Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has ordered the reopening of the Ikare-Akoko Central Mosque, bringing an end to a protracted closure that lasted several years following a leadership crisis.

The governor gave the directive on Tuesday in Akure during the annual Ramadan Iftar programme tagged “Iftar With Mr Governor,” organised by the state government in collaboration with the Ondo State Muslim Welfare Board.

The mosque had been shut down on October 18, 2022, during the administration of former governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in a bid to forestall violence arising from a dispute over the leadership of the mosque.

Announcing the reopening, Aiyedatiwa called for unity and reconciliation among stakeholders in Ikare-Akoko, stressing the need to prioritise peace and religious harmony in the community.

“Today, as Kabiyesi, Oba Akadri Momoh, the Olukare of Ikare, the Grand Mufti himself, and the Chief Imam of Ikare are present, I want to declare that the Central Mosque of Ikare is hereby reopened,” the governor said.

He further directed Sheikh Abubakar Muhammed Abbas, who served as Chief Imam before the closure, to resume leadership of Islamic prayers and activities at the mosque.

“The Chief Imam of Ikare will lead prayers in the mosque in the spirit of love and unity,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abbas was recently appointed as the State Vice Chairman of the Ondo State League of Imams and Alfas by a committee chaired by the Grand Mufti of Ondo State, Sheikh Shehu Batuta.

The reopening of the mosque is widely seen as a significant step towards resolving the longstanding leadership dispute that had polarised the Muslim community in Ikare-Akoko, with expectations that the development will restore normal religious activities and foster lasting peace in the area.