Agbotomokekere installs Oni-Malu as Asiwaju Adinni of Ibadan

THE Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdul Ganiyy Abubakri Agbotomokekere, on Sunday, installed an entreprenuer, Alhaji Mutiullah Abdul Azeez Oladejo, popularly known as Oni-Malu, as the Asiwaju Adinni of Ibadanland.

The spiritual leader, at the event, attended by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji; the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul Rasheed Akanbi; the Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal and the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, also turbaned Alhaji Abdul Akeem Abdul Ganiyy as the Imam of Agbede Adodo, Oke-Are, a location at the centre of the city.

At the same time, the Chief Imam inaugurated an ultramodern mosque built by Oladejo in the area.

In an address, the Babasale Musulumi of Ibadanland, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Oyelade, noted that honorary Islamic titles were only meant to encourage outstanding Muslims to contribute more to the advancement of Islam and not to establish any superiority among the adherents.

He congratulated the Chief Imam, Sheikh Agbotomokekere, saying under his watch, Islam had continued to grow rapidly in the city.

Popular preacher, Sheikh Muyideen Ajani Bello, who delivered the lecture at the event, described as a thing of joy, the level of acceptance of Islam among the people of Agbede Adodo who, he said, were rather inclined to the worship of idols in the past.

He urged Oladejo, an entrepreneur, to see the honour as a motivation to do more for Islam and the cause of humanity.

The Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, commended the honouree for his gesture, describing the mosque project as a remarkable way to exhibit his faith in Allah and propagate His religion.

The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Community Relations, Mr Murisiku Siyanbade, urged other well-to-do Muslims to take a leaf from the gesture of Oladejo and contribute their quotas to the development of Islam and the society in general.

Oladejo, who also donated a car each to the Chief Imam and the Oyo State chapter of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) at the event, expressed delight and promised to continue to be a champion of Islam.

“I am happy that this mosque was built by Allah through me. The original structure of the mosque was put up by my father in 1953. The structure was then divided in two with one part dedicated to the worship of idols and the other for the worship of Allah. But I decided to turn the entire place to a mosque,” he said.

Traditional chiefs, Islamic title holders, including the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, who was represented by the trio of Dr Kola Ahmed, Alhaji Kamorudeen Aderibigbe and Alhaji Muniru Ogundipe, all members of the Aare Musulumi-in-Council; clerics from across Oyo State as well as the mudir (director) of the Arabic Institute of Nigeria, Madinah, Elekuro, Ibadan, Shaykh Abdul Wahab Bayo Ahmad, also attended the event.