Oyo Chief Imam turbans late Olubadan’s brother as Grand Mufty

The Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdulganiy Abubakar Agbotomokere has turbaned Sheikh Abdul Bari Aremu Adetunji, a younger brother of the immediate past Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, as the Grand Mufty and Alfa Agba of Ibadanland.

Oba Adetunji and the new Grand Mufty and Alfa Agba of Ibadanland were born by the same father.

Adetunji was turbaned by the Chief Imam shortly after the Jummah prayer held at Ibadan Central Mosque in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital on Friday.

The installation of Adetunji as the Grand Mufty and Alfa Agba of Ibadanland is coming few weeks after the demise of the last occupant of the position, Sheikh Abdulfatai Muhali Alaga who died in January this year.

The event was witnessed by Islamic clerics both within and outside the state among whom are; Professor Kamil Oloso, Babasale Musulumi of Oyo state, Chief Nurani Akanbi, Turaki Adini of Oyo state, and Mogaji Abduljaleel Adanla among others.

The Chief Imam while performing the ceremony, charged the Grand Mufty to use his office in line with Islamic injunctions and traditions.

He prayed for the new Grand Mufty to succeed in his new position.

He added that his emergence was a result of handwork, loyalty and determination to work the Muslim ummah.

“Anyone who has power in life, anyone who has a secret, it is a matter of time, but anyone who is patient and determined will get to where he is going. Your patient has paid off.

“You are not the first person to occupy this position, continue to do the good things, you will go higher. Do not look at what people will say, continue to do things according to God ‘s wishes”.

The new Grand Mufty, a native of Ibadan and one of the literary Arabic giants was born in Apomu, in Osun state on the 13th of April, 1948 to the family of Alhaji Raji Olayiwola Adetunji and Madam Munirat Anike Adetunji.

He attended Ansar-ud-deen Primary School, Apomu (1955 – 1960), Saint Augustine Secondary Modern School, Ikire (1961 – 1963) and Karashi Memorial Arabic Secondary, Ibadan
(1966 – 1970).

He bagged B.A (Second Class Upper Division) in Arabic Studies from the University of Jos (1982) M.A in Arabic and Islamic Studies (1984) and PGDE (1988) from University of Ibadan and PhD Arabic from the University of Ilorin (2005).

Dr. Adetunji’s academic excellence began to show more when he sat for GCE Advanced Level and WASSCE and passed the two examinations with flying colours at a sitting in 1979.

Dr. Adetunji joined the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta in 1995 as Lecturer I and was raised to the status of Chief Lecturer in 2005. Adetunji makes indelible marks on different works in Arabic Language, Literature and Islamic Studies. He has written more than one hundred published works.

He has also participated in various conferences at which he presented papers and contributed effectively.