By BASHIR ADEFAKA
Former Minister of Communications and former General Officer Commanding, 3 Armoured Division of the Nigeria Army, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), has sent out his condolence message to the Executive Committee of Lagos State Central Mosque and family of late Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Abdul Afeez Ashamu Abou, who died at his residence in the Centre of Excellence on Tuesday January 9, 2024 at the age of 101.
While mourning, the Retired General recalled what he called the social contract that both of them had together during the lifetime of one of early graduates of Al-Azar University, Cairo, Egypt, who has been widely applauded for having lived his life diligently for the cause of Islam and good of humanity.
In a statement personally signed by him and circulated to the media on Thursday, General Olanrewaju described the late prominent Islamic cleric as a committed scholar who lived a life of piety and whose well documented legacies will continue to be of high interest to the generations of Nigerians to come.
“Baba Adinni shared with me his kind wishes and motivated interest about my presidential pardon and my service records in the Nigerian Army. There were very few Lagosians, indeed, who cared about this interest.
“Baba Adinni and my late principal, Alhaji Jimoh Adisa Gbadamosi, OON, really cared, and they checked up on me from time to time. I thank General Muhammad Buhari (Rtd) for granting me a presidential pardon during the lifetime of Baba Adinni,” Olanrewaju recalled the social contract he and the late Licentiate of Islamic Law, Sheikh Abou, had together.
Paying his tribute, General Tajudeen Olanrewaju said, “Baba Adinni was a committed Islamic Scholar and Sheikh who lived a life of piety and was not interested in the accumulation of personal wealth. He lived his life in accordance with Islamic practice.
“As a well known Scholar, he made teaching and learning a legacy of self-discipline and knowledge, which gave him fame among Muslim faithful.”
He said, “May Allah grant Baba Adinni Jannatu Fidraus, forgive him his sins and bless his good works and deeds, Amiin”, he prayed.
