The Publisher of Oriwu Sun, Alhaji Monzor Olowosago maintained what he had consistently done in his twenty (20) years of Haj by offering special prayers for theoe in the helm of affairs of Lagos State and his kinsmen and women from Ikorodu division.
At a special session with one hundred and fifty (150) pilgrims from Ikorodu Division to the 2016 Haj, he prayed for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the Amirul Haj, Dr. Abdulateef.
For two hours, he and his home constituency pilgrims organized Ulanas, coordinators, Imams and Exco members of the Ikorodu contingent for the special prayer. The pilgrims who came dressed in their ankara aso ebi enthusiastically joined the Oriwu Sun publisher in offering special prayers first for the nation, for God to give the leaders the wisdom to steer the country out of the present recession and for those in charge of Lagos State the wisdom and courage to steer successfully the ship of this mega city state.
Alhaji Monzor directed the Ikorodu pilgrims to specifically pray for Asiwaju Tinubu, Governor Ambode and Abdullateef Abdul Hakeem, the Amirul Haj. According to the publisher, he said that, it was the best Haj he spiritually performed in his twenty (20) consecutive pilgrimages to Makkah; hence, he praised the ingenuity of the Amirul Haj in single handedly organizing this year’s Haj.
He pleaded with the pilgrims to pray for more strength, more wisdom, more blessings and a greater future for the Amirul Haj. He recalled how the man shuttled between three hotels to ensure the welfare of the pilgrims. Unlike before when there were not enough Ulamas (Alfas) to go round the pilgrims delegations; this year there were sufficient Imams, Alfas, co-ordinators etc to conduct the lectures, information and enlightenment programmes on the dos and don’ts laced with sermons from the Holy Qur’an.
Alhaji Monzor during the session lamented that some people who Asiwaju Tinubu mentored and brought to limelight are today fighting him and wanting to pull him down. He prayed that Allah will disappoint those people and their plans. He prayed for more divine strength and wisdom for the ex-governor.
On Governor Ambode, Alhaji Monzor noted that some people are also wishing him an eclipse and a no-return for a second term. He and Ikorodu pilgrims thanked God for the good work Ambode is doing in the state and prayed for his success and return for a second term in office.
Turning to his kinsmen and women, Monzor told them that despite the high rate of Naira to dollar he was ready to sacrifice for his people’s welfare and comfort. He donated. N.3million to them as he had always done in the past eighteen years.
During the prayers which lasted between 10:00a.m and 12 noon local time, some Imams led by Imam Abubakar Ibn Rajee and the pilgrims showered praises on Alhaji Monzor especially on the high interest he has for Ikorodu and its people and how he has always fought for their welfare and interests. They urged the state government to appoint Monzor as their own representative anytime the Pilgrims Board is constituted. According to them it will be either Monzor or no one else because he is the most capable person to represent the division.
Also, Mrs. Kemi Alogba-Kalejaye the coordinator of Ikorodu delegation got a bouquet of prayers from the pilgrims for her tireless efforts and hardwork. They did not forget the executives of the pilgrims as they asked the Almighty Allah to bless them and to answer their prayers. Perhaps impressed by the special prayer which Monzor organized for Ikorodu pilgrims, the Oriwu Sun publisher was invited by pilgrims from Ojo/Badagry the next day for a similar prayer.
He was called as the special guest of honour. It was another prayer galore for two hours for Ambode, Abdullateef, the state government and its functionaries, the nation and all the leaders.
Alhaji Monzor lectured them on the nitty gritty of the Haj and shared with them his twenty (20) years’ experience in Haj performance.
Many of the pilgrims said they had heard about Monzor and his doggedness in fighting for the welfare of Lagos pilgrim during the Haj. More than 100 pilgrims from Ojo/Badagry were at that event which was spiced with prayers from the Koran.
The pilgrims later adopted one of the innovations of this year’s Haj introduced by the Amirul Haj – networking whereby pilgrims exchange their phone lines for the purpose of communication for help, for prayers and for interactions after the Haj.
Monzor who had prayed for Tinubu, Ambode, Abdullateef also prayed for Nigeria and Lagos State. He was greatly applauded and appreciated by the Ojo/Badagry pilgrims after the outing especially as he told them that this year’s was his best Haj ever spiritually.