Many worshippers were left shocked and disappointed as the Lantoro Eid praying ground in Abeokuta failed to observe the congregational prayer, despite the official declaration of Eid-el-Fitr by President-General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III.
DAILY POST reports that the Sultan had announced the sighting of the moon on Saturday, signifying the end of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid-el-Fitr to commence on Sunday.
Sultan's directive was preceded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's announcement on the sighting of the moon’s crescent marking the beginning of Shawwal and the end of Ramadan.
DAILY POST reports the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sa'ad Bamgbola, leads prayers in Lantoro, the state's central praying ground, where government officials usually gather to pray.
However, some Islam adherents were stranded on Sunday as prayers were not conducted and the Lantoro eid praying ground left deserted as the Egba Muslim leaders led by the Chief Imam snubbed the Sultan's directive on the Sallah celebration for today.
DAILY POST gathered that they fixed the Eid prayer for Monday.
A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Lanre Bankole, who arrived at Lantoro eid praying ground, had to redirect his convoy when he was told that Sallah prayer had been fixed for Monday.
Similar, one Adeyemi Adams, while expressing his disappointment, blamed the development on lack of unity among Muslim leaders.
He said, “ If we want to go to other mosques, most of them have conducted prayers by 9am. So, we are stranded. We will go back to our various houses.
“It's simply because the unity is not that strong. Since we have chosen the Sultan of Sokoto to be the Muslim leader in Nigeria, we must follow him.
“Had it been Saudi Arabia had announced sighting of the moon's crescent but the Sultan says otherwise, I will not be saying this. But they have said the same thing. Then, what's our problem?
“We should blame our Muslim leaders here for not complying with the person they have solely agreed to be the leader of Islam in Nigeria,” Adams said.
