The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the death of the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garba Akinola as a big loss to the entire Muslim community in Lagos and Nigeria.
In a condolence message by the Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Sola Fasure, Aregbesola described Akinola as a foremost Islamic Scholar, who was not only well versed in the Quran and the Hadith, but lived all his life as a good Muslim and worthy leader of the faith.
He added: “The death of Sheikh Akinola is a big loss to the Muslim Ummah in Lagos as well as the entire state because he preached peace and unity while alive. His preaching at home and his gospel of Islamic scholarship will be missed.”
“I received the news of the death of the Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Garba Akinola, which occurred on Sunday at Lagos State Teaching Hospital, with shock but submission to the will of Allah.
“He was a man of peace who built bridges and reached out to people of other faiths.
Imam Akinola was a honest man who built a reputation for integrity and high service.
“He served humanity and the Muslim Ummah well. His passage is a great loss which has left a huge void that will be hard to fill”.
While praying for the repose of the soul of the late cleric, Aregbesola urged members of various Muslim societies to continue the good works Sheik Akinola started, adding “this is the only way to immortalise this pride of Lagos in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
“This is a sad moment for the Muslim Ummah in Lagos, we are however grateful to God that he led a profoundly peaceful life.
“He was no doubt a scholar of higher integrity who touched the lives of many Muslims positively.
“I commiserate with the government and the people of Lagos, particularly the Muslim Ummah and the family of the Imam. I pray that Allah will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss”. Aregbesola stated.
