Notice: Undefined index: banner_ad_width in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 359
Notice: Undefined index: image_width in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 359
Notice: Undefined index: banner_ad_height in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 360
Notice: Undefined index: image_height in /home/ayekooto/public_html/wp-content/plugins/quick-adsense-reloaded/includes/render-ad-functions.php on line 360
Following the stringent conditions attached to the resumption of religious gatherings, Muslim faithful across Kwara state shunned mosques last Friday for Jumat service.
Meanwhile, the Christians are preparing to resume Church service on Sunday, findings have revealed.
Kwara State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Most Reverend Paul Olawoore told Vanguard weekend that the churches in the state are prepared to resume worship on Sunday, provided all the conditions are met.
He said a committee had been put in place to monitor compliance of the conditions which include Infrared to check members temperature, sanitizer and handwashing equipment and compulsory nose masks for all members.
CAN chairman also said already he had visited three churches which had complied with the directive, while monitoring of the churches still continues.
“All these equipment must be in place and some churches have already procured nose masks for those who might not come with theirs because everyone must use the nose mask. I have visited three churches and they complied with the directives,” He said.
Meanwhile a Christian, Mrs Christiana Oladeji told Vanguard that her family won’t attend Sunday Worship because she couldn’t leave her three growing up children of ages 1, 3, and 4 at home and attend service.
Meanwhile virtually all the mosques in Ilorin, Kwara state capital remained under lock on Friday as they were not opened for worship in strict adherence to the directive of Council of Ulamas until the guidelines were reviewed by the government.
The guidelines indicated that members above age 65, should stay away from the mosque, while ablution must be performed at home before coming to the mosque among others.
A Muslim faithful in Ilorin, Tunde Olarinoye in his reaction said that nobody in his right senses would go for Jumat service because the conditions attached to it are not realisable,”
“So I just stayed in my house”, he stressed
He added, “Most of the Imams are over 65, and we are to perform ablution from home, these are tough conditions”.
In its resolutions issued shortly after the council meeting held on Thursday, the Secretary of Council of Ulama, Justice Salihu Olohuntoyin Mohammed (rtd) said, “The conditions released by the state government are very difficult to adhere to based on our peculiarities.”
According to him, “Majority of stakeholders are about the age limit of 65 years listed for non-participation in prayers/jumat service. In islamic parlance, Imams are the leaders of congregations and majority of them are within the age bracket of 65 and above.
“We also observed that each of the conditions listed by the government cannot be implemented due to the fact they are very difficult to be enforce strictly. We urge the government to allow Jumat mosques to remain closed in the interim and ensure review of the guidelines.”
The group therefore maintained that the actions are taken in line with the safety protocols of the federal government/Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC) and advised worshipers to remain law abiding.
Reported by: Fatimah Oyesanmi
Comment here