The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari and former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, have mourned a popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abdulganiyu Nuraini and his two aides who died in the flooding that ravaged the state.
The cleric popularly called Alfa Gani Aboto, his aides, Alfa Azeez Omoekun and Alfa Nurudeen, were coming from da’awah activity in Minna, Niger State, when the flood swept away his Toyota Yaris car while trying to cross a bridge near Harmony Estate/Kukende at the Akerebiata area of Ilorin.
The bodies of the victims were recovered by the state fire service from a river opposite Olusola Saraki Abattoir along Sobi Army Barracks road, Ilorin inside the car on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
The late sheik was a student of late Sheikh Kamaldeen Al-Adabiy, the first Mufti of Ilorin and founder of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria. He was also a hafeedh and leading trainer of Quran memorisers in the state.
His corpse was transported to his hometown in Aboto, Asa LGA of the state on Sunday after a janazah in Ilorin.
The state governor in a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, his Chief Press Secretary, described as shocking and sad the death of the prominent Muslim preacher and his aides.
“We received with shock and sadness the deaths of the popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Aboto and a few others whose identities are not yet known. As faithful, we accept the judgment of our creator. We beseech Him to grant the scholar and others involved al-Jannah Firdaus,” the Governor said in a statement.
“This, indeed, is one sad news too many. The death of Sheikh Abdulganiy Aboto is a huge loss for the Muslim community and to Ilorin as a whole. He was known for his vast knowledge and great efforts in the propagation of Islamic messages in the simplest form possible for his audience.”
Credit: LindaIkejiblog