By KEMI KASUMU
Nigeria’s leading faith-based fundamental rights activist, Professor Ishaq Lakin Akintola, will be 70 on Monday July 10, 2023 coinciding with the day he will be pulling out of active national service as university don and also rolling out a book called, “My Jihad: The autobiography of an Islamic eschatologist cum human rights activist”
Celebrating him in an article earlier published in The DEFENDER, Dr. Busari Jamiu Muhammad Ademola, who is National Missionary Officer of Al-Haqq Al-Mubeen Society of Nigeria (HAQMUB), Lagos, Nigeria, saw reason the professor of eschatology was long ago turbaned the “Kinihun Adinni – The Lion of Religion”.
Busari, who is also the Chairman, Lagos State Branch of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), said, “Call him a fearless individual you are not off the track, Akintola adorns his knowledge with exemplary leadership in deed and kind.
“He justly fought the power to be in academics and politics, mingles with Muslims in low and high ranks for Allah’s sake and contributes his quota to the emancipation of oppressed Muslims in Nigeria and beyond.
“No wonder he was turbaned “Kinihun Adinni – The Lion of Religion” and known as “the nightmare for oppressors” far and near,” Busari said.
Born 70 years ago, Prof Ishaq Akintola is an unapologetic academician, human rights activist, defender of the voiceless, voice of the oppressed and peace advocate per excellence, the HAQMUB’s national missionary officer said.
He added that, “It is often said that golden fish has no hidden place, the parable fits no other selfless Jihadist in Nigeria than the founder and executive director of MUSLIM RIGHTS CONCERN (MURIC), Ishaq Lakin Akintola, a citizen of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, a man who feels oppressed until the weaklings are emancipated, who feels naked until Muslims are treated as bonafide citizens of Nigeria in all ramifications and who feels unsafed until all mankind feel secured in an egalitarian society.
“Akintola’s sojourn in life kick-started as student of Arabic and Islamic Studies in Ile-Ife, at Ma’hd Elekurọ Ibadan, at the Nigerian Premier University, Ibadan, Al-Azhar University Cairo, Egypt and at the University of Ilorin and other citadels of learning across the world.
“He’s an astute scholar, an Arabist cum Islamist, a historian of repute, a community man, an Islamic eschatologist and above all, a Muslim rights activist,” he celebrated Akintola.
In 48 hours from today, Professor Ishaq Akintola will be celebrated in the real sense of it as the retirement and book launch ceremony in his honour will hold at the Combo Hall of the LTV8, Ikeja, Lagosby10am featuring Governor Sanwo-Olu as chief host, Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as host, while the Vice Chancellor of LASU, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, will be the hostess.
Addressing the pre-event press briefing earlier on Tuesday, Dr. Busari, who is Chairman Planning Committee of the Sunday ceremony, said the event had been planned to also include an award ceremony for listed deserving Nigerians considered to have imprinted their names in the book of honour.
