- It’s really tough – NUJ
- Empower Nigerians, MUSWEN, others tell Govt.
- Slaughtering of rams not compulsory – Sultan
As Nigerians join the rest of the world in celebrating the Eid-el-kabir festival this Tuesday, there are clear indications that many muslim families may not be able to participate fully in the annual festival. This is coming as hunger, deprivations and intense poverty pervade most households in the country thus lending credence to the recent classification of Nigeria as the “poverty capital’ of the world.
The sacrifice of ram is not compulsory, though it’s necessary for those who can afford. You don’t need to over stress yourself if you cannot afford it this time around
Investigations by The Point revealed that from the North to the South and from the East to the West, the evidence of hunger and deprivations among most Nigerians are just too obvious to ignore. Our investigations also revealed that the average Nigerian family cannot boast of the daily three-square meal under the current situation of things.
It is therefore not a surprise that most muslim households may not be able to slaughter the symbolic ram for the Eid as they have been doing in the past and in accordance with the injunctions of the Islamic religion.
Economy, ‘not smiling’ at all
Chief Imam AbdulSami Ajani Alkilany, the chaplain of the Islamic Education and Faith Initiative, Magodo Government Reservation Area, Phase 11, Ikeja, Lagos, said the state of the Nigerian economy is “not smiling” for people to buy rams for the canonical annual sacrifice of Eid-el-Kabir even as he confirmed that many people may not be able to afford the rams as they used to .
“Generally, the economy is hard and challenging. People who used to buy two, three and even more rams, cows, cannot even afford one now. Those who can afford are afraid of the situation in the country. Some are afraid of reactions from people around and government informants; rather they prefer to keep their money,” he said.
He also stressed the fact that the period coincided with the time parents are looking for school fees for the students who would soon be resuming after the long vacation.
”Some people will rather save for the school fees of their children that will soon to go back to school rather than buying ram for sacrifice, whereas, this is an important Islamic injunction that people must abide by if the state of the economy is friendly, “ he added.
For Muslims who cannot afford the rams, Imam Alkilany said: “Despite the importance of this religious injunction, it is not a do-or-die affair. Those who are used to buying many, if it is one they can afford this time around, it’s all well and good. You don’t need to borrow or cheat to afford. If you can’t afford, sincerely, there is no harm, just be thankful to Allah and pray for the economy to improve.”
He, however, advised the government to be sincere in managing the state of the economy so that the sacrifice of the citizens will not be in vain. He was also of the opinion that the bad economy is the fall-out of the past reckless administrations, stressing that getting the economy back to the right track requires a “huge sacrifice from all and sundry.”
Rams in the market now go for N100, 000, N80, 000, N50, 000. The least you could get is probably N30, 000. Few people can afford such prices. Don’t forget that most workers are not getting their salaries yet because the time falls far from the end of the month that payments of salaries can be used to buy ram for the sacrifice
It’s really tough
In the same vein, Chairman of the Lagos Council of the Nigerian Union of the Journalists, Dr. Qasim Olalere Akinreti, maintained that the hardship of the nation’s economy is responsible for the inability of many Muslims to buy rams for the Eid , saying the costs of rams are not affordable.
“Rams in the market now go for N100, 000, N80, 000, N50, 000. The least you could get is probably N30, 000. Few people can afford such prices. Don’t forget that most workers are not getting their salaries yet because the time falls far from the end of the month that payments of salaries can be used to buy ram for the sacrifice.
“Don’t also forget that students will soon be going back to school. Parents are more concerned on how to raise money for the school fees. It has to be a scale of preference for many families, ” he said.
Slaughtering of rams not compulsory
Akinreti, however, said that slaughtering of rams for Eid is not compulsory.
“The sacrifice of ram is not compulsory, though it’s necessary for those who can afford. You don’t need to over stress yourself if you cannot afford it this time around. It is more important to be thankful to Allah who has made us witness the celebration; remember the whole thing is about sacrifice and thankfulness under any condition you find yourself,” he stated.
On ways out of a situation like this, Akinreti advised Islamic organizations to come together to organize cooperative societies to encourage thrifts toward enhancing the economic strength of Muslims such as to enhance them financially.
He also called on the government to consider providing subsidies for the people to enable them observe their religious obligations.
Speaking to our correspondent, the President, Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria, MUSWEN, Alhaji Zakariyau Babalola, urged Muslims to spend within their limit as ram slaughtering is only obligatory but not compulsory.
He urged them to live peacefully with their neighbours, share the meat with those who can’t afford to buy and spread love around.
He however called on government at all levels to provide more employment and economic empowerment opportunities for Nigerians.
Also, the President-General, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, AlhajiMuhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, called on Muslims to eschew all anti- social behaviours during and after Sallah.
He congratulated Nigerian Muslim Ummah and indeed the entire Muslim world on the auspicious occasion of the 1439 AH ‘Eidel Adha celebrations.
