By Dele Moses, Ilorin
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and the leadership of the Muslim community in Kwara State have asked Muslims to hold this year’s Eid-el-Fitri prayers in their residences.
The Muslim faithful were counseled not to come out for the congregational prayers at the Eid praying grounds as it is done traditionally.
The Muslim leaders said this directive was important in view of the need to check the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
The directive was given as the ban on gathering for religious activities imposed by the state government is still in force.
The Imam Imale of Ilorin and the Vice Chairman of the Council of Ulamau in the Ilorin Emirate said in a statement that the Emir who is also the chairman of the State Council of Chiefs and Vice President of the Jamatul Nasri Islam of Nigeria enjoined Muslims in all parts of the state not to go to Eid praying grounds for the Eid-el-Fitr prayers.
The statement reads: “In a giant stride aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus from having a veritable space in Kwara State, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, chairman of the Kwara State Council of Chiefs, in his capacity has the Vice President-General of the Jamatul Nasri Islam has directed me to urge all the Muslim faithful in Kwara State to make a sacrifice by keeping off the various Eid praying grounds across the 16 Local Government Council Areas of the state for the forthcoming Eid-el-Fitri prayers.
“However, the Emir in conjunction with the Council of the Ulamau in the state had directed all the Muslim faithful to observe their two rakat Eid-el-Fitr prayers in their various homes or areas of domicile with their family members only.”
The Muslim leaders said that the directive of the state government concerning social distancing aimed at protecting lives and public safety must be complied with by the worshipers.
But Kano State Government insisted on Friday that Eid prayers will hold in mosques across the state on Sallah Day with strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje last Tuesday approved open prayers to mark the Eid Fitri.
Ganduje, who also approved Sunday service for Christians, mapped out protocols during the religious gatherings.
Reacting to Federal Government’s directive that religious gatherings should not take place during lockdown, Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, said Kano has no choice but to go ahead with approval for the Eid Fitri prayers.
According to him: “Our people will pray in mosques. We have already decided on this issue and strategies on how to ensure their safety have been put in place.
“Kano state government has been working hand-in-hand with the Federal Government in our efforts to curtail the spread of coronavirus.
“The COVID-19 protocols will be strictly adhered to by worshippers at the Eid- prayer ground.
“We have taken the decision for them to conduct Eid prayers in the state. To change gear now could amount to another thing and it makes no meaning.”
He added: “You are also aware that already, operational guidelines for the controlled easing of the pandemic-induced restriction has been released.
“Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has directed the state Hisbah Board
to hold meeting with Imams and deploy its personnel to Friday (Juma’at mosques) across the state to ensure that worshipers comply with personal hygiene through maintaining social distancing, hand washing with soap, use of hand sanitizers and face masks.”
A crucial security meeting is ongoing at the Government House with service chiefs in attendance.
The purpose of the meeting, presided over by Ganduje, may not be unconnected with a final decision on religious gatherings.