Date: 2015-02-25

Ahead of the forthcoming elections, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, yesterday convened a special prayer at his palace to seek Allah’s intervention towards free, fair and violence-free elections.

Daily Trust reports that the prayer which took place in the early hours was held in a part of the palace where Sheikh Alimi, the founder of Ilorin Emirate, used to offer prayers.

Prominent imams and mallams in the emirate attended the prayer session led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Dr. Mohammad Bashir Solihu, while the complete Quran was recited to commit the coming elections into the hands of Almighty Allah.

Speaking with our correspondent, spokesman of the emir and Mogaji Nda, Alhaji Mohammed Woru, said the prayers were to ensure peace before, during and after the elections. The emir enjoined politicians not to see the forthcoming polls as a do-or-die affair, saying politics is a platform for service and violence of any sort should be done away with.

Grand Khadi of the state Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Salihu Olohuntoyin Mohammed, said Nigeria required fervent prayers in the present “dicey” situation.

He said: “You can see the tension everywhere. In order to douse this tension, the only thing we can do as Nigerians is to be closer to God. Pray to God. Our former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, is always urging that Nigerians should be full of prayers. For us in Ilorin, it is our culture to confront any situation that is dicey with special prayers and it is a legacy inherited by the former emir of Ilorin. With the prayers, we have confidence that we would have an election that would be free, fair and transparent.”