A group under the aegis of ‘Righteous On-Lookers Association’ has appealed to the National Security Adviser Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) to prevail on Kogi State Government to put in place procedure for the appointment of a substantive Chief Imam of Ebira Central Mosque in order to avoid recurring crises rocking the mosque over Imamship tussle.
The appeal was contained in a letter addressed to the office of the National Security Adviser titled “Security alarm -The pending leadership (Imamship) crises at Okene central juma’at mosque” signed by the patron of the association Alhaji Ahmed Adoke copies which was made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Sunday.
Adoke lamented that the yet to be resolved Imamship crises has pitched two Islamic groups ; the Tijaniya and Ansarul Islamic Society of Nigeria in the area against each other as a result of disagreement on the mode of ascension to the position of Chief Imam of the central Juma’at mosque in Okene, Kogi State.
According to him “Our concern is that instead of addressing the mode of ascension that has generated palpable tension /crises , Kogi State Government waded in and appointed one of the contenders as acting chief imam for an indefinite period.
“Thus giving the appointee an undue advantage over other contenders, a situation that seems to have generated more tension in the land”
He pointed out that part of the consequences of Kogi State government’s action was the recent violent clash between supporters of the two Islamic groups putting the area in an unnecessary apprehension.
While calling on the State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello to as a matter of urgency do the needful to avoid further crises that can snowballed into massive killings and destructions of property, Adoke cautioned that religious crises can be more dangerous than political crises if urgent steps are not taken.
“As much as we appreciated and commended the quick intervention of the state governor , His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello immediately after the demise of Late Chief Imam Alhaji Musa Galadima, we still appeal to your honourable office and other Islamic Authority to act promptly in order to avert further crises against the existing peace we are enjoying in Kogi State.
“This association is of the candid view that the leadership (Imamship) crises has gotten to a level that calls for attention of your respected office, especially when considered the fact of the strategic location of Okene town as a gateway between north and southern parts of the country” he said.
While appealing to the two warring Islamic sect to exercise utmost restrain in the interest of peace and the comfort of Islam that both parties propagate, Alhaji Adoke drew the attention of those fuelling the crises directly or indirectly to bear in mind that the consequences of any crises can not be underestimated, noting that “no one can predict the end result”
