THE DEATH OF BABA ADINI OF LAGOS STATE: ISLAM LOST A RARE GEM
By: Abdul-Ganiyy Raji
The news of the death of Sheikh Abdul Hafeez Abou, The Baba Adini of Lagos State, was broken to the shock of all of us yesterday. Though Baba enjoyed a long life, we would never have wanted him to leave us. Baba was a blessing to Islam and humanity. He was a reference point for all of us. We loved him because he was a good man. Even when Baba crossed the impressive age of 100, we were still praying that Allah should preserve him for us. Nobody will want to lose a father as useful and good as Baba Abou.
I first had the privilege of meeting Baba in 2007 when we launched a biography of the late Chief Imam of Lagos Central Mosque, Baba Ligali Nalla, written by my teacher and current Chief Imam of the University of Lagos, Profesor Ismail Musa Akin. My teacher had asked me to write an Arabic poem for inclusion in the book. The poem was included in the book as promised. Then, I was also given a chance to present it at the launch of the book, which was held inside the main building of Lagos Central Mosque.
Baba was fascinated by my presentation and he invited me to an office on the first or second floor of the mosque (I can’t remember which floor). He commended me and asked me to keep in touch with him. I saw this little gesture by Baba as much needed motivation for me as a young man. Don’t ask me if Baba also gave me money.
With the death of Baba Abou, the Muslim Ummah has lost a rare gem. We lost a true leader, a unifier, a father and a humble servant of Allah. May Allah forgive him.
This is my fear.
Who is going to replace Baba Abou in Lagos State and Nigeria at large? Since Baba Abdul-Wahhab Folawiyo died, the Muslim Ummah hasn’t found anybody to replace him in generosity and commitment to Islam. His orphanage, Bāb-Es-Salām in GRA, Ikeja, was the first Muslim orphanage in Lagos, if not in the whole of the South West. His mosque is also standing strong. How about the Adhān (The Call to Prayer) to remind us of Salāt times on the radio every day? These are some of the legacies of Baba Folawiyo. Who is going to replace this man in Islam?
Let’s talk about the late Chief MKO Abiola too. Has the Ummah been able to replace him? No, we have not. Abiola spent his money to help Islam and humanity. Abiola had a number of Arabic schools which he was personally funding. He was paying the salaries of the staff of many Arabic institutions when he was alive. His commitment to Islamic education prompted him to establish an Arabic institute of his own in Abeokuta. This institute produced eminent Nigerians who are doing well in their careers today. Who is going to replace him in Islam?
We have lost Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola, OON (The Third President of MUSWEN). We have lost The Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola. We have lost Prince Abdul Jabbar Bola Ajibola (The Proprietor of Crescent University, Abeokuta). We have lost Professor Aliu Babatunde Fafunwa (The Founding President of MUSWEN). We have lost Alhaji Lateef Adegbite. We have lost several great men and great women who contributed immensely to Islam and humanity. We will forever remember these people for the roles they played when they were alive.
Great Muslim scholars have also left in Yorubaland. Scholars that till date we haven’t been able to replace them.
We are losing great men and women. Who is replacing them? The Muslim Ummah of the South West has been crying for effective leadership for a while now. The death of the few true leaders that we have is creating a big vacuum in the Ummah.
Baba Abou has also gone. Who is going to replace Baba in Lagos and the South West as a whole?
People like Mama Mueenat Alake Shopeyin, Alhaji Rasak Oladejo (The Current President of MUSWEN), Dr Jibril Oyekan (The Immediate Pro-Chancellor of UNILORIN), Professor Ishaq Oloyede (The Current Registrar of JAMB), Mr Niyi Yusuf (The current President of NAṢFAT and Chairman Nigerian Economic Summit Group,NESG) and a few others are the few true leaders that we have now. Our prayer is that Allah should preserve them.
I must go back to my question. Who is replacing all the great men and women that we are losing to death? Each Muslim in the South West and Nigeria at large must now ask himself or herself: “Of what value am I to Islam? “What has been my contribution to humanity”? “Would people say positive things about me if I die today “?.
I commiserate with the family, friends and lovers of Baba Abou at this difficult but inevitable time.
May Allah forgive Baba Abou and our other great fathers and mothers who have returned to Allah, accept them all as His righteous servants and grant them Jannatul-Firdaws.
Written by: Abdul-Ganiyy Raji; Writer and Public Speaker.