The Founder and Missioner of Ahbaab Li-Islam Society of Nigeria, Ustaz Habeebullah AbdulGaniy Arikewuyo has said the poster of his organisation’s Laylatul Qadri event showing Celestial Church Pastor, Israel Ogundipe as a guest speaker was a printer’s error.
Ustadh Arikewuyo made the clarification while speaking exclusively with Muslim News, Nigeria’s most authoritative Islamic newspaper on Saturday.
The controversial poster has seen tongues wagging since it appeared on social media over the week, with many Muslims condemning it, describing it as a “gradual descent into spiritual and moral anarchy”, and an ‘innovation far from Islam’.
Ustadh Arikewuyo, who is equally the Chief Host of the event said the information presenting the pastor as guest lecturer was a printer’s error, explaining that he was only invited as a special guest of honour.
He said, “I was actually not at home when the poster was made. The designer sent it to some of my students who immediately shared it on social media without necessarily double checking and seeking my approval. The misinformation is very unfortunate. And we’ve since told the designer to update and correct it.
“For clarification purpose, it is Sheikh Sulaiman Sarumi we have invited as Guest Lecturer and not Pastor Ogundipe. The respected Pastor was only invited to serve as a special guest of honour at the event and we didn’t see anything wrong in inviting him to honour the event,” the scholar explained.
Ustaz AbdulGaniy however expressed disappointment over the attitude of Muslims who shared and passed negative comments about the poster, saying that, “They could have called him for clarification since his contact numbers were written on the poster.”
He urged social media users to always fact-check information before passing snide remarks or issuing misguided commentaries.
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This man is a daft. Firstly, which lsylatul quadir is he inviting to? Are people supposed to be invited to laylatul Quadri? So when does a period for personal closeness to one’s Creator becomes money making? May Almighty Allah guide these folks aright.