According to him, the Sunnah of the noble Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is that Muslims who are not on pilgrimage in the Holy Land are enjoined to fast on the day of Arafat and engage themselves in acts of worship and veneration to Allah, believing that with sincerity of intentions, He will forgive their sins and overlook their short-comings of the preceding and proceeding years and admit them to His Jannah.
“We therefore, ask Allah to accept our ‘ibadat, increase our ‘iman and grant us protection, contentment and a grateful heart. Amin.
However, those who do not have the means to buy rams should not force themselves as the act is only obligatory but not compulsory.
“In celebrating this year’s ‘Eidel Adha, we must not lose sight of the quintessential virtues and blessings, as well as the moral and spiritual wisdom of the season. Eidel Adha is a period of introspection and soul searching. It symbolizes Sacrifice, which was sufficiently demonstrated by our patriarch – Prophet Ibrahim (PBUH),” he said.
Make life more bearable for the masses
Speaking to The Point, the Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Prof. Daud Noibi, advised government to make as a priority, ways on how to make life more bearable for the masses while also urging people to support the government in winning the war against corruption.
“Making sacrifices for the collective good of all and posterity (a key component that is missing in our national life, which is partly responsible for the quagmire we have found ourselves in) is one of the major lessons of the ‘Eid. Our patriarch was willing to let go (sacrifice) that which he cherished most – his only son, Isma’il as sacrifice in obedience to Allah’s dictates. (Q37:102).”
In addition, former Amir of The Companion, Barrister Yisa AbdulKareem, urged all Muslims in Nigeria to be realistic and not force themselves to do what is beyond their capacity. “People are supposed to prepare for this Sallah ahead of time and not wait till the last minute. Many are succumbing to societal pressure of killing Rams at all cost.”
The CEO, Istabaraqim Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, urged those who have to give to those who do not have in order to spread social justice.
“I learnt, because of the security situation in the country, people are not allowed to bring in rams from Niger Republic as usual thereby causing scarcity and the high cost but government should have done things differently and make the Rams available at subsidized rates in order to help the masses,” he said.
Speaking further, the Sultan and Alhaji SOB Babalola, urged Muslims to be good ambassadors of Islam as they continue to promote and embrace peace, and eschew all and any anti- social behaviour(s) that may be inimical to national cohesion and stability.
They beseeched Allah to restore peace and stability to all the troubled parts of our great country and the world at large and also prayed to Allah to grant our leaders the will and courage to stand firm on the path of righteousness, responsible and responsive leadership, good governance and justice to all.
We’ve never had it so bad
Yusuf Yahaya, a muslim who resides in the Papa Ajao area of Mushin, Lagos, told The Point that it has never been as bad as Nigerians are having it under the current dispensation as the increase in the cost of daily living in the country is crippling .
“Things are tough. There is no job and business is dull. The reality on ground is quite unimaginable. This year’s Sallah will go down in history as one of the worst as most homes will not be able to perform the obligatory role as expected.
“In my area, for instance, out of about 20 families, who normally slaughter tams, only one has bought the ram as we speak.It’s not a joke.Things are tough for the average Nigerian but those who are in government positions have no problem. Those among them who have even gone to Hajj would have dropped money for their rams before leaving,” he said.
Yahaya advised the government to consider subsidizing the costs of rams during Eid to enable the average Muslim family afford one for the festival.
Kafo Adekunle, who lives in the Isolo area of Lagos , also confirmed that most Muslim households may not be able to afford the rams this Eid, saying most Nigerians are hungry and may not consider the purchase of rams a priority even as the Islamic religion mandates the faithful to do.
“This is no joke, rams are quite expensive this year and the money is not even there to buy them. The smallest rams cost between N30,000 and N60,000. And at that, it’s not easy to raise the money,” he said.
The leader of Ebira community in Lagos State, Alhaji Momoh Sanni Yakubu, in his reaction, said economic situation had led to a low Salah celebration in the country this year.
“It doesn’t look like the celebration is already here. There is no other reason for this than lack of money. How do you expect people that are struggling to eat to afford a ram that is N70, 000. A lot of people want to celebrate the Salah, but not like the way they want that they will celebrate it. Our government needs to do more to encourage the citizens,” he said.
Alhaji Lateef Akinborode, a Muslim leader from Ikorodu, Lagos, said Nigerians are to celebrate Salah in hardship mood this year like never before. He advised government to consider subsidizing items like rams and other during festivities.
“There is no money and the ram and other materials to celebrate are now very expensive. The prices of rams have really gone up this year . How can we buy a ram at the rate of N150,000, N200,000?
“If you look at those that kill rams before compared to now, they are not even up to one third .
“There is no money in the economy again. There is no how people can celebrate the Sallah like they want. So many issues around it, people that have money don’t want to release it. The politicians that usually share rams and money to people during festival likes this are now cautioned because of all these government questioning and probes.
“The way at which government can help the situation is to help the people to subsidize the price of ram and other materials during period like this. If they go and buy ram in the North, and bring it here, people to buy at cheaper prices. By that, life will be easy for people during Sallah celebration,” he said.
