Deaths, traffic violations, others trail Eid-el Kabir celebration

Clerics task government on insecurity, people oriented policies

Pockets of deaths and traffic violations, yesterday trailed the celebration of Eid-el Kabir by the Muslim faithful in Nigeria. The celebration, which was without the usual fun fare, started with Eid prayers at mosques and Eid grounds as early as 9.00a.m., followed by the traditional slaughtering of rams.
 
Although, the weather was clement, the celebration was low-keyed, devoid of the usual pomp and pageantry because of the hike in the prices of foodstuff, cows, rams and other items needed to celebrate the festival.  
   
Many faithful could not visit fun centres because of the COVID-19 guidelines. Also, many, who usually procure a large number of rams to share with their neighbours in commemoration of the day, opted for cows, while those who could not afford it, went for chicken.

However, it was a mournful celebration for families of ten travellers who were involved in a motor accident in Ilorin. The Guardian gathered that the corpses of the victims have been deposited in a morgue at the General Hospital in Ilorin.

 “The crash was a lone fatal one involving a black commercial Toyota Hiace bus with vehicle registration number LND 742XK.
“18 persons were involved and unfortunately 10 of them lost their
lives and eight other person’s injured.
 
“The cause of the crash was as a result of speed violation,” he added. Similarly, 108 motorists were arrested for driver’s licence violation in Anambra State. The FRSC said it was part of  the “Operation Show Your Driver’s
Licence” in the state.
 
The  Sector Commander, Mr Adeoye Irelewuyi, who decried the habit of driving without valid licence, said the operation would reduce the number of unqualified drivers on the highways.
   
Meanwhile, Muslim cleric, Alhaji MK Subair ,  has urged government to initiate people-oriented policies  to address current hardship in the country.
 
According to him,  without investment in human capital, there can’t be a peaceful government.    The cleric, who spoke  at the Eid-Kabir praying ground in Afariogun, Oshodi, Lagos said: “We pray that Allah forgives everyone because the situation in the country and in the world calls for seeking God’s intervention. We ask God to touch the lives of both the governed and the government to know the right thing to do.

“ Citizens must be patient with the government because the people leading us are also human like us, but the people in government must also note that when the people are unhappy, the government will also not be peaceful. But in all, we must return to God.