Tension in Minna over plans to reopen Juma’atmosque

OlabodeAdaramola

Uneasy calm now reigns in Minna, the capital city of Niger State over an on-going plan to re-open the Anguwan Rahma Community’s Juma’at mosque which has been shut down for the past eight months.

Nationalwire gathered that crisisover who led congregation had dodged the mosque for months, resulting in itstemporary closure in a directive by the state government until a resolution isreached.

At a press briefing yesterday, the Chairman of the Mosque Committee, Alhaji Usman Maidara said the mosque committeehad called on the interested persons to contest for the Imamship of the mosqueafter its completion. Five candidates, according to him, had signified interestwith three emerging through the selection process.

“Out of the lot, Malam Mohammed Saba cametop, while the Imam Yahaya Katcha emerged second. However since the winnerresides far from the area, he ceded the position to the runner up, withKatcha therefore emerging Imam of the mosque,” he explained.

He said few years on some scholarsobserved that the Imam was deficient in recitation and urged him to seek moreknowledge to enhance his proficiency. There was no improvement after a longtime and Ummah resolved that he step aside”, he explained.

He said the matter degenerated followingthe refusal and the state government stepped in to forestall what wouldhave been a breachnof the public peace.

The state government was said to have closedthe mosque until a committee it set up come up with the finding.

The chairman said the committee was yet toconclude its assignment but that there were underground plan to reopen themosque.

He thereby called on appropriateauthority to stop the alleged plans to re-open the mosque.