Chaos As Ekiti Muslims Protest Proposed Demolition of Mosques

The Muslims under the aegis of National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), described the proposed demolition as an attempt to oppress them by State Governor Ayodele Fayose.

The government has announced its plan to demolish Mosques built within the premises of petrol stations across the state, stating that it will start with a petrol station built by Alhaji Suleman Akinbami at Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti.

The Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Taiwo Otitoju, had visited the mosque at about 5p.m. on Monday and marked it for demolition, on the grounds that worshippers can contact cancer from the radioactive emission from the petrol station.

He categorically stated that the demolition was not targeted at any person, saying “it was done to save lives. How can anybody get approval for the building of a petrol station and later build a religious centre inside. This is not about mosques, churches too will be pulled down if found in such situation.”

The Chief Imam of Ekiti State, Alhaji Jamiu Kewulere, addressing the protesters who had marched to brief him, promised that he would liaise with the 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 the 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 Coordinator of NACOMYO in Ekiti, Mr. Tajudeen Ahmed, described the situation as akin to adding insult to injuries, saying Fayose could not afford to do this to them after allegedly shortchanging them with low appointments of Muslims in his government.

“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 per cent of the population in Ekiti.

“We are not violent people and we believe in leadership. We want to plead with 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.