As Ramadan gradually rolls to an end,, Muslims in Nigeria and across the world have been admonished to imbibe the virtues of humility, tolerance, endurance and charity if they hope to gain material and spiritual favors of the Almighty.
The Grand Imam of Offa land, Sheikh Muyideen Salmon, made the call at this year’s edition of Senator Rashidi Ladoja Ramadan Annual Lecture Series.
The talk, held on Thursday, March 28, at the Watershed Events Centre beside Green Springs Hotel, Ibadan drew dignitaries from the business sector, social circuit and across political divides in the South West, including a large crowd of supporters of the host, former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
Salmon who had constantly featured as guest lecturer, in the series, enjoined Muslims to avail themselves of the opportunity of the fasting period to rededicate themselves to the aforementioned virtues to enjoy a happy, fulfilling earthly life and secure admission into paradise.
According to Sheikh, forming their characters and patterning their lives along these virtues will give men the fortitude and wisdom to successfully navigate through life and overcome inevitable challenges of life.
He remarked that most of the vicissitudes, pains and misfortunes that often befell men were self-inflicted, due to non observance of scriptural injunctions which enjoined the virtues on them.
He extolled Senator Ladoja’s piety, humility, restraint and public spiritedness, desribing him as an astute albeit unassuming leader who cared for the masses.
Despite having the wherewithal including
the political and financial muscles to sway things in his favour, the guest speaker recalled how the former governor and next in line to the Olubadan of Ibadanland’s royal stool declined incitements to exploit the crisis of succession that brought the departed Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, to thee throne to ascend the royal stool.
“He confided in me that he wasn’t interested in disrupting traditional arrangement and prefered to wait for his turn, which is God’s time. He told me to disregard all I heard, saying he was on his way to pay homage to and proclaim the next in succession,” Sheikh Salmon said.
He enjoined other privileged leaders to emulate Ladoja’s qualities, especially his openness, accessibility, compassion, kindness and support for the poor and noble causes.
At the event were Senator Sarafadeen Alli, former deputy governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi; Chief Imam of Ibadan land, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Agbotomokekere; former All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Senator Teslim Folarin; a political stalwart from Oyo, Chief Lukman Ilaka; a former member of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abass Oloko; Chairman, Ilaji Farms, Engr. Dotun Sanusi and socialite, Alhaja Azeezat Abeo.
