Fidau - Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station

8th Day Fidau has been held for the 42nd Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun who joined his Ancestors last week at 81.

The event which took place at the popular Mapo Hall, Ibadan, Oyo State was witnessed by Muslims, Christians and traditionalists who prayed for the reposed soul of the late monarch, charging the living always to remember that death is inevitable, hence the need to live a good life.

While delivering an Islamic Sermon, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abubakri Agbotomokekere who spoke through a former Lecturer at the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Kamil Oloso said, attending burials should teach people that everyone would one day go back to their Creator irrespective of their status.

Two family Heads popularly known as Mogajis in Ibadan, Nurudeen Akinade and Ajibola Salawu said the late monarch was a grassroots mobiliser, lover of peace and a Cerebral Ibadan man whose impacts could not be underestimated.

A cleric at the palace of the late monarch, Pastor Olusoji Adediji admonished people to be in peace with one another, saying everyone will give account of whatever they did while on earth.

Dignitaries at the Friday included the former Governor of Oyo State and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta, Alhaji Dawood Akinola, younger brother of the deceased, Senator Kola Balogun, Wives and Children of the late Olubadan among Others.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

By Dayo Adu

Family, friends, acquaintances, Muslim community and the Radio Nigeria family have held the 8th Day Fidau for a former General Manager Paramount FM Abeokuta, Alhaji Adeniyi Mukhtar Odekunle at his Ibadan residence.

The gathering who recited various portions in the Holy Qur’an led by group of Imams and Alfas in submission to the supremacy of Almighty Allah , took their turns to extol the virtues of late Alhaji Odekunle during his lifetime.

In their separate tributes, his retired colleagues, former General Manager, Positive FM, Akure, Deacon Femi Oladipo, former Deputy Director News and Current Affairs, Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station, Asiwaju Tunde Abiodun and former General Manager, Premier FM, Ibadan, Alhaji Bashir Omotoso described the late Alhaji Odekunle as a thorough bred professional, jovial and friendly.

A one time Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Oyo State council, who is also the Public Relations Officer, The Polytechnic, Ibadan , Mogaji Soladoye Adewole under whose executive the late Odekunle served before he rose to the post of national Vice President, Zone B said the deceased was an administrator per excellence.

The Deputy Director, News and Current Affairs, Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station, Mr. Adewumi Faniran, who described the deceased as a friendly man loved by all lamented that Alhaji Odekunle’s wealth of experience would be greatly missed.

In a lecture, entitled ‘Life After Death’, the Chief Imam of Central Mosque, Challenge, Alhaji Jabar Adelabu urged the family and the gathering to engage in good deeds so as to partake in the comfort of life after death.

He noted that legacies left behind usually outlive mankind saying such would serve as reference points for generations coming behind.

Younger brother of the deceased, Dr. Morisayo Odekunle who spoke on behalf of the family, said the late Niyi Odekunle was a father figure and mentor to all his siblings and extended family members, noting that the vacuum he left behind would be hard to fill.