Kunle Adelabu
The number one Muslim citizen in the country, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Ilorin, His Eminence Shaykh Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and the Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abou-Nolla, will on Saturday, December 28, 2019, lead other top Islamic faithful, politicians, traditional rulers, eminent guests and residents of Ikorodu to the commissioning of the ultra-modern Oriwu Central Mosque in Ikorodu.
Also expected at the commissioning of the Mosque, which its foundation was laid in 1988, were the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Deputy, Dr Kadri Hamzat, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and other important political and state functionaries.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas & Chiefs and the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Alaiyeluwa Ọba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos, and the 1st Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas & Chiefs and the Ayangbure of Ikorodu , HRM Oba (Engr.) Kabir Shotobi, will lead other traditional rulers to grace the historic occasion.
According to report, the construction of the Mosque suffered great setback barely a year after its foundation laying ceremony as the building plan was allegedly revoked by the then military administrator of Lagos State, Col. Raji Rasaki (rtd), but was back on track in 1992 when Sir Micheal Otedola took over the mantle of leadership in the state and gave the leadership of the Mosque under its first Chief Imam, late Alhaji Amokomowo, the approval for construction.
According to reliable sources within the mosque, the intervention of the late Ayangbure of Ikorodu, HIM Oba Salaudeen Oyefusi, CON, to personally mobilize and raise money for the continuation of the project yielded results as eminent individuals in Ikorodu contributed towards the progress of the construction.
Other notable figures that also joined the late Ayangbure to mobilise financial supports for the completion of the mosque were Alhaji Amokomowo, Chief Adamson Bamisedun, Alhaji Musbau Majolagbe and Alhaji Rafiu Abiodun among others.
During the tenure of late Chief Imam Amokomowo in 2017, a committee led by the retired Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice (rtd) Fatai Adeyinka, was constituted to see to the completion of the mosque.
Other members of the committee that eventually worked assiduously to complete the mosque, Alhaji Nosirudeen Lawal Akolemobasi, Alhaji Imam Abiodun, Alhaji (Chief) Wasiu Layebi-Oyenuga, Alhaji Ganiu Wahab Okogan and Alhaji Kazim Ganiu-Sanni.
As part of the activities for the 3-day commissioning event, remembrance prayers for the late members of the mosque and 10th remembrance prayers for the late Chief Imam Amokomowo and post humous awards for some individuals that had contributed immensely to the development of the mosque have been scheduled to hold on Thursday, December 26.
On Friday, December 27, the 10th anniversary of the current Imam of the Oriwu Central Mosque, Chief Imam Yahya Oshoala Ajagbemookeferi and an award ceremony will be held at the mosque premises while the commissioning proper comes up on Saturday, December 28, 2019.
