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As the Freelance Independent Broadcaster Association of Nigeria begins the celebration of its week, an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Sulaiman Ogunbona has urged members to be promoter of love and tolerance.
The cleric who commended the association for starting their week with prayers, however, emphasised the need for unity among the members.
He made this call on Friday when FIBAN members stormed the Ansarudeen Central Mosque at Agbeloba in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital to observed a special Jumat service as part of activities line up for the annual celebration of the association.
Members of FIBAN in attendance were Ayobami Adelani, the Chairman Planning committee; Musliu Sanni, Soji Akindiya;Olumide Awolowo, and Fisayo Ajibola.
Others were Alhaji Daud Alapotiowo, Alhaji Saheed Amidu, Sunday Ogunsola, and Saheed Ojubanire
In his sermon, Sheikh Ogunbona urged the members to continue showing love and not allow strangers amidst them.
He further said, “Don’t listen to hearsay; honour your leaders. Don’t give room for strangers.
“We do listen to you and we know you are good role model to the people. You are using your words to change the society positively… We are monitoring you and we know that you are doing the best to make a positive impact.”
The cleric however prayed for the souls of the deceased among them.
In his remarks, the FIBAN chairman, Olufemi Omilani explained that the association week is a way to reunite and pray for members.
Omilani noted that there would also be a special Church service on Sunday at Foursquare Gospel Church, Abeokuta.
He further said a memorial lecture, indoor games, novelty match, meetings with stakeholders in the broadcast industry, among others are other activities lined up for the FIBAN week.
He added, “the essence of FIBAN week, as usual, is to get ourselves together, to reunite and to pray for our association as well as the departed souls; to also pray for Ogun State and Nigeria in general.
“We attended the Jumat service today in order to pray for the departed souls. We are talking about the likes of Gbenga Adeboye, Toba Opaleye, Kola Olawuyi, Adio Hamsat Awikonko to mention a few. These were the people who were doing this job and handed it over to us before they died.
“So, we went there to pray for their souls and to pray for unity in our association and to also pray for peaceful coexistence among people of Ogun State and Nigeria.
“We started today with the Jum’at service, tomorrow there is going to be a break. On Sunday, we resume again with church service at Foursquare Gospel Church.
“On Monday, we are going to have lecture for the departed souls. We call it Gbenga Adeboye and Toba Opaleye memorial lecture. We do that every year.
“On Tuesday, we shall be having indoor games among Ogun FIBAN members at our secretariat at Nawarudeen, Abeokuta.
“On Wednesday, we shall host our leaders and elders. Because we don’t want to celebrate them after they have died; we want to celebrate them when they are still alive. So, that happens on Wednesday.
“On Thursday, there is going to be a football competition, a novelty match, between Ogun FIBAN and Splash FM team.
“Friday is the grand finale where we are expecting the deputy governor of Ogun State, Engr Noimot Salako as the special guest of honour, the SSG, COS, Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Waheed Odushile, Honourable Ladi Adebutu, among others.
“The governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun would declare open the event for us on Monday.”
