Nigeria would have been a better place for all its citizens and residents, if the tenets of Islam and Allah are daily followed in all human endeavours.
The Olubadan of Ibadaland, Oba Sen. Lekan Balogun, Alli Okunmade II, said this while speaking at the maiden Ramadan Lecture organised in his honour by the Federation of Ahlus-Sunnah Organisation in Nigeria (FASON).
The lecture was held last Saturday at the Ali-Iwo palace of the paramount Ibadan traditional ruler.
The traditional ruler enjoined Nigerians to put into practice the lessons inherent in the Ramadan Fast.
He said he was impressed by the event of the day and prayed that the Almighty Allah would grant religious leaders the strength, knowledge, wisdom and understanding to remain the mouth-piece of the Almighty Allah.
The Olubadan asked for prayers for continued peace and tranquility in Nigeria and among its people.
He 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.
The National Amir of FASON, Sheikh Tajudeen AbdulKareem Al-Adabiyy (Baba L’agbeni), spoke at the lecture with the theme “The Royal Da’wah: Ali-Iwo Dynasty in Ibadan History”.
He 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 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.
He 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.
He recalled that as far back as 1952, when Oba Balogun was barely 10 years old, a prophecy from the least expected quarter had revealed that he was a future king.
Sheihk Al-Adabiyy (Baba L’agbeni) added that, despite all the challenges on his way, the will of the Almighty Allah concerning the reigning Olubadan was fulfilled.
The implication of this, according to the cleric 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, while answering questions from journalists, congratulated the Muslim Community for being strong in faith.
He commended Oba Lekan Balogun, in whose honour the lecture was held, for acknowledging Almighty Allah, not minding his position as the paramount ruler of Ibadanland.
Alhaji Makanjuola (aka D-Damak) urged the congregation to emulate the traditional ruler by seeing the Almighty Allah as the all-in-all in whatever position they may find themselves.
He also admonished Nigerians to pray for the President-elect, Senator Bola Tinubu and cooperate with him to deliver the message the Almighty Allah sent to Nigeria and the people through him.
He described the president-elect as a man of integrity who has the capability and ability to lead Nigeria at this particular point in 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 remarkable difference from what we are witnessing presently,” the Aare Musulumi said.
Also speaking, the Chief Host of the event, Dr. Mohammed Kolawole Balogun, said the election of Senator Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria was divine.
The senator, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, said this was in view of the challenges Tinubu 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 is 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 am 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.
The federal lawmaker, who is a younger brother of Oba Balogun, said the take away from the lecture “is that after the Almighty Allah, it is the Almighty Allah and there is 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 is the message.
“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.”
Senator Balogun urged Nigerians to put behind them the sufferings they were subjected to as a result of the recent Naira redesign policy, and admonished them to be forward looking.
He said it was not without the knowledge of the Almighty Allah that such situation was experienced by the people, adding: “He is the rewarder of all deeds, good or bad.”
The lecture was attended by the members of Ibadan Traditional Institution led by the members of the Olubadan Advisory Council.
Also in attendance were prominent Islamic clerics and scholars, including the Grand Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Agbotomokekere; the Asiwaju Adini Musulumi of Ibadanland, Professor Kamil Oloso and former Oyo State Head of Service, Arc. Hassan Olawale Giwa.
Others included Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, the Chief Imam of Ali-Iwo Central Mosque, Alhaji Moshood Giwa and Mogaji Agba, Ali-Iwo, Engineer Daud Ashiru Balogun, among others.
