Religion

Oyo Muslim Community To Float Security Network In Partnership With Government, Security Agencies

By Web News 1025

Muslim Community of Oyo State is to establish a security network to partner the government and collaborate with security agencies to enhance the safety of lives and property.

This is contained in a communique by the Chairman, Alhaji Kunle Sanni and the Secretary, Alhaji Murzik Siyanbade at the end of a day Unity Summit held at the University of Ibadan Central Mosque Conference Centre.

The communique notes that the community has resolved that the Muslim Security Network will collaborate with government and security agencies in intelligence gathering, community policing to enhance the safety of lives and property in the state.

The Chairman of the community, Alhaji Kunle Sanni had earlier during the summit threatened to pursue the usage of hijab by willing female students in public schools with legal action.

He said the idea of denying Muslim students from using Hijab in some government schools would no longer be tolerated as the community has concluded to go to court to seek legal action on the situation.

“What section 32:2 of the constitution says is that a Muslim is entitled not only to freedom of religion but freedom to manifest his religion. The use of the Hijab is a manifestation of Islam”.

The chairman noted that there were no state Muslim communities that has lost the case of the use of Hijab because the constitution is clear about it.

“When my friend Christopher Alao-Akala was the Governor, some Muslim teachers started using Niqab in Kishi and they were dismissed, they went to Court. The Christian judge not only adjudicated that the teachers have right to put on their Niqab as their religious right, but she also said their three years backlog of salaries should be paid”.

“We would Insha Allah go back to court because we want Hijab for all women in Oyo State”.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Host and Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Daud Akinola said the love of one another among the Muslim Ummah was essential emphasizing that the tenet of unity is love.

He explained that it has become imperative for Muslims to look inwards for the solution to the myriad of challenges facing the Ummah in Oyo State and beyond.

Chief Mustafa Bayo Oyero in his goodwill message, said unity is a paramount and veritable instrument to development which Muslims urgently need at the moment.

Chief Oyero who is the Chairman of Ibadan Muslim Community said, “What the chairman, Alhaji Kunle Sanni said was the experience of over 40 years which has not changed”.

“Muslims in power used Islam to nurture their own political ambition and empower their own selves”.

He added that it was high time that the community put in place a developmental agenda to advance the cause of the Ummah.

In his lecture, Sheikh Habeebullah Buhari enjoined the Ummah to hold on to the rope of Allah and shun tendencies capable of igniting conflict among the Muslims.

He said, “If you truly want unity, avoid fighting each other. If you don’t listen to commandments, you will lose out. Patience is imperative as this will enhance harmony and development”.

The summit drew representatives from different parts of Oyo State who came to deliberate on the unity of the Ummah in the state.

Ridwan Fasasi

Religion

Interfaith Dialogue Team Inaugurated In Oyo State

By Web News 926

A committee comprising of Christian and Muslim leaders for early responses to religious conflicts has been inaugurated in Oyo State.

The Committee to be known as the Oyo State Interfaith Dialogue Team is also expected to address human rights violations that are carried out in the name of religion.

At the inauguration of the committee, Co-Chairman, Central Coordination Council of Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, Ameer Jameel Muhammad said it has been identified that many violence being perpetrated in some states of the federation did not have any religious undertone as widely believed.

Ameer Muhammad, who said the dialogue teams would be set up in other states, pointed out that members of the team have undergone training on crisis management and ways to mitigate religious conflicts.

Also speaking, Chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni, who is also a national Co-Chairman of Interfaith Dialogue Forum and Oyo State President of Christian Association of Nigeria, Apostle Joshua Akinyemiju appealed to residents of Oyo State to shun religious differences as no religion supports violence.

The inauguration of the Oyo State Interfaith Dialogue Team was held symbolically at the state secretariat of CAN, Ijokodo and the secretariat of Muslim Ummah Southwest, MUSWEN, Iwo Road.

Olaolu Fawole

Politics

Ajimobi left a good legacy in Oyo State – Sen. Folarin, Others

By Web News 1529

Prominent personalities in Oyo State have continued to mourn the death of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

According to Senator representing Oyo Central Senatorial District, Teslim Folarin, he was consoled that Senator Ajimobi lived an impactful life.

Secretary to Oyo State Government during the regime of Senator Ajimobi , Alhaji Olalekan Alli said his boss would be remembered for being the brain behind the modern Oyo State. 

Chairman, Oyo State Muslim Community, Alhaji Kunle Sanni who prayed for the repose of the deceased noted that Senator Ajimobi was a bridge builder and reputable for his development stride.

Our correspondent reports that since the demise of Senator Ajimobi, his Oluyole residence in Ibadan has been playing host to different categories of people.

Ridwan Fasasi

Religion

Religious Leaders disagree over opening of Worship Centres in Oyo

By Web News 2362

Religious leaders in Oyo State have expressed divergent opinions over lifting of suspension placed on religious gathering 3 months ago during the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. 

