The powerful Lasunwon Ruling House which produced the incumbent Ayangbure of Ikorodu, HRM, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi rocked the Ayangbure Palace on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 as they hosted an explosive final burial party for their late father/member, Alhaji Kayode Abdul Yekeen Otiki, a wealthy merchant and father of Brigadier General Hakeem Dapo Otiki.
The invitation to this great party bore the royal seal involved Oba Shotobi himself and so everyone expected kings and queens, princes and princesses and the nobility in attendance.
Friends, associates, relations, well wishers and even observers came from near and afar. Brigadier General Dapo Otiki lined up to expec
tations as he flooded the venue with his colleagues in the army, navy, air force, police, etc. The top military brass made the area a security threat to hoodlums, area boys, girls, miscreants and criminals.
The army general with his other brothers and sisters and relations showcased their father as a man who indeed was being honoured for this tremendous contribution to society and his kind heartedness to the poor masses and to Islam.
The late father was remembered for promoting Islam and patronising Islamic organisations and activities.
When a wealthy man from the royalty and a father of one of those in the corridors of power at the federal level is being honoured, of course, the crowd will be huge, the entertainment will be big if not overflowing and noise will be defeaning.
So, it was on that day at the palace which left no one in doubt as to the caliber of the celebrator.
The Otiki family of Ikorodu displayed their uniqueness and prominence on Tuesday February 21, 2017 during the 8th day Friday/final burial ceremony organized for the late Islamic icon, Alhaji Abdul Yekeen Kolawole Otiki, their son and a Prince of the Lasunwon ruling house at the Ayangbure palace pavilion, Ikorodu.During the fidau prayer, the Branch Imam of Jamaatul Islamiyya of Nigeria, Ikorodu Branch Mission Board, Imam Jamiu Bello said that everybody would die someday as according to him, death is turn by turn, which happens as everyone approaches his or her bus stop.
Imam Bello stated that before death occurs, human beings should strive to have ten qualities, which he opined would guarantee Aljanat Fridaus. In his view, the ten qualities included, giving, politeness, truthfulness, righteousness, humility, goodness, courage, endurance, patience and thankfulness to God.
For him, with these qualities in a person, that person would live a fulfilled life. Stressing this, he emphasized that the late Alhaji Abdul Yekeen lived a fulfilled life and was a courageous Islamic icon whose words of wisdom and good fortunes were felt in Jamatul-Islamiyyah mosque and Islam generally.
He also revealed that the late Alhaji used to do for him and the other Islamic clerics, which included giving money and quality advise. The cleric relived his life time especially during Eid-el Kabir celebrations, among others.
Imam Jamiu later admonished all the children of the late Prince to be in unity and protect his legacies. He pleaded with them to continue to contribute to the progress of his mosque and Islam in general. He commended Oba Shotobi, his Olori, Alhaja Kudirat Shotobi and guests and the event for the supports given to late Alhaji Otiki while alive and after his demise.
The daughter, Princess Adetutu Otiki and Head of Lasunwon royal family, Prince Sunday Ogede in their respective remarks described Alhaji Otiki as a goodman, father and a great contributor to family progress and development of Islam.
Special prayers were also offered for the children and family, Ayangbure, Ikorodu town, Lagos State and the country. Vote of thanks was rendered by Arc. Surajudeen Omogoriola Otiki and closing prayer ended the first phase of the event.
The second phase of the event was ushered in by merriment, where delicious meals and assorted chilled drinks were served, large canopies adorned the venue accommodating unprecedented crowd of guests.
There were also heavy presence of military officers who accompanied the first son of the late Alhaji Otiki, Brigadier-General Abdul-Hakeem Oladapo Otiki, from Abuja. Most of them were in the ranks of Generals, Colonels, Air Commodores in the Nigerian Army and Airforce from various parts of the country, which attested to the strength and clout of the Otikis.
It was entertainment galore as guests and children of the deceased all took to the dancing floor to showcase their dancing process. The children were sprayed with crisp naira notes.
Earlier on Friday, February 17, 2017, Jamatul-Islamiyya of Nigeria, Ikorodu branch organized prayers for the late Islamic icon, who died at the age of eighty two (82) years at his residence in Ikorodu.
Being a good contributor to Islam, his children contributed one hundred bags of cement and gave several copies of the Holy Qur’an to their father’s mosque during the 8th day fidau prayer as announced by Prince Ademola Otiki on behalf of the family.
Dignitaries at the event
- Olori Kudirat Shotobi
- Ayangbure Traditional and Honourary Chiefs
- Former Federal Minister, Elder Wole Oyelese
- Gen. Dabiri,
- Gen. Victor Imoron
- Brigadier General Duni
- Dr. Sylvester
- Colonel Hema Zaria
- Engr, Benjamin Okoko
- Bar. Abdul-Hakeem Usama
- Air Commodore Akin Johnson
- Col. Oladiran; Col Tunji Togun.
- Gen. Thomas
- Retired Military personnel
- Francis Adama
- Chief Mutiu Adewale, Oluomo of Ogbaland
- Prince Gbenga Kuti and his wife
- Sup. Segun Odunlami
- Engr. Saka Ibikunle
- Bishop Kayode Shokoya