How Sheikh Sa’adallah Aliru became President, Council of Chief Imams, Epe Division

THE Chief Imam of First Epe Central Mosque, Oke-Balogun, Sheikh Sa’adallah Abiola Abdul Rahman Aliru, has been turbaned as the Grand Chief Imam and President-General, League of Imams and Alfas, Epe Division.

Aliru’s turbaning, on Sunday at the First Epe Central Mosque, Oke-Balogun, according to a statement, followed the confirmation of his appointment by the Lagos State government through a letter by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, had, in a letter dated January 6, 2022 and addressed to the chairman of Epe Local Government Area, stated that a committee headed by the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Sulaimon Abou Nolla, which was composed at the behest of the state deputy governor, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, to resolve the issues surrounding the position of the Epe Divisional Grand Chief Imam and determine the rightful claimant to the position had resolved that the position should start from the First Epe Central Mosque, Epe, which had Chief Imam Sadallah Aliru as its candidate.

In a separate letter to the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Abou Nolla, also dated January 6, 2022, Prince Elegushi notified Sheikh Abou Nolla of the government’s adoption of the report of his committee which recommended Chief Imam Sa’adullah Abdur Rahman as the President, Council of Chief Imams, Epe Division.

While performing the turbaning on Sunday, the President General, League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Sheikh Jamiu Bello Keulere, described Sheikh Aliru as worthy of the position because of his knowledge and contributions to the development of Islam in Epe and environs.

Sheikh Keulere, who is the Chief Imam of Ado-Ekiti and Grand Imam of Ekiti State, implored the Muslim community in the division to support the Grand Chief Imam to achieve the task he had been saddled with.

He prayed Allah to bless the position and give him the knowledge and wisdom to unite the ummah.

“Today’s turbaning ceremony of Imam Sa’adallah is ordained by Allah. I therefore seek your unceasing support and prayers for him for a successful tenure,” the cleric said.

Commenting on the event, the Otun Seriki of Epe Kingdom, High Chief Musliudeen Odedeogboro, congratulated the new Grand Chief Imam and called on him to work with other Chief Imams and Ulamas in the division so that peace, progress and development could be achieved.

In his words, the Noeeb Imam of First Epe Central Mosque, Sheikh Shefiu Tukuru, commended the Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his deputy, Dr Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat and the entire members of the state cabinet for their swift intervention and commitment to maintaining law and order in the state.

While speaking with newsmen after the turbaning, the new Grand Chief Imam, Sheikh Aliru, expressed gratitude to God and the state government, promising to use his position to unite the Muslim community in the division.

He noted that no community thrives in an atmosphere of disunity and infighting and therefore called on all Muslims in the area to join him for a successful reign.

“I will use my position to preach peace among the Muslims in the division and environs, I therefore seek your unwavering support and cooperation so that together we can achieve success,” he assured.

The event was attended by prominent personalities, including the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheikh Sa’adallah Agboola; Dir’ul Quadriyyah of Africa, Dr Sheu Abdulkadir Jimoh Garkuwan; and the Wakeel Muslimun of Yorubaland, Sheikh Iskeel Lawal Sugar.

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