Newspapers Today
Bashorun of Lagos emerges as new Baba Adini
Alabi-Macfoy
The Bashorun of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, has emerged as the 14th Baba Adinni of Lagos Central Mosque.
ROYAL NEWS reports that Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy’s emergence followed an election on Wednesday at the Lagos Central Mosque, Idumota.
Out of the three persons said to be interested in the position, only Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Al-Hujjaj International Hajj and Umrah Services Ltd, Alhaji Jelili Animashaun, were present for the screening.
MTN Foundation-sponsored ‘Saro, The Musical’ marks a decade of splendor in Lagos
Groundbreaking for 4th Mainland Bridge to hold by end of Q1 2024 — Sanwo-Olu
FULL LIST: Lagos ranked 19th best city to visit globally, beats Dubai, Miami, others
One of the executive council members of the Lagos Central Mosque, Alhaji Fatai Dawodu, chaired the 30-man screening and election committee.
The two candidates were drilled for hours before the committee members went into voting and Alabi-Macfoy emerged victorious with 22 votes while Alhaji Animashaun had eight votes.
With this, the coast is clear for the Bashorun of Lagos to replace Sheikh AbdulHafeez Abou, who died on January 9 at the age 101, as the 14th Baba Adinni of Lagos Central Mosque.
Speaking with newsmen, a member of the executive council, Dr Abdullah Jubril Oyekan, welcomed the emergence of Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy as the Baba Adinni of Lagos.
He said the former vice chairman of the Lagos Central Mosque is fit for the position, noting that he had been working closely with Sheikh Abou before his demise.
Dr Oyekan, who was part of the screening and election committee, said: “The new Baba Adinni is a very familiar figure. He has been associated with the central mosque for about 45 years. In the last few years, he was deputy to the former Baba Adinni. They worked very closely and when old age caught up with the late Baba Adinni, he (Alabi-Macfoy) was more or less designated to play the role as we gave him the title of the vice chairman of the council, a title of convenience; there is no sub-position in the constitution.
“All the antecedents so far raised our expectations that with his appointment as the Baba Adinni, we should be able to achieve more and he has a lot of goodwill with people around him. I’m very hopeful and prayerful and that he would exceed our expectations.”
Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy commended the committee for “a good job” and thanked Allah for his emergence.
He said his capability to step into “the big shoes” was not in doubt.
He said: “I have been working and making a lot of strives in the administration of the central mosque and Lagos State before the demise of Sheikh Abou. I have been doing it and I hope to continue. Fortunately for me, we brought a lot of Lagosians who are intelligent and professionals into the executive council with the view that they would help to run the mosque.
“I have told all of them that as far as I’m concerned, I will do it with all the members of the executive. They are all old but still vibrant, responsible and people of financial strength and capability. I will ensure proper administration of the mosque. I will computerise their account system and work hard with other trustees.”
Contact: info@royalnews.com.ng