The Muslim Community of Lagos State, a viable organization established to provide a common front and platform to discuss the unity and common issues affecting Muslims and Islam in Lagos State has inaugurated its zone in Ikorodu division.
The inauguration, which heralded a new dawn for Islam and Muslims across the length and breadth of Ikorodu division was held on Tuesday March 8, 2016 at the Gbadamosi Conference hall, Ikorodu Town hall, Ikorodu.
Speaking during the occasion, the president of the organization, Professor Tajudeen Gbadamosi explained that the need to form a platform to foster unity among Muslims in Lagos State and to discuss common issues affecting them as well as the need to afford every muslim the opportunity to contribute to the progress of Islam brought about the establishment of the Muslim Community of Lagos State.
He said that the membership of the organization is unconditionally open to all muslims in Lagos State irrespective of their gender, age, profession and Islamic organization or societies they belong to.
According to Professor Gbadamosi, the Muslim Community of Lagos State has its headquarters at the Lagos Central Mosque and the divisional zones of the organization have been inaugurated with their respective chairman in other divisions of Lagos State including Epe, Lagos, Ikeja and Badagry.
He explained that the choice of Justice Fatai Adeyinka as the chairmen of the Muslim Community of Lagos State, Ikorodu Divisional zone, was due to the significant role he played in the formation of the organization particularly in writing its constitution and naming it.
Prof. Gbadamosi explained further that the Board of Trustees of the organization has been composed and that its membership was carefully selected to reflect the diversity of the membership of the organization.
And while expressing his gratitude to those who ensured that the Ikorodu Divisional zone of the Muslim Community of Lagos State was inaugurated. He charged them to further ensure that other Muslim organizations and societies in the division who are yet to join the organization do so as soon as possible.
The chairman of the Ikorodu Divisional zone of the Muslim Community of Lagos State Justice Fatai Adeyinka in his own address said that the constitution of the organization was registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission, Federal Republic of Nigeria on October 16, 2012.
According to him, Muslim Community of Lagos State was inaugurated on May 17, 2015 at the Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos, by His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubarkar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sheikh (Alhaji) Ibrahim Garba Akinola, (OON), Chief Imam of Lagos State.
Justice Adeyinka stated that the composition of the zonal committees are done in strict adherence to the article 13 of the organization’s constitution. He went further to refer to the article 13 (3) of the constitution which provides that the maximum number of zonal committees shall not be less than the number of local government areas applicable in Lagos State as at the commencement of the constitution.
While explaining that only chieftains of the Muslim organizations prominent in Ikorodu Division who are known to the committee in charge of the inauguration were invited to the event, he appealed to others that were not invited to join the membership of the organization.
Justice Adeyinka equally read out the names of members of the Incorporated Trustees of the Muslim Community of Lagos State which includes Alhaji (Dr.) Senator H.A.B Fasinro (OFR), Chairman, Alhaji Lateef Olufemi Okunnu, (SAN, CON) Alhaji (Chief) S. O. Babalola, OON, Sheikh Hafeez Abou, Alhaja Adiat Abimbola Fahm, Alhaji (Justice) Ibrahim Ishola Olorunnimbe, OON, Alhaji (Barrister) Rafiu Olayinka Oyenubi Alhaja Sidikat Alafia, Alhaji Mudashiru Bamidele Oguniyi and Alhaji (Sheikh) Abdul Majeed Akapo.
Meanwhile, the state secretary of the organization, Alhaji (Prince) Shakirudeen Olatunji Giwa while corroborating Prof. Gbadamosi emphasized that the main objective of the organization is to create a platform that would not only ensure the unity of Muslims but would also defend their rights across the length and breadth of Lagos State.
He assured that the organization would ensure the equality of Muslims irrespective of their social or economic status.
Alhaji Giwa equally urged the interim executives of the newly inaugurated Ikorodu divisional zone of the Muslim Community of Lagos State to meticulously explain the main objectives of the organization to those who might want to misunderstand its establishment in order to secure their membership.
