Kunle Adelabu
One of the prominent communities in Ikorodu, Oke – Eletu which is situated in the Ijede Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, has organized inter – faith prayers for continued peaceful co – existence and development in the town.
The prayer session, which was organized by Eletu of Oke – Eletu, High Chief Ajayi Omotayo Adeniyi, witnessed a large presence of religious leaders, family members, trade groups, community development associations, security personnel and residents of the community.
The inter – faith prayer session took place at the Oke – Eletu market square on Thursday, May 18, 2023.
Special prayers were offered by the Very Reverend Samuel Olapade, Vicar – in – Charge, Methodist Church Nigeria, Oke – Eletu, Chief Semiu Hassan, the Alashe of Ijede and Chief Imam, Alhaji Kosoko Aridegbe, the Chief lmam of Ikorodu West LCDA, who represented the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Sheikh Ademoritan Olowo-Oribi, among others.
Explaining the idea behind the initiative, High Chief Ajayi, who was installed as Eletu, a few weeks back, and was organizing his first official event as the traditional head of the community, said that the prayer session was to seek for God’s guidance in his administration and also carry the residents along.
“We did not just call for this special prayer, but one of our fathers and strong pillars made us understand that it is important to place God first in all things, especially for someone in my position. Any leader that allows God to guide him will not fail”, the Eletu of Oke – Eletu said.
“King Solomon, when he was ordained as King, sought for nothing but wisdom to govern his people and that was how God gave him wisdom, That is what I am also seeking for.
“Anybody that knows Oke Eletu very well, will know that it is populated by many that are wealthier, educated and far more knowledgeable than me, but God in His mercy, made me the head of the community.
“How do I govern the community in which we have wealthier and more knowledgeable people? The only way is to seek God’s intervention with prayers to be able to govern the people and the community successfully”, High Chief Ajayi added.
High Ajayi also said that the need to seek divine intervention, in terms of developments, especially in the forthcoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, which will be inaugurated on May 29, also called for the prayers.
“In addition, the Oke Eletu community is in need of prayers for growth and development and we want our community to be beneficiaries of projects and other developments in the coming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu when his government gets underway. That is another reason for this prayer session”, the traditional leader said.
Grand Chief Imam, Sheikh Ademoritan Olowo-Oribi, the Grand Chief Imam, Ikorodu Division, commended the Eletu of Oke Eletu, for the initiative which he said will go a long way in bringing peace, harmony and development to the community.
He spoke through his representative, Sheikh Kosoko Aridegbe, the Chief Imam of Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA).
Olowo-Oribi also said that the initiative proved that the Eletu of Oke Eletu, High Chief Adeniyi, loves his people and has the interest of his community.
The Very Reverend Samuel Olopade, the Vicar – in – Charge, Methodist Church of Nigeria, Oke Eletu, commended the Eletu for organizing the prayer session.
While commending the head of the community for choosing to organize the inter – faiths prayer instead of organizing carnival and other social activities, the revered clergyman described the initiative as the beginning of development in the community.
Alhaji Muritador Amokomowo, the guest lecturer at the special community prayer, spoke on the topic, ‘Importance of Prayers’, said that the three main religions – Christianity, Islam and Traditional religion, are created for people practicing them to live in peace and harmony and bring about development.
He said that the failure of people to do what God asks of them; doing what He wants and stay away from sins, are reasons prayers of many communities have not been answered.
The guest lecturer, who identified religious discrimination and intolerance as major impediments to prayers, charged Oke Eletu residents to see themselves as one, irrespective of their differences in religion.
Alhaji Amokomowo, who also stated that failure to give to God what is due to Him, is as another reason communities don’t progress.
While commending the Eletu of Oke Eletu, the lecturer also prayed for the growth and development of the community.
Others at the special prayer session were: Chief Oludayo Alowonle Awolate Osikoya, the Head of Shogba Royal Family of Oke Eletu, Alhaji Luqman Fashola, Chief Executive Officer, Lukam Hotel, Alhaji Soyiga, Chief Imam, Oke Eletu Central Mosque, Alhaji Olugbenga Sobote, Baba Adinni, Oke Eletu Central Mosque, Chief Sobote Omogbolahan Olumide, representatives of Area N Command, among others.
