Kunle Adelabu
Exactly eight days after the death of Fadilat Sheikh Abdullahi Dikrulah Andu, Grand Chief Imam, Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), who also doubled as the Chief Imam of Igbogbo Central Mosque, a new Chief Imam has been turbaned as his successor.
The new Chief Imam is Imam AbdulGaniy Gazali who, until his emergence, was the Imam of Araromi Central Mosque which is the first Mosque in Igbogbo. He presided over the 2025 Eid – El – Kabir prayer held last Thursday.
He was turbaned by the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Fadhilat Sheikh Sefiudeen Olowosago-Oribi, Chief Imam of Ikorodu West, Fadhliat Sheikh Aridegbe Kosoko, and other Chief Imams from other parts of Ikorodu Division, as well as lslamic leaders and Imams from Mosques in Igbogbo and beyond.
Chieftains of the Igbogbo Central Mosque, members, family and friends started arriving the Central Mosque as early as 9am and by 11.47am, Fadhilat Sheikh Sefiudeen Olowo-Oribi, accompanied by other Chief Imams and clerics, arrived the Igbogbo Central Mosque after which the installation ceremony kicked off in earnest.
Chief Imam Olowo-Oribi conveyed the message of His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) AndulSemiu Orimadegun Kasali, the Adeboruwa, whom he described as the only traditional ruler that is also an Alfa, stating that the royal father called for peace within the Igbogbo Muslim Community and the entire Igbogbo Kingdom. He,thereafter, offered special prayers for the monarch.
The leader of the Ikorodu Division Muslim Community also called out Alhaji (Chief) Alhaji Tohir Ogunsowo, Baba Adinni of Igbogbo Central Mosque, Alhaji (Chief ) Yahya Andu, Arowoshadinni, Alhaji (Chief) Alhaji AbdulGaniu Olubodun, the Aare Adinni, Imam Abdulqodir Atinla Atebishe, Head of Ratibi Imams, Sheikh Shafi Mustapha Imoloba, Head of Islamic clerics (Olori Omokewu) and Alhaji Ishaq Yunus, youth leader of the Igbogbo Central Mosque, informing them that they will be the representatives of the entire Muslim faithful in the Mosque and at 11.58 am, he asked them to present the agreed candidate for the Chief Imamship position for turbaning.
Before the presentation of Alfa Ganiyu Gazali, Chief Imam Olowo-Oribi stressed that the practice, after the death of an Imam, is that his turban is usually removed and placed on somebody who may not even know that he is bearing the turban.
He added that in most cases, the person that usually wears the turban knowingly or unknowingly usually emerges as the most preferred candidate.
Following his speech, the six chieftains presented Alfa Ganiyu Gazali for inauguration as the new Chief Imam.
It was indeed an hectic assignment as the joyous crowd that accompanied them delayed his presentation. He was, however, later turbaned with the shout of “Laila ilalahu”, and at 12.10pm, the Grand Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division, Fadhilat Sheikh Sefiudeen Olowosago-Oribi, pronounced him as the new Chief Imam, Igbogbo Central Mosque.
