Tag: lagos

•Burial today at Lagos Central Mosque

The Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim (Gana V) died yesterday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. He will be buried today at the Lagos Central Mosque, Idumota.

He died at about 3pm after a brief illness.

He was 79. Sheikh Ibrahim would be 80 in December.

Bashorun of Lagos Alhaji Sikiru Alabi Macfoy and Chief Mufasir of Lagos Sheikh Tijani Gbajabiamila, confirmed his demise in a chat with The Nation.

“As we speak, his remains are being transported from LASUTH to Lagos Island. I am going for a meeting at the Lagos Central Mosque now, I will speak with you later,” Alhaji Macfoy said.

Sheikh Gbajabiamila said: “It is true that the Chief Imam is dead. He died at LASUTH this afternoon. Arrangement is on to bring his remains to the Island.”

The late Chief Imam was survived by a wife and nine children.

At 63, he was decorated with turban and presented with staff of office as the 9th Chief Imam of Lagos on July 30, 2000 following the demise of his predecessor, the late Alhaji Liadi Alade Ibrahim, (OBE), in 1998.

He was honoured with Order of the Niger (OON) by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2009.

The late Sheikh Ibrahim had lost three of his four wives.

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode expressed sadness over the Chief Imam’s death.

In a condolence message by his Chief Press Secretary Habib Aruna, the governor described the Imam’s death as a great loss to the Muslim Community, the state and the country.

He said the late cleric would be sorely missed and remembered for his bold and courageous sermons which stood him out.

He said: “It is with deep sense of great loss but total submission to the will of God that I note the demise of the Chief Imam of our dear state, Alhaji Garuba Akinola Ibrahim. He was indeed a respected cleric who was always mindful of his integrity and used his sermons to engender positive changes.

“He was a devout Muslim; humanist and bridge builder and will be remembered for his fairness, boldness and thought-provoking sermons.

“On behalf of my family and the people of Lagos State, I specially commiserate with the immediate family of the deceased and the Muslim Community for this great and irreparable loss.”

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Director Prof Ishaq Lakin Akintola said the late Chief Imam was highly respected and God-fearing.

“We’ll miss him. He was close to all Islamic groups and find time to attend their function or delegate his second-in-command. He does not look down on people,” he said.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer Jaiz Zakat and Waqf Trust Fund Imam Abdullah Shuaib, said the late Sheikh Ibrahim was an amiable person.

“He was an advocate of peaceful co-existence among all religious groups in the state. He encouraged Muslim youths and supported them to be the best. He cherished knowledge and encouraged many to acquire it so as to add value to humanity.

“It is sad that his demise came at a time when Lagosians and Nigerians are expecting to tap from his wealth of wisdom and knowledge to move the nation forward. May Allah overlook his shortcomings and grant him paradise,” Imam Shuaib said.

President, Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) Lagos State Area Unit, Dr. Saheed Ashafa, described him as a worthy leader.

“The Muslim students in Lagos State sympathise with the Muslim Community on the loss of our father, His Eminence, Sheikh Garuba Akinola Ibrahim. We pray that Allah forgives him and grant him Al-Janat ul-Firdaus.

“He was indeed an epitome of unity for the Nigerian Muslims and a worthy father for all. He would be remembered for keeping Muslims together in the state and beyond.

“Although, the vacuum he left behind may appear difficult to fill but his legacy would create a source of guidance for the Muslim community.”

Ashafa urged other Islamic leaders to emulate the deceased, saying that his promotion of unity was outstanding