Another state executive of the organization, Alhaji Muhammed Saliah Ademowo-Raji in his brief address explained that the organization was not formed purposely to usurp the influence or responsibilities of the Chief Imams who are regarded as the spiritual head of Islam. He argued that the Muslim Community is formed mainly to provide a common forum where issues and challenges which arise from the disunity among Muslims in Lagos state can be addressed and resolved.
After the addresses of the state executives of the organization, there was a marathon session of responses from the audience and representatives of Muslim organizations. First to speak was Aremo Kamorudeen Adeniyi Ogunsanya who explained that he had initially turned down the invitation to the event but later changed his mind when he learnt that the forum wanted to discuss the unity of Muslims in Ikorodu division.
He said the need for the establishment of an organization where Muslims can come together under one umbrella and speak with one voice is long overdue.
According to him, the absence of a viable forum such as the Muslim Community in Lagos state paved way for the mushrooming of dubious Muslim groups and organizations which are only interested in making money and promoting their selfish interest instead of working towards the unity of Muslims and progress of Islam.
Aremo Ogunsanya however expressed optimism that the establishment of a Muslim community in the state particularly in Ikorodu division will ensure that Muslims are united towards forming a formidable voice to defend their interests. Moreso, he urged the interim executives of the Ikorodu divisional zone of the Muslim community to embark on enumeration of Muslim organizations in the division with the sole aim of bringing them under one umbrella to ensure that they engage in activities that will promote Islam and foster unity among Muslims.
Aremo Ogunsanya urged the exco members to embark on robust communication strategy that would ensure that every Muslim in the division is carried along in the programmes and activities of the organization. While urging that women should be included in the exco of the Ikorodu divisional zone of the organization, he warned that only those who are ready to devote their time to deliver on the responsibilities given to them should be in the exco of the organization both at the state and divisional zones.
Aremo Ogunsanya also described members of the Board of Trustees of the Muslim community as men and women of impeccable integrity, adding that their membership will attract credibility to the organization.
Alhaji Nosirudeen Akolemobasi in his contribution described the founding of the Muslim Community as a right step in the right direction. He explained that the inability of muslims in Lagos State particularly in Ikorodu division to come together as one has deprived them of many benefits especially from the state government. He however expressed confidence that the Muslim community is capable of addressing the epidemic causing disunity and disaffection among Muslims across Lagos State.
Also, the representative of Ansarullahi Society of Nigeria, Ikorodu North zone, Alhaji Sulaimon Musa in his own contribution advised that the Ikorodu divisional zone of the Muslim Community should ensure that Muslims in every part of the division is carried along in its operations and programmes. He stressed that the advice became necessary because it is generally believed that whatever is brought to the division ended up being dominated by Ikorodu while other are sidelined.
According to him if other parts of the division are accommodated, the organization stands the greater chance of achieving its objective of uniting all Muslims in the division.
But in a swift reaction, Otunba Olajide Olukoga, a former Special Adviser on Education in his address allayed the fears that Ikorodu will dominate the organization at the expense of other parts of the division, assuring that every part of the division will be given equal opportunity to make contribution towards achieving oneness of Muslims in the division.
He decried the unnecessary acrimony and bickering among Muslim organizations and groups in Lagos State with reference to the perennial supremacy war between the Ikorodu Central Mosque and Oriwu Central Mosque which he described as very unfortunate.
Otunba Olukoga also explained that the shortage of Muslim teachers to teach Islamic studies in the state public schools persist because of the disunity among Muslims which according to him, makes it difficult for a formidable voice to engage the state government in a robust dialogue that will ensure the reversal of such trend. He urged Muslims and their respective organizations in Lagos State to use the opportunity presented by the establishment of the Muslim Community to close all ranks and ensure unity of purpose to further enhance the progress of Islam.
