The Christian and Muslim community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Saturday, March 1, 2025, applauded the Director General (DG)of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi for his pragmatic leadership style, bridge building, and his commitment to unity.
Leading the Muslim group, Prof Khalid Aliyu Abubakar, who is the Secretary General of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), Prof. Khalid Aliyu Abubakar, said the breaking of Ramadan Fast which was convened by the DSS boss was first of its kind, prayed for Allah’s wisdom upon Mr Ajayi to help overcome the challenges of securing Nigeria.
Present at the event were some senior Imams of the National Mosque, Abuja that included Prof. Kabir Adam, Bar. Harun Muhammad Eze, Imam National Mosque, Sheikh Dr. Tajuddeen Adigun, the Chairman, committee of FCT Imams, Imam Fuad of Al-Habibiyyah Mosque and Dr. Bashir Abdullahi Ismail – Imam FOMWAN.
On the Christian team at the event were Revd. Canon Smart S. Simon, CCN FCT Asst. Council Secretary, Rev’d Fr. Peter Babangida Audu, CSN, Rev. Nicodemus Izuchukwu, Fr. Michael Banjo, CSN, Fr. Boniface Idoko, CSN and Snr. Special Apostle Beneni lyaye of the CAN FCT Secretariat.
Prof Abubakar prayed for Allah’s wisdom upon the DG to help navigate the current complexities of nation-building, noting that Mr. Ajayi, despite being the son of Christian Clerics, has made history.
Prof Abubakar appreciated the DSS DG’s kind gesture of hosting their first Iftar meal for 2025, stressing that in spite of the fact that Mr. Ajayi being the son of a Christian cleric, he still thought it significant to assemble Muslims and Christians across the Federal Capital (FCT) together to the break of the Muslim fast, saying that the DSS boss “made history”.
Speaking in turn, Reverend Adams applauded the DG’s kindness and called on other leaders to emulate the initiative, adding that the DSS Director General had shown true love for others, which is the core of the Christian faith.
Adams further noted that Nigeria is blessed with diverse cultures, ethnicities, and faiths, which sometimes pose challenges to cohesion, adding however, that if harnessed, can make it the envy of other nations.
The Christian clergy lauded the DSS boss for his leadership style which he noted has helped made Nigeria safer, thus encouraged DGSS to remain undeterred and to keep the faith for the country to achieve greatness.
The Christian leader commended the pragmatic leadership style, bridge-building effort, and the sense of unity with which the DGSS convened the event.
Reverend Adams challenged other security chiefs and other national leaders to emulate Mr. Ajayi, whom he noted has demonstrated true love for others as taught by Christ.
The event brought together Christians, Muslims, and peoples of other faith in the country, including the less privileged and physically challenged persons was part of efforts aimed at fostering harmony amongst various religious believers.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, said the event was part of efforts aimed at fostering harmony amongst Muslims. Christian and other faith.
It was an event, the DG-DSS described as a tradition, saying that over the years, “his commitment to fostering unity, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence during such periods of Ramadan and the Lenten season, has never wavered”.
Mr Ajayi said that even though he is a Christian, it had become a tradition for him, to identify with Muslims during the holy month, adding that he believes such would help deepen religious harmony and trust, even as he looks forward to the beginning of the Lenten season in a few days.
The DSS boss therefore called for greater religious harmony amongst Christians and Muslims in the country, saying that the event which had in attendance several less privileged persons and those with special needs in the FCT was a demonstration of a gesture of love and peace that comes with Ramadan.
It was gathered that the DG DSS will be extending the same gesture to the Christian community, who are expected to commence the Lenten season in a few days time.
The event was leveraged to extend the spirit of the holy season to some less privileged from across the FCT.
