Presidency, PDP trade blames over bleak, low-key celebrations

• Absence of Sallah meat, ‘dry’ fun spots signal harsh economic realities
• PDP: APC’s insensitive, anti-people policies hurting
• Alake: PDP envious of Tinubu’s achievements in three weeks

Across the length and breadth of the country, this year’s Eid-el-Kabir festival, observed by Muslim faithful, was practically a low-key affair, as the festival of rams, which is the object of sacrifice during Sallah, was nearly absent in many Muslim homes yesterday.

The grandeur associated with the festival could not be felt this year due to the reduced purchasing power of the residents. The increased prices of livestock, coupled with limited disposable income, made it challenging for the residents to fulfill this essential aspect of the festival.

Apart from the usual sharing of Sallah meat to friends, neighbours and the less privileged that was visibly absent, the adorning of newly sown Abaya gowns and bubas was also conspicuously missing.

Unlike before, Islamic faithful faced the double constraint of having to celebrate Sallah, which was far more expensive than many could bear, owing to the high cost of essential commodities and transportation.

One of the many factors that was pointed at as a major cause of the low celebration was the recent removal of petrol subsidy, which according to many of the respondents in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states, was responsible for the hike in prices of essential commodities.

In Ondo, the joyous atmosphere among Muslim faithful typically associated with Eid-el-Kabir was more subdued this year as the state witnessed limited travel.

Due to the high cost of transportation, many Ondo citizens residing in big cities couldn’t travel home to visit their loved ones as opposed to the usual practice of merrying with larger family members.

Speaking on the situation, an indigene of Ibadan working in Akure lamented that, for the first time in six years, he could not travel to Ibadan due to the cost of fuel.

The civil servant working with a Federal Government agency, who simply gave his name as Bode, stated that: “When I calculated the amount I would spend for my journey and the expenses at home (Ibadan), I had to give myself a rethink.

“Before subsidy was removed, I used to fill my car with N12,600 when going to Ibadan, but with N500 per litre, I’ll have to use N37,000 to fill up. With what I will spend at home, I can’t afford such things at the moment.”

According to an Islamic cleric in Akure, Samad Adebisi, the prices of ram were far higher than last year. “When I visited the Orisunbare ram market at Ilesha garage, the prices of rams in the market ranged between N190,000 and N450,000 depending on sizes.

“Honestly, I had to call my wife to lend me more money to augment the N150,000 I had squeezed out to purchase the ram. The traders told me that the exchange rate and cost of transportation affected their businesses.”

Similarly, the situation led to fun spots across Akure metropolis witnessing a low number of fun seekers. Alhaja Yusuf Akano observed thus: “This year, unlike last year, on my way to visit my family, I noticed the roads were ‘dry’. Only a few trucks and even fewer private cars shared the highway with me.

“Sallah will always be celebrated no matter the economic situation. However, it’s important for us to remember the true meaning of the celebration and ensure that everyone can participate without being burdened by costs. As for me, I’m celebrating Sallah according to my capacity,” he added.

But notwithstanding the gloomy economic situation of the country, Muslim faithful in Ibadan trooped out in their thousands to celebrate Sallah.

As early as 7.00a.m., Muslims went to the Broadcasting House of Oriyomi Hamsat to pray, putting on new and beautiful sartorial. At the Agodi Yidi prayer ground, adherents were in a festive mood, making merriment.

Many top officials of the Oyo State Government, including the Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Abiodun Fadeyi; Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, among others.

At the Oke-Aremo area of Ibadan North, Yemetu, locals were seen making merriment and dancing to various genres of Yoruba music. At Senator Sarafadeen Alli family compound, it was enjoyment galore.

The Eid-el-Kabir celebration in some towns of Osun State was done in moderation. Our correspondent observed that Muslim faithful, adorned in various beautiful clothes, went to Eid prayer grounds closest to them to observe the two-raqat prayers to mark the festival.

Afterwards, a good number were seen slaughtering rams at their various homes. It was gathered that some families had to team up to buy ram or cow to slaughter for the season. While some faithful were indoors celebrating, others were seen moving around apparently to visit family friends.

Unlike previous years, the usual fanfare and killing of rams was scantily observed in most part of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital. The Guardian observed that the major praying ground along Polytechnic road was not filled to the brim, while the traffic snarl that usually happens along the route was not there.

Some of the Muslims Ummah, who spoke with our reporter, attributed the low-key celebration to the high cost of rams and other consumables.
They further blamed the recent removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government, which consequently gave rise to high cost of transportation and other services, as largely responsible for absence of fanfare associated with Sallah.

