Kunle Adelabu
– Mammoth Crowd Observe Eid-il-Fitr
First Permanent Vice Chairman, Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs and the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, the Adegorushen V, has said that the newly rehabilitated Ikorodu Central Mosque Eid Prayer Ground is the Ka’abah of Ikorodu and the entire Lagos State.
The royal father made the statement while commissioning the newly renovated religious facility after the 2022 Eid – El – Fitr prayer, on Monday, May 2, 2022,
He also warned that social and other functions should be restricted from holding on the ground.
The ancient praying ground located along the Obafemi Awolowo in Ikorodu, was rehabilitated and upgraded by the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Mikhail Adetokunbo, FCA.
This year’s Eid prayer, which marked the end of the 2022 Ramadan fasting period, was attended by a mammoth crowd after the prayer failed to hold at the ground in 2020 and 2021 due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which prevented social and religious gathering across the country.
“This is our own Ka’abah (a building at the center of Islam’s most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia) in Ikorodu and it will also serve as the Ka’abah for the entire Lagos State. This place was reconstructed and delivered to us by our son, the Distinguished Senator (Tokunbo Abiru)”, Oba Shotobi said.
“He undertook the rehabilitation to promote God’s work in Ikorodu.
“Looking back and seeing this mammoth crowd worshipping here today makes me happy. All our prayers to Allah during the Ramadan shall be answered”.
He said that the ground, which used to host social, Islamic and political functions will not be used for any other function again except to worship God.
“This is not a ground for us to stage social gatherings but strictly meant to pray to God. I want the entire Ikorodu residents to know that this will not be used for any other purpose except that to pray to God”, Oba Shotobi said.
Many of the congregation that spoke with THE IMPACT commended Sen. Abiru for the gesture which they said will uplift Islam and status of Ikorodu within the Islamic community in Lagos and beyond.
As expected, Sheikh (Alhaji) Chief Imam Seifudeen Ayinla Ademoritan Olowo-Oribi, the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, led the Eid prayer at the ground.
He offered prayers for Oba Shotobi, political leaders as well as Ikorodu community, Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.
He also led a special prayer for the sole sponsor of the rehabilitated eid ground, Sen. Abiru who wore full Islamic regalia with turban.
Also at the Eid prayer were Honourable Justice Wale Abiru, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, former Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Commission, Aremo Adeniyi Ogunsanya, Aremo of Ikorodu, Dr (Otunba) Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, Permanent Member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) among many other dignitaries.
