Kunle Adelabu
-Prayers offered for Nigeria, Tinubu
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries and Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, FCA, at the weekend, held a fellowship tagged, ’Easter Intercession’ with leaders of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Abiru also hosted Ramadan lecture for Muslims in the 16 Local Governments and the Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the Lagos East Senatorial District.
The events, which was held at the Constituency office of the Senator in Ikorodu on Saturday, April 16 and Sunday, April 17, 2022, also featured prayer sessions for Nigeria and the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is aspiring for the Presidency.
In a statement signed by Mr Enitan Olukotun, Special Adviser to Senator Tokunbo Abiru (Media and Publicity), on the Easter Monday, Senator Abiru said that Nigeria needs intense prayers at this crucial time of her history, adding that the challenges facing the nation require God’s intervention.
Imam Seifudeen Olowo-Oribi, Grand Chief Imam, Ikorodu Division and Sen. Tokunbo Abiru at the Ramadan Lecture on Sunday.
He requested that prayers should be offered for the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his presidential ambition.
Senator Abiru said no other politician among those who had indicated interest in the office of the president has the experience and capacity to manage ‘ the complexities of Nigeria and various interests and tendencies in the country’ like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Abiru, who served under the transformational government of Babatunde Raji Fashola in Lagos as the Commissioner of Finance on the recommendation of Tinubu, said that there is no leader in the history of Nigeria that has made other leaders like Asiwaju Tinubu and urged Nigerians to support his bid for the presidency.
“We all know the wonders he brought to bear in Lagos when he served between 1999 and 2007, especially in the area of economy, healthcare, infrastructure and human capital development. He will do much more if given the opportunity to lead the country”, Senator Abiru said while canvassing support for Tinubu.
The Lagos East Senator also intimated the clerics on his achievements in office in over 15 months.
He also gave a progress report on the reconstruction of Lagos/Shagamu Road which has reached an advanced stage, adding that the accelerated pace of work was as a result of the motion he moved on the floor of the Senate and the follow-ups that culminated in the inclusion of the funding of the road in the Sukuk Funds.
The Senator also reeled out the names of various communities that have benefitted Electricity transformers, schools, hospitals amongst others, that he facilitated.
Senator Abiru thanked the Christian and Muslim leaders for their continued intercessions in prayers for the nation and the support and encouragement that have been given him pre-election and after he was elected as the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Christian clerics, led by their leader, Evangelist (Dr) Emmanuel Adegoke who is also the CAN Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, agreed with Abiru on Tinubu, saying that if the leadership recruitment system in Lagos State envisioned by the former governor could produce someone like Senator Abiru, “such a leader deserves the support to lead Nigeria”.
Dr Adegoke said that Senator Abiru has performed exceptionally in office in the last 15 months he had been in the saddle, adding that the Senator is a very tolerant person who respects other religions, especially Christianity.
“Since my contact with him (Abiru), I see him embracing Christianity as an important body that needs to be cared for and to have great concern for. I said it while we were sitting here sometime ago in the presence of many other representatives that Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru is a leader that is very tolerant’, the CAN Leader said.
On Sunday, April 16, 2022, muslims, including renowned Islamic clerics led by the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Fadheelat Sheikh Seifudeen Akanbi Olowo-Oribi, party leaders , and eminent personalities across the Lagos East, also joined Senator Abiru for a Ramadan lecture and prayer session.
The Chief Lecturer, Engr. Shakirudeen AbdulGafar Mofeshaye, in his lecture titled, ‘Righteousness in the sight of Allah (Q 2:177), admonished muslims to always remember the last days when Almighty God will judge all humans.
Mofeshaye, who is the Chairman, Lagos State Pilgrim Welfare Board, urged muslims to have total faith in Almighty Allah, adding that, “Al-Quran is a universal manual for the whole world, it addresses believers and unbelievers alike’’.
He commended Senator Abiru for creating the platform for spiritual uplifting of muslims through the lecture in the Holy month of Ramadan.
Dignitaries who graced the Ramadan Lecture included; Alhaji Bode Oyedele, Chairman, TACT Advisory Council, Prince Jamiu Adio Saka, APC chieftain Ikorodu division, Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Dayo Alebiosu-Bush, Hon (Princess) Adebimpe Akinsola, former member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Alhaja Taofikat Abiodun Allison, Iyaloja General of Ikorodu Division.
Others were : Mayor Dele Osinowo, Executive Chairman , Agboyi-Ketu LCDA, Princess Samiat Abolanle Bada, Chairperson, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA, Hon Olusegun Olulade, House of Representatives aspirant, Dr(Otunba) Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, Permanent Member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) among others.