Muslims In Ekiti Kick Against Proposed Demolition Of Mosque In Fuel Stations
Muslims yesterday took to the streets of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, to protest against the state government’s planned demolition of mosques constructed within petrol stations.
They described the proposed demolition by the government of Mr Ayodele Fayose as an attempt to oppress them.
The Muslims under the aegis of National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), said one of the affected mosques, built by a petrol dealer, Alhaji Suleman Akinbami within the premises of his petrol station in Adebayo area was donated to Muslim community.
The Commissioner for Lands, Mr Tai Otitoju, it was gathered, had on Monday evening visited the mosque and marked it for demolition, on the premise that worshipers can contact cancer from the radioactive emission from the petrol station.
Reacting to the development, Otitoju, said the state government is not targeting anybody, whether individual or group. He said that the planned demolition of the Mosque is to ensure that whoever comes to a fuel stations is safe.
“We want to ensure that there are few people converging at or around petrol stations as possible, insisting that what the government is saying is that it is not save to have a place of worship inside a petrol filling station, whether a church, a mosque or even a shrine”.
The youths who marched to resident of Chief Imam in the State, Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere and the palace of Ewi, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe to express their grievance on the matter were also at Adebayo area, where the mosque was located.
Alhaji Kewulere while addressing the protesters, assured that he would continue to liaise with government for peaceful resolution of the issue.
“Islam is a religion of peace and we have respect for leadership, so I beg that you allow the muslim leaders to look into this matter. We don’t want you to take laws into your hands, because this state belongs to all of us.
“We are going to meet with the governor to actually get the true position of things and we will do all that we need to do for peaceful resolution of this issue,” he said.
The state Coordinator of NACOMYO in Ekiti, Barr Tajudeen Ahmad, said Fayose could not afford to do this to Muslims who despite forming the 35 percent of the total population of the state he allegedly shortchanged them with low appointments in his government.
Urging the governor to have a rethink in the interest of peace Ahmad said “The proposed demolition is curious and we see it as an attempt to further oppress us. Governor Fayose made appointments and he put very abysmal numbers of Muslims into his government despite that we constitute 35% of the population in Ekiti.
“We are not violent people and e believe in leadership. We want to plead with Governor Fayose to reverse this action. How can a mosque located behind a petrol station constitute a health hazard to worshipers? Besides, it has been in existence for over a decade and if it can affect the worshipers, what would then happen to those selling
the product?,” he asked.
He added: “If truly this issue is not having political undertone, why did the government fail to issue requisite notices? Islam is not a riotous organisation, we will continue to dialogue but this action is worrisome,” he said.
Akinbami, who is the Secretary of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), has been having a running battle with the governor over the latter’s attempt to demolish petrol stations built in residential areas.
