Change: Saraki, APC Govs, Chieftains Boycott Eid Grounds Over Fear of Mass Stoning
Saraki, Ahmed absent at Eid prayers one year after stoning incident at same location
Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara and Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki aswell as top government functionaries were conspicuously absent at the Eid-el-Fitri prayers on Wednesday in Ilorin.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both the governor and Saraki were usually present at the Eid praying ground during Sallah celebrations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both the governor and Saraki were usually present at the Eid praying ground during Sallah celebrations.
No reason was given for their absence although a top Government House source told NAN that the governor prayed at a private mosque in the state capital.
NAN also reports that the duo usually paid the traditional homage to the Emir, Alhaji Sulu Gambari, immediately after the Eid prayers.
They were, however, absent for the traditional homage and the accompanying Durbar which often followed the Eid prayers.
NAN further reports that Ahmed had last year stayed away from the Eid praying ground while those who attended with the senate president were pelted with stones and sachet water by angry workers whose salaries were not paid.
NAN also reports that there was a fracas at the palace of the emir who was hosting this year’s traditional “ night of prayers’’ on Sunday.
A palace source confided in NAN that mid way into the programme, a cleric rose to defend government’s inability to pay workers’ salaries and this drew the anger of the people.
The source told NAN that the crowd went berserk, disconnecting the electricity supply to the venue and freely throwing chairs at dignitaries at the event.
The Secretary of Sheikh Alimi Foundation, Abdulazeez Arowona, in a statement confirmed there was fracas at the palace during the programme. (NAN)
This is a fact…… AYB sneaked out to pray elsewhere based on security tip.
In a related development, the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello plan to join other Muslim faithfuls to pray at the Lokoja Eid Central Praying Ground to perform this year Eid-El Fitr prayers, was abruptly canceled.
A government source, yesterday, told this reporter that Bello will be going to Okene to perform his prayers.
The cancellation is not unconnected to security threats to the governor from irate workers who had threatened to attack him should he step foot on the central praying ground.
It would be recalled that since the creation of Kogi State in 1991, no Muslim governor has ever perform Eid-El Fitri prayers outside Lokoja, the state capital.
Recall that the ongoing strike by workers in Kogi State has grounded government activities and other operations including financial sector.
The strike, which began last week Monday, was called by leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart, following alleged decision of the state government to open salary accounts for the state workers in Zenith bank, while that of local government workers were opened in Access bank without the knowledge of the workers who only received bank opening statement alerts, asking them to visit the banks for account reconciliation.
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