Kunle Adelabu & Mariam Akinloye
-Solicits Muslim community’s support
The chairmanship aspirant for Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Nasir Titilope Andu -Balogun (NTA), has sought divine intervention in achieving his aspiration.
While stating that the Ramadan lecture was organized to put God first in his aspiration, Andu – Balogun, who is the founder of the Andus D’Great School, Igbogbo, also sought the support of the entire Muslim community in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, assuring them that if he’s elected, he would administer the council with the fear of God.
He made the appeal at the maiden edition of the N.T.A Ramadan Public Lecture held at the Igbogbo Central Mosque, Odofin Road, Igbogbo on Thursday.
The lecture was tagged, “One Ummah, One Goal, Unity and Solidarity in Action”.
Andu – Balogun, welcoming Islamic chieftains and members of the community to the gathering, thanked them for honouring his invitation, adding that its purpose was to seek God’s intervention in his aspiration of leading the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA.
While also seeking for the people’s support, the aspirant assured them that he would govern with the fear of God.
“We decided to put God first since there will be vacancy in the local council and I am aspiring for the chairmanship of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA and fortunately for us, the campaign is commencing during the Ramadan, so, we decided to use the opportunity to organise this lecture.
”This is an opportunity for the Muslims to also produce a Muslim Chairman, and we need unity and collective prayers.”
The aspirant furthered, “If I am elected, there would be fear of God and we shall tow his path in managing the affairs of the people.
“This is why we are instituting this lecture which shall be an annual programme
“We thank our Imams and the entire congregation for your attendance and support. We implore you to assist us in telling the people about my aspiration and we seek for their prayers because when we get to the position, we shall use it to praise God.”
The guest lecturer, Sheikh Mhmd Luqman Abd’Razak Al-Mubaarak, Chief Imam/Missioner, Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Igbogbo Branch, said that the lack of unity has caused serious problems in the country and prevented progress and development.
He listed fair treatment, ability to listen and to accept others and acceptance of others’ views among factors that encourages unity and progress in any community.
Sheikh Al-Mubaarak called for love among Muslims and residents of Igbogbo generally, emphasizing that, “it is only when there is love that there can be unity which brings progress and development.
“Hatred brings no good thing but disunity and problems,” he added.
While welcoming the aspiration of Mr Andu -Balogun into the Chairmanship race for the Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, the guest lecturer called on the Muslim community to give him support in achieving the aspiration.
The Imam/Missioner noted that Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA administration has attained a level where the council is now classified among the top councils and Al-Mubaarak added that if the community cannot get someone better than the outgoing chairman who can take the council higher, it should not settle for someone not at par with him.
“Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA has gone beyond an ordinary council, and we all must be concerned about who we put there to succeed the outgoing chairman.
“If we cannot get somebody better than the incumbent, we must not go lower. We must get someone at par with him,” he said.
Special prayers for the attainment of the Chairmanship aspiration of Mr Andu, were offered by the Imams from Bayeku, Araromi, and Elepe. Also, chieftains of the Igbogbo Central Mosque and Alhaja Muheenat Orepekan, Iya Sunnah, Igbogbo Central Mosque.
At the end of the iftar programme, food packs and drinks were distributed to 300 guests in attendance.
In attendance were Sheikh Abd’Quadr Atinla, Imam, Ikeoluwa Mosque, Igbogbo and the Olori Imams, Igbogbo Kingdom, Sheikh Shaffy Mustapha Imoloba, Olori Omokewu, Igbogbo Kingdom, Sheikh Tajudeen Disu (Chief Imam, Baiyeku, Sheikh Sulaiman Sadiq, Chief Imam, Ibeshe, Sheikh Hussain Gazali, Chief Imam, Elepe and Iya Sunnahs from Araromi, Idera, Ikeoluwa, Aiyegbami Mosques.
