By Khadijat Idowu
On Wednesday, March 26, the Chairman of Ekiti West Local Government, Hon. Moses Omojola, his Vice, Hon. Isaac Fatoyinbo, a former deputy speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Gbenga Odebunmi and one Hon. Muyiwa Olabode, who was later confirmed as the Secretary of the council, led a combined security force, including mobile Policemen and members of Amotekun corps to the Sabo area of Aramoko Ekiti.
Already stationed on ground was a bulldozer and in a jiffy, the council chiefs signalled to the man behind the wheel to pull down a modern Mosque being built by the town’s Muslim community. Before the promoters of the Mosque, including the Chief Imam of the town, Sheikh Abdulraheem Bamigbola, could get the information, the deed had been done. Their cherished Mosque was gone.
It was the second Mosque to be demolished in the area within the last six months despite all efforts made to prevail on Alara-in-council and the leadership of Aramoko Development Association to spare the second one. The entire drama that led to the demolition started six months ago. The Alara-in-Council had reached out to the Muslim community on the need to vacate the existing Mosque at Sabo because the area had been set aside for public use. The Senate Leader, Distinguished Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, had decided to build a modern market in the area. It was good news and everybody jubilated, including the Hausa-Fulanis, who are resident in the Sabo area. To this end, the Chief Imam of Aramoko Ekiti took it from there and met the Hausa Community on the need to immediately vacate the Mosque. Within 24 hours, this directive was carried out for the market project to proceed and the Mosque was subsequently demolished.
A few months later, the Senator’s constituency project was completed and the Muslim Community approached the building committee and the contractors on the plan to move meters away and rebuild their Mosque. The demand was granted. In fact, the chiefs added that even if the Muslims didn’t come to make the request, it’s a known fact that the land for the Mosque was already set aside. Those in the meeting include;
- Our Kabiyesi, the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Adegoke Olu-Adeyemi 2.High Chief Asao
- High Chief Abatiba 4.High Chief Ogboni 5.High Chief SAJOWA 6.High Chief Oisikin
(The proceeding at the meeting is on record and can be provided on demand).
Before the commencement of the work, the leadership of the Muslim community met Seriki Hausawa and his chiefs on the need to ensure that a modern mosque that would meet the standard of the Market be put in place. In line with this, work began and lasted weeks without any objection. But just as the building was about to be roofed, a few elites from the town approached Alara-in-Council that the Mosque was inappropriate there.
This new twist started like a joke but within a week, it gained traction and became a subject of debate on major Aramoko platforms. A lot of arguments were put forward but sadly nobody pointed out that the Mosque had existed in that same spot alongside the market for over 50 years. It started as a secluded plain ground for prayer but 12 years ago, after getting the nod of the palace, the Muslim community mobilised themselves and constructed a mosque.
After a message was sent to the promoters of the Mosque that the town was yet to conclude on whether to allow the Mosque to be, a ‘stop work’ inscription was written with charcoal on the building. Meetings upon meetings took place between members of the Muslim community and Alara-in-Council. On Sunday, March 23, a representative of Alara-in-Council and ADA met with the Muslim community and delivered what seemed like a final verdict that a beautiful demarcation should be put in place between the Market and the Mosque and with a caveat that the mosque’s entrance should not face the Market. The fact that it would cost them more notwithstanding, the Muslims accepted the verdict. The following day, as they were moving towards carrying out the demarcation in preparation for the inauguration of the Market, a counter verdict came that the Mosque must be pulled down. Confused, the Muslim community summoned a meeting where it was decided that the Secretary of Aramoko Muslim Professionals should write a letter of appeal to Alara-in-Council and copy relevant authorities. The letter was written on Tuesday, March 24 and just as the secretary was planning to send the letter to appropriate quarters, Alara-in-Council, made a 360 degree turnaround and told the Muslm community not to worry and that the town had concluded to allow the Mosque to be. The council went ahead to assure them of their plan to effect the demarcation without involving the Muslim. At this stage, they expressed their regret that the Muslims had been put under pressure for weeks and spent so much on the building.
With this, the Chief Imam and other leaders within the Muslim community reached out to the secretary not to send the letter, rather, he should be thinking of putting together a letter of appreciation to be addressed to the council and the leadership of Aramoko Development Association.
Unknown to the Muslim community, the last emissary that came with the message about the decision not to demolish the mosque was nothing but a ploy to demobilize them against approaching the court for either interlocutory injunction or reaching out with letter of appeal to either the Senator or our lovely and accommodating Governor, Mr. Abiodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO).
The Muslims had heaved a sigh of relief and started preparing to join other members of the community in receiving the respected Senate Leader, when they received the unexpected news. Their cherished Mosque had been pulled down. No explanation given this time. Nobody cared about the resources expended. And nobody cared about compensation.
However, despite the provocation, the leadership of the Muslim community was consistent in their plea that we shouldn’t take Law into our hands. Even when the bulldozer was about to start to pull down what we laboured for, we still restrained ourselves to avoid breaking down the law and order.
At the commissioning of the market yesterday (Friday) we thought there would be some words to pacify us, but we were wrong. Nobody cared.
One great message; Muslims are like second class citizens in Aramoko and so vulnerable.
- Idowu is the Publicity Secretary of Aramoko Sisters Circle
