Oyo Government officials attended the Eid prayers at the Agodi Prayer Ground Ibadan on Wednesday to show support and solidarity for Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheik AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere, one of them has confided in The Nation.
The official, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation that the Chief Imam, being the religious leader in the state, deserved to be listened to and followed on issues bordering on religion in the city and state.
Top government functionaries that attended the Eid-prayers, giving it the needed political support include Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan; Head of Service, Mrs. Amidat Ololade Agboola; Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Abiodun Abdulraheem; Governor Seyi Makinde’s aides including Deputy Chief of Staff Mojeed Mogbanjubola; Special Adviser (Culture and Tourism), Mr Akeem Ige; Senior Special Assistant (SDG) Mr Kunle Yussuf and Special Assistant (Islamic Affairs), Alhaji Abdulrashid Abdulazeez among others.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; a former Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarunmi and Southwest zonal chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja were also at the Eid-prayer ground.
But Ex-Governor Rashidi Ladoja as well as Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Daud Makanjuola, were not at the prayer.
The official told The Nation that the opposition parties and other interests could capitalise on refusal to heed to the Chief Imam’s call by those in government circles.
The Wednesday prayer held despite directive from the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) that fasting should continue as a result of the non-sighting of the Shawal moon by authorities last night.
The directive makes the Ramadan month to extend to 30.
Although hundreds of Muslim Ummah gathered at Agodi Gate praying ground to observe two rakat in celebration of Eid il fitri, the attendance was lower compared with the usual busy nature of the exercise.
The reason, it was gathered, was because some faithful are still observing the fast.
Sheikh Agbotomokekere, while performing the two rakat prayer, urged Muslim faithful to always seek more knowledge about Islam as a religion.
In his sermon, he urged Nigerians to desist from all forms of sins, stressing the way it was done during Ramadan, it must also be sustained after Ramadan.
Sheik Agbotomokekere said: “What is not right is not right. Some of us are still doing what is not right and they are not bothered, whereas what is not good has no other name is than bad.
“Some people that are not in their right senses will say today is not a Sallah day, some people are worshipping human being instead of God.
“There is no way you can be worshipping human beings and think you are worshipping God.
“The two are different, human beings will die but only God will not die. So what will happen if the people they worship eventually die?
“We are done with the fasting, today is Sallah. We are no longer in fasting period, let us continue to do things in accordance with Islamic tenets and what the prophet Muhammed said.
“All the people that performed their fasting optimally will be rewarded with nothing but aljanna fridous. Despite paucity of funds, God provided all our needs during the fasting. This shows that we should depend on Him for all our needs for only God is the one that can do all things.”
I am surprised that an Halim of the calipher of Alhaji Sheikh Agbotomokekere can go all alone against the timing of the Id-Fitr celebration.His observance of the salah today against the world-wide and the modern day technology that confirmstomorrow celebration really scored him less in knowledge. He misled thousands of worshippers and shall account for them all on the day of judgement.He is advised to put-off his arrogant behaviour.