Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde in a letter had invited a couple of Muslim clerics to Iftar (a meal taken after sunset by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan to breakfast). This was supposed to take place on Wednesday, 12 May amidst risk of coronavirus and directives of physical distancing.
The Joint Action Committee for the Preservation of the Rights and Honours of Imams, however, implored Muslims to stay away from the Iftar invite by the Governor, stating it is a direct violation of the Federal Government’s social distancing directive. This was disclosed in a statement by Abu Aisha Muhammad, the group coordinator.
According to him, the consulted Islamic scholars refer to the Iftar invitation as IFTAR DIRARA (an Iftar violation of directives by the Federal Government). The statement referred to the invitation by Makinde as non-exemplary conduct which should be frowned against this critical period.
Following the dictate of Shariah to obey constituted authorities, invited Alfas and Imams would boycott the invitation. Also, Muhammad made known that today, when the Iftar meal was to hold, it is also when the search for Lailatul qodr starts.
However, all Muslim were urged to stay back in their various homes. If any Muslim clerics get infected by the virus on attending the Iftar meal by the Oyo State Governor, he would be held accountable, the statement read. The statement was released by the Joint Action Committee for the Preservation of the Rights and Honours of Imams disclosed.
Oyo State has recorded 73 cases of COVID -19 thus far.
