Aleem Murtala
The ancient city of Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, played host to men and women of timber and caliber last Saturday. They were there to honour Fatal Ajani Owoseni, former Commissioner of police in Lagos and Benue States who retired from active service in 2019. Owoseni, who is the special adviser to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on security, was turbaned as the Alatunse-Ilu Adinni of Oyo State.
The event which held at the Central Mosque, Oja Oba in Ibadan was performed by His Eminence Sheikh Abdulganiyy Abubakry Agbotomokekere, the Chief Imam of Ibadanland and Chairman of the League of Imams and Alfas of Oyo State.
Owoseni arrived at the venue of the ceremony around 9:30am against slated 10am decked in flowing white Agbada.
The ceremony, which was organised by the League of Imams and Alfas in Oyo State, had in attendance, the representatives (with his staff of office) of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, the Inspector General of Police, ably represented by Emuobo Fred Ekokotu, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, Zone 11. Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi, Chief of Staff to Governor Makinde, led other senior officials of the state government to the event.
There were also notable Muslim Scholars in Oyo State and the leadership of Islamic Organizations, as well as Ibadan Christ Apostolic Grammar School, Aperin, Old Students Association.
The event was declared open by His Eminence Sheikh Abdulganiyy Abubakry Agbotomokekere at 10:50 am with opening prayer by Barrister Abdullah Akeugberu, the Chief Imam of Oyo Kingdom.
Dr. Yunus Olusina Teliat, Ayilara II, Guest Lecturer at the event, and the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso said Owoseni was a pride of all Oyo State while in service, especially while in Lagos State as Commissioner of Police. He said, “We are still proud of you sir”. He, however, advised the newly turbaned Chief on his role. He told Owoseni,
“You will need to understand native intelligence of Imams very well because police intelligence is very different from our own”.
That advice did not come as a result of lack of confidence in Owoseni, because Teliat said,
“We Imams and Muslims in Oyo State know that you’re a good man before you are chosen to be Alatunse-Ilu Adinni of Oyo State.”
He said that the new responsibilities come with lots of endurance and spending.
According to him, “You will endure a lot of things and spend as well to uplift Islam across the state because your responsibilities are not limited to Ibadan, you will be called upon in Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun and so on.”
After Owoseni was turbaned, an award of recognition was presented to him in the mosque.
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