Moreso, Alhaji Tajudeen O. A. Omidele, representative of Anwar-ul-Islam, Ikorodu Mission, urged that the meetings of the Ikorodu divisional zone of the organization should be slated quarterly to ensure that members are kept abreast of the programmes and activities of the oganization and also added that notice of meeting should always be communicated to members in good time to enable them make arrangements for their attendance.
The high point of the event was the unanimous appointment of three officers to work with the chairman in interim capacity to coordinate the affairs of the Ikorodu divisional zone of the muslim community pending the appointment of substantive executives.
The officers were Alhaji Suleiman Musa, President, Ansarullahi society of Nigeria, Ikorodu North zone (Protem Secretary), Alhaji Sulaimon Adio Oloko, Secretary, Anwar-ul-Islam, Ikorodu Mission (Protem Treasurer) and Hadji Kazim Ganiu-Sanni, Secretary, Oriwu Central Mosque (Protem Public Relations Officer).
Meanwhile, in a brief interview with Oriwu Sun after the event, Alhaji (Justice) Fatai Adeyinka stated that he would use his position as Chairman of the Ikorodu divisional zone of the Muslim Community to ensure there is an enduring oneness and unity of purpose among Muslims and Muslim organizations across the division.
While speaking with our correspondent, the Chief Imam of Oriwu Central Mosque, Sheikh Yahya Oshoala (As-Samadani) described the event as a historical one signaling the beginning of unity of Muslims in Ikorodu division.
He said the event is the first of its kind in the division where Muslim clerics, Islamic Chiefs Muslim societies, Chief Imams of LCDA, Islamic women societies, Muslim youths and organizations would come together to deliberate on togetherness of Muslims with love, Justice and unity after thirty six (36) years.
Sheikh Oshoala urged Muslims and Muslim organizations in Ikorodu division to embrace the unique opportunities provided by the Muslim community to settle all differences and foster unity among themselves.
Meanwhile, conspicuously absent at the event was the Chief Imam of Ikorodu Central Mosque, Sheikh Seifudeen Olowooribi. While speaking during a brief telephone interview with Oriwu Sun on why he or any representative of the mosque did not attend the inauguration, Sheikh Olowooribi who acknowledged being invited, explained that the way and manner by which the organization was brought to Ikorodu division and its subsequent inauguration were wrong as it did not follow normal process.
He, however described the organization as a laudable initiative and expressed strong conviction in the mission it set out to achieve being the unity of all Muslims in the division.
The event was attended by notable personalities and religious leaders in Ikorodu division as well as state executives of the body among which were, Professor Tajudeen Gbadamosi, president, Muslim community of Lagos State; Alhaji Muhammad Saliah Ademowo-Raji, Chairman,
Planning and Research Committee, Muslim Community of Lagos State; Otunba Olajide Fatai Olukoga, Aremo Adeniyi Ogunsanya and Sheikh Yahya Oshoala (As-Samadaani), Chief Imam of Oriwu Central Mosque.
Moreso, among the Muslim organizations and groups whose representatives attended the inauguration include: Oriwu Central Mosque, Aenur Ramah International Islamic Society, Shamsel-deen Society of Nigeria, Ikorodu, Riyaldul Janat Society, Ikorodu, Ansarullah Society of Nigeria, Ikorodu, Olorunyonusimi Central Mosque, Ikorodu, Oke-Eletu Central Mosque, Dairatul Toyyibiyah, Faedat Tijaniyyah of Nigeria (DATFATON), Ajijola Anobi Muslim Society, Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Lilai-Amin Society of Nigeria, Global Congregation of Samadaani Family, Oriokuta Central Mosque, Tijaniyyah Movement of Nigeria (TMON), Ajose Central Mosque, Owutu, National Council of Muslim Youths Organization (NACOMYO), Anwar-ul-Islam Society, Ikorodu Mission, Quareeb Muslim Organization Ikorodu.