Justice Alogba Condemns Non-Inclusion Of Ikorodu Grand Chief Imam In Commissioning Of Oriwu Central Mosque

Kunle Adelabu

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba speaking at the commissioning of the ultra-modern Oriwu Central Mosque, Ikorodu on Saturday.

The Ikorodu-born Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has condemned the failure of the leadership of Oriwu Central Mosque to include the Chief Imam of Ikorodu Central Mosque, Sheikh Seifudeen Olowo-Oribi, in the programme of event for the commissioning of the mosque.

The magnificent edifice, which took 31 years to be built, was commissioned by the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, His Eminence, Sultan Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, on Saturday, December 28, 2019.

Aside the Sultan of Sokoto, others on the invitation card and the programme of the event were former Governor of Lagos State and the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sheikh (Dr) Mhd’ Bashir Soliu, the Chief Imam of Ilorin, the Emir of Ilorin, His Eminence, Sheikh Ibrahim Zulu Gambari,  Baba Adeen of Eti-Osa and father of the Day, Alhaji (Chief) Abdul Yekeen Olawale Bakare, the Ayangbure of Ikorodu and the Chief Royal Host, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Engr.) Kabir Adewale Shotobi, Chief Imam of Lagos State, His Eminence Sheikh Sulaimon Abou-Nollah and the Chief Imam Jamiu, Oriwu Central Mosque, His Eminence, Sheikh Yahya Olorunosebi Oshoala Ajagbemokeferi among others.

 Justice Alogba, speaking at the event, thanked God for witnessing the commissioning and also expressed his disappointment over the non-inclusion of  Sheikh Olowo-Oribi on the invitation.

“I am extremely grateful to God for seeing this edifice of His commissioned today. I don’t have much to say but Al Amdulillahi, Al Amdullilahii, Al Amdullilahi”, he stated thankfully.

“I was telling His Excellency and our kabiyesi that I am a child of history as far as this Mosque is concerned. I was part of the litigation team. But to God be the glory”, he added.

“Islam is not about position or division but about concentration on nobody else other than Allah and today, I am particularly grateful to God that I am grateful to be alive to witness the commissioning of this mosque.

“I have hinted the Deputy Governor and our Kabiyesi while on the high table about my observation over the non inclusion of the Chief Imam of Ikorodu on the programme of event.

“As our father, Sheikh Muheedeen Bello, has said, we should not concentrate on anything in this Mosque other than the continue purification of the name of Allah.

“I am very disappointed  about this incident because I got an opportunity to meditate in the conflict between these two main Central mosque in Ikorodu at this  year’s Hajj. On the day of the Arafat, I called some elders when I sighted the two Imams of these mosques. I told them (Chief Imams Olowo-Oribi and Chief Imam Oshoala) that there is need for them to come together” , CJ Alogba revealed.

He stated that he felt disappointed that all the interventions in the matter have not yielded any positive result with the non-inclusion of the Chief Imam of Ikorodu in the programme of the commissioning of the ultra-modern central mosque.

“I felt disappointed when I didn’t see the name of the Chief Imam of Ikorodu (Chief Imam Olowo-Oribi) on the Invitation card (for the commissioning of Oriwu Central Mosqsue). You are the ones preaching to us”, he stated disappointedly. 

The Lagos Chief Justice charged the two Imams to do everything within their power to resolve the differences between  the two mosques for the sake of Islam.

“Please, go and tidy up that area if you are really doing this for God and you are for Islam. Go and tidy it up. Everybody will give account at the end of the day. Both of you are witness to my being child of history as far as this Mosque is concerned.

“God will bless this edifice and uncleanliness will never enter it.

“Those that are leading us should show example of what Allah has decreed and that is unity of Islam”, CJ Alogba charged.

Meanwhile, the Adeboruwa of Igbogbo, His Royal Majesy, Oba (Barr.) Semiudeen Orimadegun Kasali, has hinted that the leadership in Ikorodu division is doing everything to ensure that the judgment on the legal battle over the construction of Oriwu Central Mosque is not appealed.

Speaking on behalf of the Ikorodu Division Council of Obas and Chiefs, the royal father sued for unity among muslim faithful and also revealed that, “We have resolved that the judgment on the Mosque will not be appealed.

While emphasizing that the judgment would be sustained, Adeboruwa added that Hon. Agunbiade and himself are working towards getting the Certified True Copy of the judgment and make it available for the public.

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