By Ayodele Oni

In a bid to calm frayed nerves following apprehension stoked by alleged demolition of a mosque at Aramoko Ekiti, the Ekiti State Government has met with Islamic Leaders, promising to intervene and resolve the raging crisis in the interest of peace, unity and justice.

Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, gave the assurance on Thursday while interfacing with the Muslim community, led by the leadership of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), to pacify the aggrieved adherents and fashion out ways to resolve the bedlam.

The Mosque under contention was said to have been demolished to give way for the construction of an ultra modern market, as part of the constituency project of the Senate Leader and senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele.

Interfacing with the Muslim Leaders, Afuye, according to a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, reiterated that Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration stands for religious harmony, promising to summon a meeting comprising of the stakeholders to nip the crisis in the bud.

The Deputy Governor pointed out that information at her disposal revealed that another plot of land had been allotted to the Muslim community by the Alara-in-Council, Oba Olu Adeyemi, to rebuild the mosque alleged to have been demolished.

She was emphatic that the allotment of a plot of land for the rebuilding process was a signal that the community holds the Muslims in high esteem.

To further placate the Muslim faithful, Afuye added that the modern market was conceptualised to advance the development of Aramoko Ekiti, where Muslims, as integral part, would benefit immensely.

The Deputy Governor added that the State Government would speak with Senator Bamidele and the Alara-in-Council on the issue and devise ways to assuage the feelings ot the Muslim community.

“Whatever might be your grievances, I want you to calm down. We will convene a meeting soon to speak with all the stakeholders. I am even happy that the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti is a Muslim leader. He can’t be in a place where you will be cheated.

“This Government can’t treat Muslims with contempt. You have always been supporting us and the senate leader too is a man of the people.

“He doesn’t believe in religious crisis. He has demonstrated this with the ways he has been interacting with people across religious lines.

“I am assuring you that we will get to the root of this matter and if your claims that the mosque was actually demolished and you had been offered another land to rebuild it, we will ensure you get justice.”

Speaking at the parley, the NSCIA President, Ekiti Chapter, Dr. Hameed Bakri, commended the Government for its swift action and mediation in the matter, saying this further buttressed the fact that the current Government stands solidly for religious balancing.

Bakri stressed that the entire Muslims of Ekiti are solidly behind Governor Oyebanji, advising that the matter shouldn’t be allowed to tinker with the solid religious harmony and brotherhood being savoured in the state.

“Muslims in Ekiti State are not hooligans and extremists. We are for peace always. We want this matter resolved timely and we believe in the leadership of Governor Oyebanji that he won’t allow this matter to fester.

“I plead with our people to be patient and allow the government to intervene and resolve it amicably. We have nothing to gain in crisis. Even if we are cheated, the government can still make a position that will pacify us.”

Shedding light on the incident, the Chief Imam of Aramoko Ekiti, Alhaji Abdul-Raheem Bamigbola, said it was vexatious that two mosques had allegedly been demolished in Aramoko Ekiti within a spate of six months, to give way for development, without commensurate efforts to rebuild them.

The Imam revealed that the Muslims appreciated Bamidele’s efforts to develop the community, but emphasized the expediency of him sticking to his promise and build another mosque to pacify the aggrieved muslim members.

The Muslim scholar added that he had discussed with the contractor handling the market project, whom he said confirmed to him that there wasn’t provision for the rebuilding of the facility in his scope of work, which prompted members to start the process of rebuilding before the community stopped them and ordered immediate demolition.

“We were then surprised over how the Alara-in-Council then ordered the stoppage of the work and ordered demolition of our Mosque, despite granting the rebuilding approval. We are for peace and we know the government will give us justice in this matter.

“What we want is for the mosque to be rebuilt for us and at a location that will be acceptable to us. We know the government can facilitate these for us to keep the tempo of religious peace we are enjoying in our dear State.”