*O Allah, purify him of all sins, Chief Imam of Zazzau prays
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The DEFENDER gathered that the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Minister for Lagos Affairs, Alhaji Muhammed Ribadu and the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi benefited from Abou’s knowledge during their tour to Egyptian government; Abou it was who performed introduction of the visiting Nigerian leaders to their hosts.
A Deputy Secretary General of the World Zakat and Waqf Forum (WZWF), Engr. Muhammad Lawal Maidoki, has reacted to news of the death of late Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Abdul Afeez Abou, who died on Tuesday at his residence in Lagos at the age of 101.
Maidoki, only last year, represented the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, at the all-important centenary birthday anniversary celebrating the now late prominent Islamic cleric at 100.
In a voice message sent to The DEFENDER on Wednesday, Engr. Maidoki, who is former National President of the National Council of Muslim Youth (NACOMYO) in Nigeria, screamed the greatness of Allah at the death of the century-old but ever active Muslim leader.
“Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!! Allahu Akbar!!! Inna lillah wainna ilayhi rojiun (from Allah we came and unto him we shall return)! I have just received the news of the death of Baba Sheikh Abdul Afeez Abou. May Allah sub’anahuwatahala have mercy on him.”
In the condolence message Maidoki, himself a prominent Islamic scholar, said: “We have lost one of our strongest leaders in the development of Islam and protecting and propagating Islam in the Southern part of the country and Nigeria at large, a respected gentleman and someone who had dedicated his life in bringing up the youth and protecting the religion of Allah with his Al-Islam.
“Very peaceful, very admiring and very humble, himself and Sister Lateefat Okunnu have been instrumental to our development as Muslim students and Muslims in the country. Jazahullahi khayr. May Allah have mercy on him. May Allah accept him to paradise,” Maidoki prayed.
In the meantime, the Chief Imam of Zazzau, Imam Dalhatu Kasimu Imam, sent in his condolence message from the Emirate headquarters of Zaria, even as he prayed for Allah to admit the late Islamic scholarship giant to Al-Jannah purified of all sins.
“We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him good health, pardon him, honour his abode, expand his entrance, wash him with water, ice, and cold, and purify him of sins and sins as a white garment is purified of filth. O Allah, Amiin, O Lord of the Worlds, O Mighty, O Forgiver, O Merciful, O Compassionate, O God!”
The DEFENDER gathered that the late Premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late Premier of the Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the late Minister for Lagos Affairs, Alhaji Muhammed Ribadu and the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi benefited from Abou’s knowledge during their tour to Egyptian government; Abou it was who performed introduction of the visiting Nigerian leaders to their hosts.
It was also learnt that he was turbaned the Baba Adinni of Lagos in 2009 and the oldest of all the Baba Adinni of the Lagos Central Mosque. None of the past holders of the prestigious Islamic title in history was revealed to have lived up to a hundred years.