A visit to the major ram market along Ilawe road and Shasha market in Ado Ekiti, showed many unsold rams at the markets. A cattle seller at Kara market, one of the major cattle markets situated at the border of Ogun and Lagos State, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, narrated a pathetic story of how some trailer load of articulated vehicles from the North came to Lagos and were forced to return with the cattle because buyers could not meet up with the prices.

He said the cost of transportation plus the expenses spent to nurture those cattle were too high, and appealed to the government to address the issue of high cost of living.

It is also a low-key celebration in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Residents said apart from the morning prayers, they could not visit fun spots as they use to because of the dire impact of subsidy removal and its effect on the cost of transportation and the price of commodities in the market, while some other residents have travelled to their states for the holidays.

A visit to fun spots in the capital city like Drink and Style, Sledge, Amusement Park, and Jabi Lake, showed a very low turnout. A worshiper at the Phase III Mosque, Kubwa, Ibrahim Dantata, said: “This year is filled with a lot of turbulence to last a decade, from the cash crunch before the election to this sudden increase in petrol price, and the resulting effect of the naira floating by the Central Bank.

“This is a very troubled year. The Eid-el-Fitri celebration after Ramadan was affected hugely by the cash crunch. Now, the insane increase in fuel pump price is affecting this one. Every big Sallah, I do sow two clothes each for my five children but this year it is so bad that they have to wear the one from last year. Tailors have increased their prices so high that we have to manage what we have. Muslims should be prayerful; that Allah will rescue this nation and make things better.”

Another resident, Ahmed Bawa, lamented the price of ram in the market, adding that his family was forced to have chicken as a substitute.
He said: “A mature ram is sold for N200,000. The money I was able to save is not up to that amount. Instead of buying an unpleasant sacrificial ram, I bought chicken for my family. Allah will understand. These are troubling times, but we will continue to survive against all odds.”

For Anas Fatima, despite all the challenges, citizens should use the opportunity of the holiday to have family bonding. She said: “Everything is expensive, both transportation and hanging out at fun spots. Families should rather stay at home like mine, eating whatever they can afford and bonding more.”

Alhaji Kazeem Fawole lamented that he was unable to buy the quality of ram he used to distribute to his neighbours. He said: “I was able to buy two rams this year and it cost me N450,000, which was not supposed to be more than N120,000 each. I commend those who did not borrow to slaughter this year. It’s against the norms to borrow to buy rams because those who came to eat will not be there when creditors come calling. People should remember that they will also have to pay for school fees for their children and other utility bills.”

MEANWHILE, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has bemoaned the worsening economic crisis in the country and said many Nigerian Muslims celebrated bleak Sallah because of the astronomical increase in the cost of essential goods and services.

PDP in a Sallah message issued on Wednesday noted that many families could not travel to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir with their loved ones, visit or even share with their family members and friends because of hardship and insensitive policies imposed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

The message by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, regretted what it described as “scorching economic distress on millions of families across the country.”

PDP said: “It is saddening that on an occasion like this, millions of Nigerians are observing the period in frustration as they cannot afford the basic necessities to celebrate with their loved ones.”

The party observed that despite the fact that “Nigerians are undergoing the most harrowing economic hardship” in the history of the country, the APC-led Federal Government continued “to impose life discounting policies with attendant hardship on the people without verifiable plans for relief.”

It, however, urged Nigerians not “to allow the hardship and sense of uncertainty they face at the moment make them lose sight of the essence of the Eid-el-Kabir,” which it said, demands selflessness, absolute trust and submission to the will, authority and command of Allah in all issues of life.

PDP commended them for their resilience and urged them to use the occasion “to reinforce their patience, hope and trust in God despite the prevailing economic, social and security challenges confronting the nation.”

The party said Nigerians should not despair but use the Eid-el-Kabir celebration to further unite in love, support and care for one another at this critical time.

HOWEVER, in a swift reaction, the Presidency said the PDP was envious of the ruling party’s achievements within three weeks. The Presidency, through the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications and Strategy, Dele Alake, also said that it was expected that the PDP, which allegedly lacked the mental capacity and managerial acumen while in charge of government for 16 years would say worse things in days to come.

Reacting to the alleged anti-people policies by Tinubu’s government, Alake said: “But they (PDP) will say that, they will even say worse. That is very mild coming from them.

“We expect them to say worse because all the time they were in government they lacked the gut, the mental capacity, the physical resourcefulness and the vision to do what the government has done or accomplished within short weeks.

“What they could not do in 16 years of holding the presidency of this country, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has done within three short weeks. So what do you expect them to say?

“They lacked that mental capacity, the physical wherewithal, the managerial acumen to achieve those bold goals, so they have to be envious. So it is normal.”