Kunle Adelabu
-Charges him to fight, defend Islamic faith
Muslims in Ikorodu, under the aegis of the Ikorodu Muslim Community Association (IMCA), has charged the new Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu branch, Barr. Idris Kolawole Thany, esq., to defend and protect Muslims and their faith in the community with his office.
The number one lawyer in Ikorodu Division was also tasked to ensure that the litigation instituted against those that IMCA referred to as unbelievers which has been in court since the tenure of his immediate predecessor, should not only be pursued to a logical conclusion, but also ensure that the Muslim community emerge victorious.
IMCA leadership gave the charge at the reception organized in honour of Barr Thany at the Oluwaloju Library, Oluwaloju Mosque, Agunbiade Close, Grammar School, Oke – Ota, Ikorodu on Thursday, July 21, 2022.
THE IMPACT gathered that IMCA had some months back instituted a court action against the traditional institution in Ikorodu for alleged forceful initiation of a member of the Muslim community into a traditional group.
Alhaji Misbaudeen O. Rotinwa, Coordinator, IMCA, while congratulating Barr. Thany on his election as NBA Chairman, charged him to use his good office to work for his association and the nation at large.
“We thank Almighty Allah for His mercies and the honour given to our brother, Idris Thany. We appreciate him, but this is a time that he has to know that he still has a lot to do for Islam, Ikorodu and the nation at large”, the IMCA Coordinator said.
“His election is a challenge to him and we pray to Almighty Allah to grant him the strength and wisdom to lead the organization.
“As a Muslim, his achievements will be in history and by this, we are praying to Almighty Allah to give him the wisdom to succeed and uphold him and his entire executives”.
The IMCA Coordinator also charged Barr. Thany to be more committed to the Muslim community.
“We want to use this medium to tell him that his performance with IMCA is not so encouraging. May be due to his tight schedule, but now, he has to do everything possible to ensure that IMCA too is included in his programmes. May Almighty Allah guide you right”, Alhaji Rotinwa said.
In his keynote lecture, Alhaji Monsuruden Kayode Majolagbe, Mufti IMCA, said that the new position attained by Barr. Thany is a promise by God to grant believers the authority to dominate the earth.
“We thank Allah who has made it possible to have this sitting and granting us the opportunity to celebrate with our brothers”.
Quoting from The Q’uran Chapter 24, verse 55, the IMCA Mufti said:
“Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession to authority upon the earth, just like He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them therein in their region He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them after their fear, security.
“They worship me and not associating anything with me, but whosoever disbelief after that, those are deviantly disobedient.
“It is the promise of Allah that he will surely secure for us the succession of authority. This is an advantage for our brother and legal adviser that Allah has given the succession of authority over the NBA Ikorodu branch to him as the Chairman”.
The guest speaker said that Barr. Thany’s emergence as the NBA Chairman is an added advantage for the Muslim community and charged him to take over the court matter that IMCA is pursuing against the traditional institution.
“It is an advantage for the Muslim. His predecessor, Barr. Abimbola is also a Muslim as well as the Chairman, Muslim Lawyers Association, Ikorodu branch. Coming again after him is another brother who is also our Legal Adviser.
“The Muslim Association of Ikorodu has emphasized their willingness and readiness to stand for the Muslims whenever we have litigation. Currently, we are having a litigation against the Kufarr (unbelievers) for forcefully initiating our member into their cult.
“Your predecessor was the one championing the cause and now that we are having you as Chairman, we believe that you will help us to continue with the case and ensure that win it and make it serve as a deterrent to the Kufarr and keep them off from us every time. May Allah guide you aright and give you the strength to do the job”.
Mufti Majolagbe said that the Muslim community is looking up to him to ensure that the matter is won and used in ensuring that their members’ right to their religion practice is never trampled upon again.
“You are not the first to be given the power of authority to do good, rather, He (Allah) has been giving it to others like your predecessors in Ikorodu and other Muslim brothers that have been given the opportunity too”, he said.
“We are looking towards you sir to make sure that Islam prevails in the current litigation between us and the non – believers, Insha Allah.
