No doubt, this year’s Eid-il-Fitr celebration which marked the end of the 2022 Ramadan fasting period, will go down in history as a special one for Ikorodu muslim community as it witnessed the commissioning of the newly rehabilitated Eid prayer ground of the Ikorodu Central Mosque.
The religious facility, located at Obafemi Awolowo Road, Oke Ota-Ona, Ikorodu, was recently overhauled by the Senator representing Lagos East Senatorial District, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, FCA, while the Ayangbure of lkorodu, Oba Kabir Shotobi, alongside other Muslim leaders and dignitaries, commissioned it on the Eid-il-Fitr day on Monday, May 2, 2022 .
The commissioning witnessed torrents of commendations and prayers for Senator Abiru from the mammoth crowd of muslims who had come to observe Eid prayer.
The rehabilitation works, which was carried out within a short period of time, has indeed given the huge expanse of land a beautiful outlook as the entire ground was concreted while the Minbar (the Imam’s stand) was covered.
Also provided were toilet facilities for use at the prayer ground.
Speaking shortly before the commissioning, Oba Shotobi who was marveled by the quality of rehabilitation works carried out by Senator Abiru, described the newly rehabilitated Eid ground as Ikorodu and Lagos’ Ka’abah.
He also warned that social and other functions should be restricted from holding on the ground.
“This is our own Ka’abah (a building at the center of Islam’s most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, Saudi Arabia) in Ikorodu and it will also serve as the Ka’abah for the entire Lagos State. This place was reconstructed and delivered to us by our son, the Distinguished Senator Tokunbo Abiru,”Oba Shotobi said.
“He undertook the rehabilitation to promote God’s works in Ikorodu.
“Looking back and seeing this mammoth crowd worshipping here today makes me happy. All our prayers to Allah during the Ramadan shall be answered”.
He said that the ground, which used to host social, Islamic and political functions, will not be used for any other function again except to worship God.
“This is not a ground for us to stage social gatherings but strictly meant to pray to God. I want the entire Ikorodu residents to know that this will not be used for any other purpose except that to pray to God”, Oba Shotobi said.
As expected, Sheikh (Alhaji) Chief Imam Seifudeen Ayinla Ademoritan Olowo-Oribi, the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, led the Eid prayer at the ground.
After the Eid prayer, the revered Islamic cleric offered prayers for Oba Shotobi, political leaders as well as Ikorodu community, Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.
He also led the congregation in offering a special prayer for Senator Abiru who was looking resplendent in a full Islamic regalia complemented with turban.
Among other dignitaries that witnessed the commissioning and observed Eid prayer at the rehabilitated Eid ground were Honourable Justice Wale Abiru, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Bashorun Babatunde Rotinwa, former Chairman, Lagos State Local Government Commission, Aremo Adeniyi Ogunsanya, Aremo of Ikorodu, Dr (Otunba) Saheed Oladapo Ibikunle, Permanent Member, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LSUBEB) among many others.