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A popular Islamic cleric, Sheik Muideen Ajani Bello, yesterday rattled Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, his wife, Florence, and several leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) who wore local Ankara fabric as uniform at the eight-day Fidau prayers for ex-governor of the state, the late Alhaji Lam Adesina.
In his sermon at the prayer session, which took place at the Obafemi Awolowo stadium (formerly Liberty Stadium), Oke Ado, Ibadan, Sheik Bello, Sheik Bello said that those who were wearing ankara uniform were “senseless”, wondering whether they were happy at the death of Lam.
Also present at the session were National leader of ACN and former Lagos state Governor, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu; incumbent Lagos Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Oyo Deputy Governor, Chief Alake Adeyemo; Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; and Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti.
Others present were former Oyo state governor, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao (the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland), Chief Bisi Akande (National Chairman ACN), Aremo Olusegun Osoba (former Ogun state governor), Lam’s Deputy, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, and business mogul, Chief Oba Otudeko.
However, apart from Governor Ajomobi and his wife, Florence, these other notable personalities were not in the Ankara uniform.
Immediately Sheik Bello made the remark, everybody grumbled, while Tinubu, Ladoja, Arisekola, Osoba, Akande and Ajimobi’s countenance changed. They were aghast and looked at one another, embarrassed that Governor Ajimobi, wife, Deputy and many others were decked in the ankara uniform.
Sheik Bello however later responded to the grumbling, saying that he did not regret what he said, and that he had not even said what could get them astounded.
He told those who were wearing the uniform to search their conscience whether they meant well for Lam. “It may be hot but my creator cannot send me any message without my delivering it”, he said.
Sheik Bello, in the sermon, eulogized Lam, saying as a teacher, as a Principal, and when he was reading newspapers for free, he was poor until he became governor.
“When however, he was seated and ready to be enjoying the largess of politics was when Allah said he should stop and come back home. Money could not save the situation for him. That is the awesome glory of God.
“He so much abhorred corruption that he once said that if nothing happens to corrupt ones while alive, something grave would happen to them when they die”.
Responding to the scathing remark by Sheik Bello, Asiwaju Tinubu however said the uniform was sewn in order to distinguish and identify with the children of Late Lam, and that it was not intended to mock the dead or show that the late governor’s death did not pain them.
Ajimobi also asked Sheik Bello to forgive them for wearing ankara uniform, explaining that, “It is our culture just as you Imams also wear ‘Alkimba’ at any such events.
Bello then lauded Ajimobi for funding the hajj adequately this year, noting that, Muslims were all happy.
He, however, cautioned that the death of a Muslim should not be dignified with slaughtering of cows, while praying for eternal rest of Lam, whom he said gave his entire life to worship.
He condemned the usual practice of naming streets after the dead, saying that experience had shown that many successive governments had rubbished such by changing such names later and renaming the streets after their own favourites. Instead, a school should be named after Lam, he reiterated.
On his part, Governor Abiola Ajimobi disclosed that his administration was ready to name a school after his predecessor, late Alhaji Lamidi Adesina.
Ajimobi said that Alhaji Lam, as an educationist, a teacher and later principal of a secondary school, cherished education and excellence so much that his legacy should not be forgotten.
He therefore declared that his administration was going to inaugurate the “Lam Adesina Education Endowment Scholarship” through the Fund.
In his address, Ajimobi prayed for the soul of Alhaji Lam to rest in peace, asking that everybody should pray for forgiveness of sins so that our exit could be better and more rewarding than when we are alive.
He said Lam suffered in life but he did not suffer in vain because he became governor, became ACN leader and became father of many political sons and daughters.
“Everybody can see that life after the death of Alhaji Lam was blissful and beautiful.”
Saying that Sheik Bello’s demand appeared pre-emptive of his government’s plan, Ajimobi said, “any student who passes entrance examination, will as from today enjoy free tuition in the school because Baba Lam loved education and cherished brilliant students.”
Ajimobi therefore enjoined all ACN members to unite for the progress of the state and immortalization of the late governor, while he appreciated and enjoined chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) present to come and join the ACN.
Millions of naira were gathered from the dignitaries, who donated it to the clerics and Imams as sacrifice of thanksgiving and prayer for the repose of the soul of Lam.
