Muslims globally are today celebrating 1447 New Year of Islamic Lunar Calendar popularly referred to Hijrah.
In Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital, muslim faithful islamic scholars, students of different Islamic and Arabic schools trooped out enmass to George Innih Stadium Complex, Ilorin for the celebration.
In his lecture, National Missioner, Ansarul-Islam Society of Nigeria, Uztaz Abdulmumeen Ayara debunked worshipping of idol labed ancient city of Ilorin in some quarters and described the allegation as preposterous.
Uztaz Ayara blasted those in the act of destroying image of Ilorin and vowed that any plot to bring the Community to disrepute would be vehemently resisted.
He thanked Governor Abdulrazaq for the introduction of literacy and numeracy in the school system and drew the attention of the state government to the sharp declining of Arabic teachers in primary and secondary schools in the state.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali represented by a Legal Practitioner, Lawyer Kehinde Eleja urged Muslims to be good Ambassadors of Islam as they celebrate the Islamic year.
Professor Olaolu Ali who is the first Kuliya Nigeri of Ilorin, charged parents not to shy away from their responsibility of taking care of their children and wards to insulate them against negative influences.
Also Speaking, Grand Khadi Kwara State Shariah Court of Appeal, Justice Abdul-lateef Kamaldeen tasked the Nigerian leaders to govern with justice to overcome numerous challenges bedeviling the Country.
Justice Kamaldeen also challenged islamic scholars to always practice with they preach, eschew sectarianism and violent sermon that could disrupt peaceful co-existence of the Community.
Similarly, an Ilorin based Islamic Cleric, Shaikh Abdulganiy Olodo-Owo who represented Mudeerul-Markaz, Shaikh Habeebullah Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory chronicled historical development of Hijrah and encouraged Muslims not to celebrate the new year with acts that could incur Allah’s wrath.
Shaikh Olodo-Owo who is the Imam of Asbinallahu Central Mosque, Ilorin beseeched Muslims to always emulate Prophet Muhammad whose migration from Makkah to Madinah led to the celebration Hijrah and called on islamic clerics to be advocates of peace and unity to guard against unrest in the society.
In his address of welcome, Chairman Hijrah Islamic Organization in Kwara State, Professor Yusuf Lanre Badmas charged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu find lasting solution to poverty, hunger and insecurity in the the Country.
Professor Badmas, expressed concern that consumption of psychotropic substance among the youth, inflation and moral decadence have continued unabated.
The Chairman Hijrah Islamic Organization applauded Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for declaring Public Holiday to celebrate the Islamic new year and announced that his Committee just acquired a structure for skill acquisition to reduce unemployment to its lowest ebb.
Professor Badmas informed the gathering that Hijrah Committee had organized training and re-training of Islamic Scholars to enable them discharge their duties unhindered.
Highpoints of the event were march past and launching of 1447 New Year Almanac.
