Kunle Adelabu
-Party members wail, mourn at late politician’s burial
Mammoth crowd of family members, sympathizers, followers, political associates and friends stormed the Anibaba home of the late grassroots politician and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Omotayo Adesegun Musbaudeen Olufowora, popularly called ‘Baba Olufowora’ or ‘Educay General’, to bid him farewell as he was laid to rest.
The late politician died on Thursday, January 6, 2022, and was buried on Friday, January 7, at a Muslim Cemetery in Igbalu in Imota Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria.
Alhaji Olufowora, who performed his duty as a father to one of his sons that wedded in Ibadan last week, was 80 years old.
The remains of the late politician who breadth his last around 5.00pm at his home yesterday, was brought out from his house for the Janazah prayer at 10.08am when the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Alhaji Sefiudeen Ademoritan Olowoporibi arrived with other muslim clerics.
The burial prayer, which was held for 4 minutes, was held for late Olufowora at the open ground directly opposite his home and was led by the Grand Chief Imam of lkorodu who commenced the short prayer at 10.10am, after which the remains was moved into a black new truck for onward movement to his final resting place.
At the burial were children of the late Olufowora, top politicians and others.
At the burial ground, the Imam of Ifelodun Mosque, Ijomu, Ikorodu, charged children and mourners to emulate the good life of Alhaji Olufowora and at all times, think about their own death too.
The cleric condemned a situation where Ikorodu people are always interested in selling their lands and do not deem it fit to allocate some for developmental purposes as Cemetery.
“In Ikorodu, we always pride ourselves as important but we don’t care about developmental purposes. We are only interested in selling lands and do not bother about allocating some for good purposes like cemetery”, he said.
“We are enjoying life and have forgotten that one day, we are also going to take our last breath like Alhaji Olufowora, that is why we have forgotten to preserve lands for where we are going to live eternally.
“Today, we all have to move the remains of Alhaji Olufowora from far away from Ikorodu down here to be buried because we did not make provision for such. What if the Hausas who planned for this did not? These are people that came from far place and they are the ones that made this Muslim cemetery available”, he asked.
Meanwhile, while children and guests were able to hold back their tears, it was not the case for some residents, especially members of the Olufowora political group who were unable to hold back their tears.
There were wailing and lamentations for many of them who were concerned about who takes the place of late Alhaji Olufowora whom they described as father to all who cared about them”.
Late Alhaji Olufowora was a member of the APC Apex group in Ikorodu Division and the founder of the Olufowora Group, one of the most followed political groups in Ikorodu Division.
He was one – time Supervisory Councilor for Education in the old Ikorodu Local Government.
He was loved and admired by many because of his accommodating nature, humanitarian act and readiness to help and assist others that are in need.
Some of the political figures and other eminent personalities at the burial were Hon. (Mrs) Motunrayo Gbadebo – Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Mr Toyin Gafaar Bolowtan, Director – General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Alhaji taiwo Longe, APC Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Alhaji Musbau Gafaar, former APC Vice Chairman, Lagos East Senatorial District, Alhaji Junaid Owokodu, former Chairman, Ikorodu LG, Alhaji Enifeni, Secretary, APC Apex leaders, Ikorodu Division, Hon. Fathiu Salisu, former Chairman, Ijede LCDA, Mr Muyideen Sanwoola, Director – General, iCare Foundation, Hon. Adebowale, Council Leader, Ikorodu LG, Oluwakemi Buraimoh, Council representing Ward F, Ikorodu LG, Hon. Shokunbi Idris Olawale, Councilor representing Ward A, Ikorodu LG and Hon. Ayobami Salman, former Council Leader, Ikorodu LG, Barr. Hamzat Jimoh, aide to the Senator representing the Lagos East Senatorial District among others.
