Muslim leaders in Egbaland, Ogun State, failed to mark Eid-el-Fitr on Sunday contrary to the directive of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, who declared today as the first of Shawwal and Eid day, commemorating the completion of the 2025 Ramadan fast.

Sultan’s directive was preceded by
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s announcement on the sighting of the moon’s crescent marking the beginning of Shawwal and the end of Ramadan.

The development pegged this year’s Ramadan to 29 days long with Eid-el-Fitr being celebrated on Sunday in the Kingdom and other parts of the world.

In Ogun State, Lantoro eid praying ground in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday, failed to conduct prayer, leaving some Muslim faithful stranded.

Daily Trust reports government officials usually pray at Lantoro, being the state’s central praying ground where prayer is led by the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sa’ad Bamgbola.

As early as 8am, Muslims thronged various praying grounds in Abeokuta and other parts of Ogun State to perform the two – rakat prayer to thank Allah for the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast.

However, the Lantoro eid praying ground was deserted as the Egba Muslim leaders led by the Chief Imam snubbed the Sultan’s directive on the sallah celebration for today.

Rather, they have reportedly fixed eid prayer for Monday.

Daily Trust reports reports that many faithful who thronged the praying ground were left stranded.

A retired Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Lanre Bankole, who arrived at Lantoro eid praying ground, had to redirect his convoy when he was told that sallah prayer has been fixed for Monday.

One of the Egba Muslim leaders who craved anonymity confirmed to Daily Trust that sallah prayer would hold on Monday at Lantoro Eid praying ground.

“We’re conduct Eid prayer tomorrow. Nothing is happening. Our leader said the sallah prayer should hold tomorrow. So, we don’t have choice,” the religious leader said.

When asked if the act isn’t a disobedience to the Sultan’s directive, he responded “We’ll see tomorrow.”

One of the Islam adherents, Adeyemi Adams, expressed frustration over the development, saying he would be forced to return to his house.

“If we want to go to other mosques, most of them have conducted prayers by 9am.

“So, we are stranded. We don’t know what to do. And we know what to do, we will go back to our various houses,” Adams told Daily Trust.

He blamed the development on lack of unity among Muslim leaders.

“It’s simply because the unity is not that strong. Since we have chosen the Sultan of Sokoto to be the Muslim leader in Nigeria, we must follow him.”

“Had it been Saudi Arabia had announced sighting of the moon’s crescent but the Sultan says otherwise, I will not be saying this. But they have said the same thing. Then, what’s our problem?

“We should blame our Muslim leaders here for not complying with the person they have solely agreed to be the leader of Islam in Nigeria,” Adams said.

In Ota, the Deputy Governor, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, joined Muslims to pray at Ota Community Eid praying ground.

She charged Muslim faithfuls in the state and Country at large to remember the profound lessons of the Holy Month of Ramadan as it comes to an end.

The Deputy Governor noted that the Holy Month has taught self discipline, patience, charity and faith in Allah, stressing that the good deeds embraced during the period including prayer, fasting, kindness and generosity should not end with the month, but rather become part of their daily lives.

Salako-Oyedele then prayed Almighty Allah accept the fast and prayers during the Holy Month as acts of Ibadah, grant faithfuls the blessings of the sacred month and reward them with peace, prosperity and harmony in their homes, town, state and Nigeria

The Olota of Ota, Oba (Prof.) Abdulkabir Obalanlege, in his remarks, enjoined all Muslims not to stop all the good deeds , their closeness to Allah and philanthropic attitude during ramadan as well as shun all social vices that could rubbish Islam as a religion.

In his message, the Chief Imam of Aworiland, Sheik (Imam) Muhammad Sabiq Ibrahim (Aina Aladin), thanked Allah for the grace upon Muslim faithfuls to observe the 30 days fasting, calling on Muslims to continue to abide by the spiritual orientations, guidance and directives given during ramadan, while urging muslims to repent from their evil ways, regret and resolve in other to continue to enjoy God’s goodness and mercies even after Ramadan.