At the eighth-day Fidau prayer and celebration of life ceremony, Grand Chief Imam of Tede, Alhaji Ahmad Tijani Adedigba, who was the chairman of the League of Imams and Alfas in Oke-Ogun received a barrage of encomiums.
The event, which was held at Tede primary school on Sunday, started with prayers by Islamic clerics, who took turns to pray for the deceased and the family he left behind.
After recitation from the Holy Quran, a representative of Oke-ogun league of Imams and Alfas, gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the Muslim community in the town.
While commiserating with the deceased’s family, Onitede of Tede and Muslim community in Tede, the Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal, who was in company of top government functionaries, described Imam Adedigba as a religious unifier who led a good life.
He stated that the chief imam had contributed immensely towards the development of Islam in Oke-ogun during his time, emphasizing that he had also prayed for Governor Seyi Makinde’s reelection in the 2023 governorship election.
Barr. Lawal urged the league of imams and Alfas from various local governments in Oke-ogun to fill the vacuum he left behind and prayed that Allah give them, the royal fathers, and everyone else present at the event the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
“Once again, on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, i commiserate with you. I am urging the league of imams and Alfas to fill the vacuum left behind by the late chief imam.
“As a government, whatever you want from us after the demise of the late Chief imam, please lets us know. Our government is very much concerned about peaceful existence. And Islam is a religion of peace. So, there must be peace across Oyo state.
“We are happy that baba live a good life and we pray his soul rest in perfect peace,” he said.
The late chief imam, aged 110, died last week after a brief illness. He was survived by wife and children.
On the entourage of the Deputy Governor include Commissioner for Special Duties, Alhaja Fausat Joke Sanni; Commissioner for Education, Professor Solihu Abdul-waheed Adelabu; Special Adviser on Political, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha; Special Adviser on Establishment, Hon. Siju Lawal and Chairman Civil Service Commission, Alhaji Kamorudeen Aderibigbe.
Others were SA on Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Abdul-Rasheed Abdul-Azeez; SA on Administration, Alhaji Kunle Sani; SA on Political, Yusuf Ajagbe; SA on Legal; Barrister Hassan Ajibade; SA on Projects, Ayinde Ogede, SA on Domestics, Badmos Adesola; SA Online, Mr Ajibade; Coordinating Director of Housing Corporation, Mr Lawal, PDP chieftain, Mama Arewa, and Imam of Oyo Deputy Governor’s House, Ustaz Abdul-Jeleel.
