The two notable royal fathers in Ikordou Division, Oba Kabiru Shotobi and Oba Semiudeen Kasali Of Igbogbo were among the five dignitaries honoured by the Muslim community of Lagos State, on Sunday September 5, 2021 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Lagos. The celebration titled, “Hijra 1443ah the Fundamental Lessons Of Hijra & Muhrram, was an annual marking of the Islamic new year where important lessons of the calendar are discussed.
The programme is always celebrated for Muslim faithful in Lagos but was done in low key in 2020 due to the lockdown necessitated by the threat of Covid-19 epidemic.
The 2021 Hijrah celebration was marked in its full course and the event went well. During this years’ celebration, three traditional rulers, who practice Islam, along with Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, who was represented by his Director of Administration, Alhaji Kamal were honoured with special awards for their contributions and services to the Islamic community in Lagos.
The Ikorodu revered oba, HRM, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali Of Igbogbo, Oba Abdulwasiu Gbolahan Lawa Abisogun (Oniru Of Iruland) and Oba Alaketu were the monarchs bestowed with awards by the Muslim Community of Lagos State. Though, Oba Gbolahan Lawal was not present at the event, he was represented by Chief Ajasa who received the award plaque. The ceremony which started at about 12noon, witnessed more than hundred and twenty Muslim faithful in attendance. The event was well planned and had a touch of decency.
As soon as the event started, the President, Professor T.G.O Gbadamosi, gave a welcome address where he itemize the programme of the day. In a neatly outlined 13-point address, Professor Gbadamosi welcomed all the royal fathers in attendance and gave a rundown of how the last event went.
Professor Gbadamosi thanked Allah for sparing their lives and making them overcome the tension and fatality created by covid-19 in the country, which marred last year’s Celebration Of Hijrah.
The academic and Islamic scholar thanked Allah for sparing members lives through the first and second waves of the covid-19 pandemic and prayed for the grace to survive the third wave of the virus, which is surfacing, in recent time. He also mentioned the cholera attack that almost became a national concern before it was subdued and the myriads of threat to peace and security in Nigeria.
He specially welcomed the royal fathers, Oba Kabiru Shotobi Of Ikorodu, Oba Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali Of Igbogbo and Oba Wasiu Gbolahan Lawal of Iruland. while also Oba Alaketu, mentioning other special guests of honour like Honourable Justice Kazeem Alogba, Chief Judge of Lagos and chairman of the day, Honourable Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, Lagos State Commissioner For Home Affairs and all presidents of Muslim organisations in Lagos state.
The event was joined by many other Muslim faithful in Lagos State through virtual means and participants from their respective locations. The eminent lecturers for the 2021 Hijrah lectures were Dr. Mustapha Ade Bello and Imam Dhul Nurain Muhammed Jummah Akinremi Onimosa. Dr. Ade Bello who is the first speaker, is a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies and Peace Studies, Lagos State University. He made a profound speech on fundamental lessons of Hijra.
In his speech, Dr. Mustapha Bello, who attempted to explain the meaning and significance of Hijrah, said though people are familiar of the movement the Holy Prophet made from Makkah to Yathrib in 622 C.E, the event means more. “To my mind, the Prophet’s migration that year represents a desire backed up with actionable event to jettison sinful lifestyle for godliness or righteous living.”
He explained that in a world full of evil and affliction, a Muslim faithful must make a soul searching and repent from the ways of the evil. He gave five points on how a Muslim faithful could make a holy journey of regaining ones’ soul from evil path.
The second lecturer, Imam Onimosa, is the Chief Imam of Anwar-Ul-Islam Movement of Nigeria, Mushin Mission and he gave a talk on the fundamental lessons and spiritual importance of Muharram. The two lecturers delivered impressive lectures.
After the two guest lecturers made their educative speeches, it was time for awards and the Ikorodu revered monarch, Oba Kabiru Shotobi was the first monarch invited to the podium for his award, after which other Obas were called for theirs.
Though, the organizers did not call for donations, individuals on their own volition decided to donate funds for the development of the movement.
Cash donations ranging from fifty thousand naira and above were pledged and given. Chief Oyinlomo Danmole, former Commissioner for Home Affairs, Lagos State chaired the event while Alhaji Jebe represented incumbent Lagos Commissioner for Home Affairs Anofiu Elegushi, who was not present at the event.