Justice Salihu Mohammed, who is the executive secretary of the council and a former grand Khadi of the state, said this on Tuesday when he spoke to journalists.
Islamic clerics on the Kwara State Council of Ulama have told traditional worshipers in the state not to hold their Isese holiday in Ilorin, which is the state capital.
Justice Salihu Mohammed, who is the executive secretary of the council and a former grand Khadi of the state, said this on Tuesday when he spoke to journalists.
Mohammed said that the planned Ifa event was a threat to the state’s safety.
So, the Ulama declared that the Ifa festival would not be allowed in any part of the Ilorin emirate, which includes the local government areas of Asa, Moro, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, and Ilorin South.
At the meeting are Imam Gambari, Ajanasi Agba, Sheikh Yusuf Pakata, Professor Badmas Yusuf, two former grand Khadis, Justices Idris Haroon and Ola Abdul Kadir, the former president of the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alhaji AbdulHamid Adi, and representatives of Imams and Alfas from all 16 local government areas of the state.
The Tribune quoted Justice Mohammed as saying, “Because of this, we felt it was very important to ask the Kwara state government and all other interested parties to ask the ICIR and similar groups to stay away from Ilorin, because the evidence we had showed that holding the event in Ilorin would have a very bad effect on the peace of Kwara state.”
“We are aware that our father, the Emir of Ilorin and head of the Council of Emirs and Chiefs in Kwara State, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has been criticized and insulted by people who should know better. This is unfortunate, wrong, and unacceptable.
“We don’t think anyone or any group has anything to gain from making it hard for people to live together peacefully.
“No person or group claiming to promote intellectualism or atheism can force the people of Ilorin Emirate, especially the Kwara State Council of Ulama, to destroy what our forefathers fought for.
“As community and opinion leaders in different places where we live, we know that different youth groups are ready to never let the so-called “Isese” event happen anywhere in Ilorin.
“To them, these kinds of activities would disturb the peace and quiet of the community because they see them as an attack and a form of cultural imperialism.
“As leaders, we agree with the Muslim kids’ point of view. We truly believe that people who don’t live in a community shouldn’t try to push their ideas or habits on the people who do. This goes against the idea of natural justice, and it will cause law and order to break down.”
The executive secretary of the Council of Ulama also said that it should be made “very clear that we are not against celebrating the Isese festival.”
“We, the people of Ilorin, have nothing to do with it,” he said.
He went on to say, “We know why they did this evil and horrible thing, but we want to warn you that Ilorin has moved on.”
“The Emirate may be a Yoruba-speaking city, but it is important to realize that its culture is no longer Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Nupe, or any other culture. It is now only Islamic.”
“Because of this, we suggest that they let peace rule in Nigeria. All we’re saying is that it shouldn’t happen in a place where the partygoers and the party wouldn’t be welcome. Ilorin is not one of the places where such an event should be held if the organizers are patriotic and want to do the right thing.
Mohammed asked Muslim youth and other important people to be patient, and he also asked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to “tell all the security agencies in the state to pay attention to this threat to the peace and security of the state.” “One stitch in time saves nine.”