By Sulaimon Olanrewaju
Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) testimony about Najashi, the Christian King of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia and Eritrea), was the crowning glory of his eventful reign.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH), who was experiencing severe persecution from the ruling Quraysh tribe in Mecca, had told his companions to migrate to Abyssinia to preserve their faith, saying, “If you were to go to Abyssinia, it would be better for you, for in it is a king under whom no one is wronged, and it is a land of truth…”
So, in 613 CE, a group of Muslims, among who were Uthman ibn Affan and Ja’far ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them), embarked on the first Hijrah when they set out on a long journey across deserts and seas to Abyssinia.
King Najashi lived up to his reputation; he accommodated the Muslims who sought refuge in his country. However, though the King and his people made the Muslims feel at home, the persecuting Meccans gave the faithful no respite as they chased them to Abyssinia, maligned them, and enticed Najashi with money, hoping to persuade the King to hand over the Muslims to them. But rather than dance to the tune of the Meccans, Najashi invited the Muslims to his palace and gave them an opportunity to state their own side of the story. After listening to them, the King said, “I will never hand over the Muslims to you. They are safe here in my land.”
So, the Muslims remained in Abyssinia for a considerable time.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was greatly impressed by King Najashi’s good leadership, and their relationship remained cordial despite being of different faiths and never meeting physically. The Prophet (PBUH) demonstrated his love and respect for King Najashi when an Abyssinian delegation paid a visit to him in Medina as he stood up to serve them food with his own hands. Similarly, when Najashi passed away in Abyssinia in 630 CE, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gathered his companions in Medina and performed Salat al-Gha’ib (the funeral prayer in absentia). This remains the only time in recorded history that the Prophet (PBUH) performed an absentia funeral prayer for a deceased person.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) went the extra mile for the King, not merely because of the latter’s support for the propagation of Islam and his kindness to Muslims, but primarily because of his migration (Hijrah) from exploitative and toxic leadership, which was the norm at the time, to ethical leadership and good governance, as well as his embrace of justice and fairness.
Taking a cue from the Prophet’s precept, Professor Kamil Oloso, a former Head of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, in an interview with this writer in 2025, said: “I will be answerable to God if I fail to speak about the goodness of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to Muslims in the state.”
Stressing his point, Oloso, who is the Wakeel Muslimeen of Oyo State, said all the injustices experienced by Oyo State Muslims in the past had been corrected by Governor Makinde, adding that no past administration in the state had been as benevolent or supportive of Muslims and Islam as Makinde’s administration has been.
His words: “We were worried that being a Christian, he might want to marginalise the Muslim Community in the state. But when we met with him, he assured us that he would be fair to all. And he has been fair to the Muslim Community in the state.”
Buttressing his position, the distinguished Islamic scholar mentioned the appointments of Muslims to key government positions, the approval of Hijrah Holiday as well as the employment of many Muslims during the recruitment exercise carried out by the state government, among others.”
Professor Oloso added that the religious harmony being experienced in the state could be attributed to the fairness of Governor Makinde to all and sundry.
Also attesting to Governor Makinde’s sterling leadership and uncommon support for Islam, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sa’ad Abubakar, who is the Amirul Mumini and the President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said the governor keeps his promises.
The Sultan, who was in Ibadan in 2023 to inaugurate the Adogba Mosque, which Governor Makinde rebuilt at his own expense following the demolition of the Organization of Tadhamunul Muslimeen Mosque by the state government, to make way for the Iwo Road bus terminal, said: “If you look at how the mosque was in the past and how it is now, there is nothing you can say but thank God for the life of Seyi Makinde for his thoughts and the way he implemented his thoughts.
“Many people promise to do something, but when it comes to implementation, they have problems fulfilling their promises.”
Sultan Abubakar said further, “I went round the whole area, I can assure you that there is no building as beautiful as this mosque. No matter where you come from, you will see the mosque, that is what we should do for our community. We should continue to build beautiful houses of God.
“The mosque is not only a place of worship, it is also a school. Now we have an Islamic school and a beautiful mosque, it is something that will encourage us to seek knowledge in this world and the hereafter.
“This is a good history, and we hope to have it in many places, so we are grateful to the Governor.”
In the same vein, the Aare Musulumi of Yourbaland, Edo and Delta States, His Eminence Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola Akinola, has consistently praised Governor Makinde for his love and support for Islam and its practitioners.
According to the revered Muslim leader, “Governor Makinde has been governing the state with the fear of God as well as being fair to the Muslim Ummah and adherents of other religions in the state.”
He added that “Makinde is a leader whose style of governance reflects vision, inclusiveness, and commitment to the welfare of the people of Oyo State.”
The Chief Imam of Ibadanland and Grand Chief Imam of Oyo State, Sheikh Abdul Ganiy Abubakri Agbotomokekere, has been unswerving in his praise for Governor Makinde for providing an enabling environment for Muslims to practise their belief and for also supporting them relentlessly. Going into specifics, the leading cleric said the Governor has built mosques and supported the renovation of Agodi Eid Praying Ground. He also cited Governor Makinde’s support to Muslims during Ramadan and Eid-el Kabir, sponsoring people on holy pilgrimage to Mecca and provision of buses to mosques and Muslim organisations.
Similarly, the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), Oyo State chapter, has repeatedly praised Makinde for being a leader who is not blinded by religious bigotry, but someone who is driven by a genuine desire for fairness and religious harmony.
NACOMYO, in a statement signed by the state coordinator, Alhaji Dawood Afolabi, hailed Governor Makinde for providing a leadership which is anchored in fairness and respect for religious diversity.
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as saying that believers are Allah’s witnesses on earth. The import of this is that the faithful’s predisposition is a reflection of Allah’s disposition.
So, Makinde may not profess Islam, but his actions and utterances show that he does not hate the religion. He may not observe salat five times a day, but he enables the observance of salat by building mosques and providing a conducive environment for the adherents of Islam to freely practise their religion. He may not have gone on pilgrimage to Mecca, but he has sponsored hundreds on the holy pilgrimage. He may not fast during Ramadan, but he gifts and fetes thousands of fasting Muslims. So, though not a Muslim by practice, Governor Makinde, like King Najashi, is a leader “under whom no one is wronged”, a governor who has turned Oyo State into “a land of truth…”
In addition, Governor Makinde is a waliyy, a friend of Allah (SWT), who occupies a special space in His heart. Because as stated by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), “Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build for him a house like it in Jannah”. And who would have a house in Jannah if not a friend of Allah and His Prophet (PBUH)?
•Dr Olanrewaju is the Special Adviser (Media) to Oyo State Governor.