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, Chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni said he was not in support of reopening of mosques in the state due to the rising cases of COVID-19.

“As far as I’m concerned, the governor has not convinced us that the spike of the pandemic has subsided and therefore it would be extremely risky to tell the people to come to mosque and get infected”. 

He said the Muslim Community of Oyo State would soon take a stand on the state government’s decision, as he was personally not in support of reopening of mosques noting that the rate at which the virus was spreading in the state was alarming.

“In a few days’ time, the meeting of critical stakeholders will address the situation and come out with the position of Oyo State Muslim community”.

Alhaji Sanni wondered why the state government did not carry the community along compared to the past stressing that Chief Imam of Ibadanland was also not contacted as some members of the community had resolved not to open their mosques including Ibadan Central Mosque, Ojaba.

“Government should have called for the meeting of religious bodies as done in the past to seek their opinion before taking the decision of opening religious centres. From the feelers we got even the Chief Imam of Ibadanland was not consulted and the Ibadan Central Mosque, Ojaba will not be opened for Jumat service. The same thing for some prominent Islamic organisations like Ansarudeen that its national headquarters has directed that their mosques all over the country should be under lock”.

“Also, as Muslims, we have a leader, The Sultan is our leader in Nigeria. The federal government had said mosques can open but the national mosque in Abuja is under lock as it was not open for Jumat last week, which means the Sultan who is our spiritual leader has not directed us to open mosques”.

He noted that the idea of allowing 25 percent worshippers in the mosque was not feasible as such would bring about discrimination and misunderstanding. 

“Part of the protocols according to the state government is that only 25 percent should come to mosques, how do we discriminate between one person or the other from entering the mosque on Friday?  You will come to the mosque and we will say you cannot enter, then you will see other Muslims entering, it will create a lot of confusion and anarchy if I can put it that way”.  

Alhaji Sanni noted that praying at home during pandemic was Islamic as this would prevent either contracting or spreading the coronavirus. 

“As Muslims, we believe that you don’t have to go to mosques before you can pray and that is why during the period of Prophet Muhammad, Peace be onto Him and there was a pandemic, the prophet instructed that people should pray in their homes. Every space on surface of the earth is a mosque, you can pray there”. 

In a contrary opinion, Chairman, Christian Council of Nigeria Oyo state, Reverend Stephen Adekunle said the churches were pleased with the reopening stressing that there had been meetings of leaders under the State Chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to finetune on making churches model by putting measures in place to prevent spread of COVID-19. 

“Churches are ready to become standards as they used to be. As we resume by opening churches, social distancing and other regulations should be strictly adhered to and people should face the reality of the challenges of COVID-19”.

Reverend Adekunle who is also the President, Ibadan Baptist Conference said the closure of worship centres had opened the minds of church leaders to look inward to explore other ways of preaching the words of God. 

“During the closing of churches in the first place, we had not closed down the daily programmes like reading of the scriptures and other activities. However, it has opened our eyes and our minds to other ways by which we can disseminate the gospel”.

He said the leadership of CAN had been meeting the state government on the development urging Christians to be law abiding and avoid acts that can lead to the spread of coronavirus.

“We have been meeting with the government. The CAN executives have been meeting with the government for sometimes and the head of churches had met at CAN Secretariat to discuss on modalities of opening of churches”.

Reverend Adekunle called on the state government to support churches to manage the challenges of COVID-19.

“People should pray to God that we will adjust to the aftermath of COVID-19. I want to challenge the government to help us to manage COVID-19 by supporting Christendom in order to make progress and we will be praying for the government”.

Governor Seyi Makinde had early this week approved the resumption of religious activities in the state, with the directive that mosques and churches should operate at twenty- five percent capacity.

According to the data from Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Oyo state is number four on the table after Lagos, Abuja and Kano with 764 positive cases.

Ridwan Fasasi

Yoruba

Egbe Awon Musulumi Nipinle Oyo Tako Sisi Awon Mosalasi Pada

By Web News 1180

Alaga egbe awon Musulumi nipinle Oyo, Alhaji Kunle Sanni sope oun ofaramo igbese sisi awon ibudo ijosin nipinle Oyo.

Alhaji Sanni, nigba to nba awon oniroyin soro nilu Ibadan sope loto egbe awon Musulumi nipinle Oyo koti gbe igbese yoowu lori ipinu ijoba lati sii awon ile ijosin, amoo ohun ko faramo igbese naa nitori bi aleekun se ti n baa akosile arun Covid-19.

Alhaji Sanni sope esin Islam faye gba awon olujosin lati gbadura nile kowa nigba yoowu tajakale arun bawa.

Ewe, adari awon Musulumi oun wa fikun pe igbese tin lo lowo lati sepade po pelu awon Musulumi nibiti kowa yoo ti so ero re lori igbese naa.

Yemisi Dada