoid troublemaking, honor authority, live exemplary lives, hate sin rather than sinners, choose forgiveness over vengeance, and extend love to others for God’s sake.