“For the first time in the history of Ikorodu Division, this struggle has reached a very successful level to such an extent that the Muslim community as a whole has given signal to those concerned that Muslims are one and anytime that our members’ right to freedom of worship is infringed, we shall rise together and defend it”, he emphasised.
“This authority of succession that Allah has giving you is not for any other thing but for you to make sure that Islam stands firm. As you are fighting and working so that the Nigeria Bar Association stands firm, you should also ensure that Islam also stands firm.
“The area we currently require your assistance is this ongoing litigation and the one to come in future. Fighting the cause of Allah does not mean that we are going to fight like the Boko Harams, rather, it involves intellectual warfare, whereby, we will use every legal means within the framework of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Fadheelat Sheikh AbdulWasi Adio Bawa – Allah, who led a special Dua (prayer) at the event, prayed for more of such good gatherings within the Muslim community.
He commended the new NBA Chairman for proving himself worthy to the extent that his colleagues elected him as the their leader, thereby, bringing honour to his Muslim family and entire Muslim community.
“It has shown that you have worked greatly within the association before you could be recognized and trusted with this position. You must not relent on your good work”, he charged.
Barr. Idris Thany, the new Chairman, NBA, Ikorodu branch and Legal Adviser, IMCA, in his response, thanked God for his emergence and IMCA for hosting the event to honor him.
He said that he has always defended Islam, and charged Muslims to always represent the religion wherever they find themselves.
“I thank Allah for making today possible. Which of the favour of Allah can we deny. There is none. It is Allah that made today possible”, he said.
“It has been a long and strong battle, but Alhamdulillahi, some of us were born and brought up in Islamic homes and that made us to understand right from the moment that we started working that we are Mujahydeen. Whether we like it or not, we are the soldiers of Allah.
“Wherever we find ourselves and whatever that we are doing, we should see ourselves as representing the Islam. That is why I have always represented Islam everywhere that I have been”.
Thany, who said that he had a combined degree in Sharia and Common Law, also said that his conviction has made him to take up positions of responsibilities from his secondary school to his University days in Maiduguri where he used his position to help the development of Islam.
He charged Muslims to always aspire for position of authority, adding that the protection of Islam will be a priority to him as the NBA Chairman.
“Our Coordinator and Mufti has thrown a challenge at me to use my position to better Islam. Of course, based on all that I have said that I did in the University, you should be rest assured that Islam is my priority”, he said.
“Muslims should start aspiring for positions so that we can use our positions to better Islam and Muslims. When I was running for the NBA Chairmanship, most people felt that it was a selfish or personal ambition, but no. it wasn’t.
“If you are not there, you cannot ask about how things are shared and we cannot keep complaining and remain perennial complainants. Let us participate and do our bit.
“It is incumbent on all of us to be strong Muslims and stand up to defend Islam and wherever we see our Muslim brothers and sisters, we should always support them and whenever they are on the wrong side, call them to counsel them.
“I want to thank our Coordinator for this august gathering. May God in His infinity mercy preserve, protect and bless you. He will continue to bless the work of your hands and that of your family.
“I also say thank you to our Sheikh the Mufti. You have made a charge and by God grace, you will see very serious changes and I undertake that Insha Allah, and moving forward, we are going to partner with the Muslim community in our two years to safeguard anything that has to do with Islam and protect them”, he assured.
“We are going to ensure that no one victimizes Muslims in Ikorodu. This will be a town of peace and tranquility for Muslims. We cannot continue to be afraid in our own town. If we cannot be comfortable here, where again are we going to be comfortable”, Barr. Thany asked rhetorically?”.
NBA Ikorodu Assistant General Secretary, Barr. Luqman Jaiyeola, in his goodwill message, described Barr. Thany as a knowledgeable and committed lawyer and Muslim.
“He is my boss and currently, our NBA Chairman. He’s very knowledgeable about religion and law. He is one of the few outstanding lawyers in Ikorodu.
“He has contributed a lot to the development of Islam and law”, he said.
Other IMCA chieftains at the event were Imam Jamiu Kayode Quadri, IMCA General Secretary, Alhaja Aregbesola Anota, IMCA Woman Moderator, Princess Alimi Bilikis O. (Deputy Women Moderator) and Prince Elemure Abd Rasheed (Financial Secretary) among others.
