The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun on Sunday said the country would be a better place for all if the tenets of Islamic religion are followed in the daily activities of the people.
He made the disclosure while speaking at the maiden Ramadan Lecture organised in his honour by the Federation of Ahlus-Sunnah Organization in Nigeria (FASON) at his Ali-Iwo Palace, Ibadan.
The monarch, who enjoined Nigerians to put into practice the lessons inherent in the Ramadan fast said he was impressed by the event of the day and prayed that the Almighty Allah would grant the religious leaders strength, more knowledge, wisdom and understanding to remain the mouth-piece of the Almighty Allah.
Asking for prayers for continued peace and tranquility in Nigeria, Olubadan promised that the Ramadan Lecture, the first of its kind in any Ibadan palace would be an annual event for as long as the Almighty Allah gives him the grace to remain on the throne.
Speaking at the lecture on the theme — ‘The Royal Da’wah: Ali-Iwo Dynasty in Ibadan History’, Sheikh Tajudeen AbdulKareem Al-Adabiyy (Baba L’agbeni), who is the National Amir, FASON traced the history of Ali-Iwo to Ogbomoso and remarked that one unique thing about the Ali-Iwo dynasty is the fact that it remains the only ruling house in Ibadan till date that has no shrine whatsoever.
The Islamic cleric, who was supported by Sheikh Mos’hud Ibrahim (Baba L’ofa) and Mallam Salisu Lukman (Al-Barmu), the FASON National Council of Ulamah and Director of Education (JIBWIS, Oyo State) respectively disclosed that the hand of the Almighty Allah had for ages been upon the family and this he said had made it possible for the success attained.
Recalling that as far back as 1952, when the present Olubadan was barely 10 years old, a prophecy had come out from the least expected quarter that he was a future king and despite all the challenges he had on his way, the will of the Almighty Allah concerning him was fulfilled.
According to the cleric, “The implication of this, is that whatever the Almighty Allah desires to do, He will do it and He doesn’t require our help, but just to follow His tenets, that’s all”.
Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Daud Akinola Makanjuola in his remark while fielding questions from journalists congratulated the Muslim community for being in faith and commended Olubadan of Ibadanland, in whose honour the lecture was held for acknowledging Almighty Allah, not minding his position as the paramount ruler of Ibadanland.
Asking the congregation to emulate the monarch by seeing the Almighty Allah as the all in all in whatever position they may find themselves, Alhaji Makanjuola, who is popularly called D-Damak urged Nigerians to pray for the President-elect and cooperate with him to deliver the message the Almighty Allah sent to Nigeria and Nigerians through him.
He described the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as a man of integrity with capability and ability to lead Nigeria at this particular time.
“After our prayers for him and the team to work with him, all hands must be on deck and see what the Almighty Allah would do for this country through him. The country would witness a remarkable difference from what we are witnessing presently,” he stated.
Similarly, the chief host of the programme and the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in the National, Dr Kola Balogun has said the election of Asiwaju Tinubu as the next President of the country was divine in view of the challenges he faced during the primary election and the election proper.
“For anybody to survive all those challenges and surmount them was beyond the ordinary. The Almighty Allah must have a purpose concerning this country through him.
“We will help the realisation of God’s intention by praying for him, especially in choice of his members of cabinet because, however determined he’s for good governance, those to work with him matters a lot.
“You know, as we say in this part of the country, there are no bad kings, but, bad Chiefs. If the Chiefs are okay and God-fearing, the king would have no choice than to toe the path of goodness and fear God as well.
“So, we need to pray for the President-elect to succeed and I’m sure his success would bring back our economy, insecurity would become a thing of the past and there would be a birth of a new Nigeria where there’s prosperity”, Senator Balogun said.
On the lecture, the younger brother to the Olubadan said the take-away from the whole thing is that, “After the Almighty Allah, it is the Almighty Allah and there’s nothing anybody can be outside of Him. We owe Him the totality of our being and essence. He needs our total and absolute reliance in Him. That’s the message and what I can only tell Nigerians, not only Muslims is to have faith in Him for a better country under the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.
On the sufferings Nigerians were subjected to as a result of the recent Naira redesign policy, the Senator asked Nigerians to put the ugly incident behind them and look forward. He said it was not without the knowledge of the Almighty Allah that such situation was experienced by the people and He is the rewarder if all deeds, good or bad.
In the meantime, the lecture which was attended by the members of Ibadan traditional institution led by the members of Olubadan Advisory Council also had in attendance prominent Islamic Clerics and Scholars among whom were the Grand Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere, Prof. Kamil Oloso, the Asiwaju Adini Musulumi of Ibadanland, Arc. Hassan Olawale Giwa, former Oyo State Head of Service, Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, the Chief Imam of Ali-Iwo Central Mosque, Alhaji Moshood Giwa and Mogaji Agba, Ali-Iwo, Engr. Daud Ashiru Balogun among others.
Add Comment