Covid-19: Council of Ulama writes Abdulrazaq, seeks relaxation of directive on congregational prayer
By Mumini Abdulkareem
The Executive Secretary, Kwara Council of Ulama, Justice Salihu Olohuntoyin Mohammed has said the council has written to the Kwara State Government seeking relaxation of the directive on congregational prayers in the state.
The government while lifting the ban on religious activities in the state had listed conditions to be observed by religious organisations aimed to curbing the spread of Covid-19 in the state which the council rejected.
The conditions for the reopening of mosques include prohibition of persons above 65 year-old among others.
But according to Mohammed while speaking with newsmen on Friday on the situation said the council has forwarded request to the state government to relax the conditions.
“We held a meeting on the issue on Wednesday and produced a resolution which was presented to the Emir of Ilorin and the state Governor. The Emir has also constituted an ad-hoc committee to liaise with state government on the reopening of Jumua’at mosques”, he noted.
He expressed optimism that the state government will soon invite the council for dialogue on the reopening of the Jumua’at mosques across the state.
Meanwhile, for the second time in two weeks, Muslim communities across the 16 local government areas of Kwara have shunned Jumua’at service following inability to meet the state government conditions on reopening of worship centers.
Some mosque visited in some parts of Ilorin metropolis were all deserted by worshippers.
Some of the Jumat mosques visited were Emir of Ilorin central mosques, Oja-Oba, Al-Hilal Crescent central mosque, GRA, Ilorin, AbdulKareem Adisa central mosque and Nawair-U-Deen central mosque, Geri Alimi area, Ilorin.
