Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
A heavy down pour today marred the Eid-el Fitr celebrations in the city of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The federal government of Nigeria had declared today –Tuesday, 4th June – and tomorrow – Wednesday, 5th June 2019 public holidays to enable Muslims in the country to celebrate the annual event.
TPCN reports that as early as eight o’clock in the morning today, Muslim families were already dressed up for the event, with some of them going to nearby Mosques to position themselves for special Eid el Fitr prayers.
Some of them travelled yesterday to go and celebrate the event with their loved ones at home.
Many Muslim children, especially the females, were seen wearing special festive cloths complete with hijab while the boys wore their caftans or ‘agbada,’ all brimming with smiles in anticipation of a lively and fun-filled celebration.
Along the famous Azikiwe Road where the Rivers State Government House is situated, some of the children were seen heading to Spar, the biggest, multi-purpose, leisure-promoting supermarket in Port Harcourt.
However, by the time the rains started a few minutes after 12 noon, the hopes of the Muslim faithful to have a hitch-free Eid-el Fitr celebration were dashed, as the down pour went on to last about four hours, turning the greater part of Miles 1, 2 and 3 in Diobu into a mini River Niger.
Unfortunately, two major Mosques are located in Ikwerre Road, Mile 1 and Gambia Street, off Ikwerre Road, Mile 2. Many Muslim faithful, who went to the Mosques early, escaped being soaked but those who did not go early were not that lucky. They were soaked by the rain.
Commenting on the development, one Mallam Suleiman Abu, a trader in Mile 1 who could not go to the Mosque in time due to what he described as some pressing needs he needed to settle, said the rain took them by surprise and would go a long way to affect the celebrations.
“We didn’t expect this rain today because there was no sign that it would rain. All of a sudden, the rain started; even me who wanted to go – though I was a bit late because of some pressing needs I needed to take care of- I could not go again. I don’t have umbrella, so I had to wait for the rain to stop.
“My plan was to travel to Bayelsa where my family is, to celebrate it with them but now I cannot go again today. I will go early tomorrow. I see the rain as the will of God. So it’s a blessing,” he said.
Effort by TPCN to have access to the leader of the Muslim Community in Mile 1 and Gambia street in Mile 2 was unfruitful as they were said to be very busy, coupled with the rain.
