Lagos deputy governor elect’s father, Oba Hamzat laid to rest

The late Olu of Afowowa Sogade, Ewekoro Local Government, Ogun State Oba Muftau Olatunji Hamzat was buried on Monday in line with Islamic junctions.

The Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheikh Hadi Orunsolu, led the congregation in prayer before the corpse was committed to mother earth.

The burial took place in the palace in the presence of family members and well-wishers.

Thereafter, Muslim clerics, children of the deceased and sympathisers moved to Community Primary School field directly opposite the palace for fidau prayer.

The national missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulrahaman Ahmad advised the audience to always prepare for death.

Ahmad said death is the ultimate thing in human life but regretted that we devote our time to worldly demands.

He said: “If you think life is the beginning and the end, you will know the truth when death comes.

“Nobody can escape death. We should prepare for death, fear God and do good to our fellow human beings for our Creator to make the next world easy for us. “

Another Islamic scholar, Sheikh Mojeed Ayinla, said the deceased was an epitome of wisdom and urged the audience to emulate him.

Ayinla,  who is the Deputy national missioner of Nawar Ud Deen Society of Nigeria, said the good children left behind by the late monarch bore testimony to his integrity and wisdom.

Other Islamic clerics present include Chief Imam of Ewekoro Local government Sheikh Muhideen Aranse -Oluwa and representatives of Chief Imams of Lagos, Epe,  Badagry and Ikorodu .

Political elites were also present. They include Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State chapter, Alhaji Tunde Balogun; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Duties, Benjamin Olabinjo; wife of Lagos Governor-elect, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; APC stalwart,  Elder James Odunbaku; Director General, Sanwo-Olu/ Hamzat Campaign Organisation,  Mr Tayo Ayinde, Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Sowunmi and Local government chairmen from Lagos and Councillors States.

The Oba of Lagos,  Oba Rilwan Akiolu was represented by white cap chiefs.

Members of Oloja of Epe and Olu Epe traditional councils were also there.

Speaking to reporters after the programme, son of the deceased who is also Lagos Deputy Governor-elect, Dr Obafemi Hamzat described his father as a principled man.

According to him: “My father thought us not to promise what we cannot fulfill. We shall continue to abide by it.

“If you are honest and transparent in your dealings with fellow human beings you will have nothing to fear,” he said.