I embraced Islam on my own volition—Torotoro

Ace Radio Presenter, Ezekiah Olu Amusan Egunjobi, popularly known as Torotoro Ayanfe, has advanced reasons for his resolve to embrace Islam as a religion.

He explained that he took the decision to convert to Islam from Christianity after receiving mysterious inspiration that he was destined to practice Islam.

Torotoro now named Taofeek Olu Amusan at a brief event to commemorate his conversion and launching of an album titled “Confirmation” in Ilorin on Thursday, said he joined Islam on his own volition.

Born into Masquerade Lineage in Gbongan, Osun State, the new convert initially practiced traditional mode of worship prior to his embracing Christianity and currently welcomed into Islam after he renounced his former faith.

Torotoro, who is famous for his theatre practice, said it was his own personal conviction to worship Almighty Allah when it became apparent and plausible to him that it is the way to salvation.

He noted that no one hoodwinked or coerced him to embrace Islam, adding that he would have converted a few years ago but for his ambition to become TAMPAN Governor in the state.

Torotoro told the gathering that he had to jettison the idea of embracing Islam when he sought to become TAMPAN helmsman so as to stave off likely insinuation that he was doing so to cajole his Muslim colleagues in the industry in order to curry their favour.

“I was not forced to embrace Islam, it was on my own volition. When I made up my decision about this plan, I didn’t discuss it with anyone close to me. It was my sole decision to worship Allah as a Muslim.

“I became convinced that Islam is the way to salvation with my experience during recent pilgrimage I had. It was so glaring with what I saw during that pilgrimage that I was not going to take a wrong decision.

“For the information of this audience, I could have embraced Islam some years ago but I decided not to because it clashed with my ambition to become TAMPAN Governor in Kwara. I told myself that if you do it this time around, many people would insinuate that I was doing that to curry favour of my Muslim colleagues and canvass votes. I dropped the plan immediately.

“Now I am the Governor, I said if I should openly embrace Islam this time, it would not be that misconstrued. That is the reason I took the decision without even telling anyone close to me”, he said.

In his sermon, an Ilorin-based Islamic Scholar, Ustadh Mudathir Maikudi, urged the new convert to be mindful of his conduct, which must always reflect culture of Islam both in actions and inactions.

At the event were the representative of the Emir of Ilorin, Prince Modibbo Sulu-Gambari, prominent community and religious leaders among others.