President of the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola, has expressed the condolence of the Ummah in the South over the death on Sunday of Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Ibrahim Garba Akinola.
Babalola, an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), who is Deputy President-General (South), Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), described the late Sheikh Akinola as a pillar of strength for the period he served as Chief Imam of Lagos between 2000 and 2017.
The condolence message was contained in a statement issued and signed by Executive Secretary of MUSWEN, Prof. Dawud Noibi, copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, on Monday.
According to the message, MUSWEN’s Board of Trustees chairman, Prince Abdul-Jabbaar Bola Ajibola (SAN), also mourned the passing on of Shaikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim, an Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
MUSWEN said, “Throughout the period that he served selflessly and meritoriously as the Chief Imam of Lagos (2000 – 2017), Shaikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim was a pillar of strength for the Ummah in Lagos State, the South West region and Nigeria.
“He was a bridge builder who stood for unity among Muslims and a champion of peaceful coexistence among the diverse people of Nigeria both within and outside Lagos State.
“It is our prayer that Allah overlooks his errors and grants him blissful Barzakh and entry to al-Jannah al-Firdaus.
“May Allah grant his family, the Muslim Community in Lagos State and the rest of the Ummah the fortitude to bear the loss.”
In a related development, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) also “commiserates with the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Deputy President-General (South), Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Saraki Adinni of Lagos, Alhaji (Chief) S. O. Babalola, the Baba Adinni of Lagos, Shaykh Hafeez Abu and the entire Muslim Ummah of Lagos State on the death of the Lagos Chief Imam.
“The late Shaykh Ibrahim Garba Akinola was a great scholar, pious and widely travelled.
“We pray that Almighty Allah overlooks his trespasses and reposes his soul in A-Jannah firdaus,” MURIC said in a statement issued on Monday by its President, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
