The grand Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Sulyman Faruq Onikijipa, yesterday revealed that the late Sheikh Isiaka Sulaiman Ajimati, brother of the director general of the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof Abubakar Sulaiman, had confided in him that he wanted him to attain a great status like a governor.
He said the late cleric, who later relocated to Ajase, Cotonou, in the Republic of Benin, had “prayed and sacrificed” for his younger brother (NILDS DG) to attain great status in life, including becoming a governor.
Onikijipa spoke at the fidau prayer for the repose of the soul of the late brother of the NILDS DG, held at the Sulaimans’ family compound, Oke-leru Ilorin, Kwara State.
Recalling his relationship with the deceased, the grand mufti recalled how the late cleric dedicated special supplications and sacrificed for his younger brother’s success.
“He (late Ajimati) had told me as far back as 1983 that his wish was for his younger brother (Prof Sulaiman), who is an academic, to attain a great status in life like governors”, Onikijipa told the audience at the well-attended session.
He admonished Prof Sulaiman not to grieve over the demise of his elder brother but to accept it as the will of Allah, assuring him that Allah will comfort him soon.
The grand Mukadam of Ilorin, Sheikh Sulyman Dan—Borno, enjoined the bereaved DG to keep the Sulaiman’s family together and continue his acts of benevolence to all.
The fidau session, which was led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammed Bashir Saliu, was attended by the state governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by his senior special adviser and counsellor, Alh Saad Salahu, former non-executive director, Nigeria National Petroleum Company, Limited (NNPCL ), Dr Ghali Alaaya, special adviser (Special Duties), Alhaj AbdulRazaq Jida, grand Khadi of Kwara State, Justice AbdulLateef Kamaldeen and a former grand Khadi of the state, Justice Saliu Mohammed.
Others are members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Lukman Olumo, a minister from Cotonou in the Republic of Benin, Alh Sefiyullah, a former commissioner for Health in Kwara State, Hajia Ayinke Saka, the former chief press secretary to the former governor of Kwara State, Alh Mas’ud Adebimpe, Alhaji Usman Bibere Ajape, the chairman of the Alliance For Sustainable Kwara (ASK), Alh Razaq Lawal, and the top management staff of NILDS.
