By Shakirudeen Bankole
Chief Imam Ibadan, NASFAT Chief Missioner, Kola Abiola, Rotary, LCCI DGs, among attendees.
The entire Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, stood still on Thursday, March 20, 2025, as family, relatives, contemporaries, and Muslim Clerics gathered for the Fidau Prayer of the late Imam Mustapha Adewale Bello.
Imam Mustapha, who died March 14, after a brief illness, and at an advance age of 94, was described as a Frontline Scholar of the Deen of Islam.
He was said to be a man of many parts, whose impactful life had robbed off positively on many, irrespective of their backgrounds, riches and or religious inclinations.
At exactly 12noon, the 1,000 capacity hall at Sablak Events Center, located at Sanyo, Ibadan, has been declared ready for use
Chairs, checked. Tables, check. Decoration, checked. Air-conditioning, checked. Security, checked. Everything, checked.
Alhaji Ismaila Remi Bello, one of the children of the late Cleric, had also conducted a final inspection in the facility and declared his satisfaction for the top-notch delivery.
The time of commencement of the Fidau Prayer was slated for 1:30pm, an hour and half after the venue had been ready.
The facility Manager told Kiin Media that “it is the company’s administrative culture to make the facility safe, and comfortable for all guests, hence the courteous and hospitable disposition of the staff to the client and his guests.”
Besides,, the environment is neat, serene, and quiet. The hall itself is an architectural masterpiece, uniquely constructed to dwarf quests. It’s location is also strategic, as it is central and directly opposite the expressway. It is a barely five minutes drive from Ibadan Toll Gate,Inward Iwo Road.
As guests began to scale the final hurdle of security clearance, the hall began to get filled with people from all walks of life, all gorgeously and elegantly dressed.
There were different classes of important personalities in attendance at this event. Business moguls, Capitals of Industry, Chief Executive Officers, Team Lead of International Humanitarian Organisations, leaders of professional Bodies, and conglomeration of leading Islamic Organisations and their leaders,l.
Kola Abiola, the first son of the late Chief Moshood Olawale Abiola, Nigeria’s first undisputed democratically elected President, led the VIP lists. He was joined by Past and current Governors/ Presidents of organisations such as: Rotary International, District 9111, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), and NASFAT among others.
All of them came to represent different class of social stratification the deceased had either touched while alive or his offspring are currently engaging.
The most distinct class of the audience at this event were the core Ibadan residents, drawn from Oja’ba, the ancient and popular Ibadan Town, the community of the deceased.
Dressed in native attires and Islamic regalia, these class of guests, resonate more with the cleric’s affinity with his community.
Besides the glitz and glamour however, the occasion was also characterised by reflection, introspection, and hopes, as clerics used the demise of the late Grandfather and Great Grand Father, to preach about the vanity of life.
The Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheikh Abdul-Ganiyy AbuBakr Agbotomokekere, who was represented by his Khalifa, Imam AbdulWahab Omotayo Raji, led the Ullammah to administer the Tefsir/Lecture of the day.
In his sermon, Imam AbdulWahab, who doubles as the Founder NASWAB, of reminded the audience that “death remains an incurable affliction that Allah Azzawajjalah, has afflicted mankind with.”
He admonished that death in itself is not an absolute end to existence, but a transitioning point unto another promised eternal bliss.
He said to experience or earn this blissful experience in the Hereafter, one must do well enough to make the earthly existence count.
His words:
” Fidau Prayer is essentially an intercession for the Dead so Allah the creator of the earth and the heavens and everything in-between can forgive him or her and have mercy on them.
“It is a way of seeking soft-landing for the dead during the darkened stay in the Grave, the questioning, and all the scary experiences until the day of judgement.
” But for me, I would say the dead, in this case, has already done his own Fidau Prayer for himself. He has done this by ensuring that his life was of positive impact to all and sundry that crossed his part
” I am one of the beneficiaries of his Dawah. I benefitted from his knowledge crusade and kindness. That is why we all are here today. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grants him Al-Jannah Firdaos, Amin,” he prayed for the dead.
The Chief Missioner of Nasrul-Lah-iL-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Imam (Engr.) Moruffdeen Abdulazeez Onike, was the hosting cleric at the event, given the long-standing membership of Ismail, the son of the late Mustapha, in the Socio-religious Islamic Organisation.
Onike, who was unavoidably absent, was howevrr representaed at the event by Imam (Alhaji) Qodr Saadudeen Adekilekun, the NASFAT Missioner for Oyo Zone 1.
In an interview with Kiin Media, Imam Qodr said the deceased has also led a good life by ensuring that all of his offspring are well trained and properly guided to the path of the Deen.
“Imam Mustapha remained a perfect role model to many of us. He was a great leader, an responsible father, and an indispensable mentor, who has succeeded in training generations of Imams, Fathers, Grandfather’s on the right paths, as dictated by Allah. Alhamdu Lillahi Robil Allamin. May he be forgiven and granted Al-Jannah Firdaos, Amin,” he added..
Reminiscing about his late father, Ismaila, said his father was a great father whose denise, even at an advance age, would be greatly missed.
” My father was first and foremost a teacher. He was an embodiment of knowledge. And he personally championed the campaign for knowledge. He was strictly following Allah’s injunction that mankind should know Him before worshipping him. So he ensure we are all educated, not only on the Deen of Islam but across all spheres of professions.
“I am.also not surprised that the hall here today is filled to the brim because my father was a man of many parts. He was an Imam at Oja’ba our town and community, he was an Imam at the popular Spare Parts in Gate, Ibadan, and he was a leader of many leaders. He was disciplinarian, and dependable father,” Ismail recalled.
As the event climaxes, guests were served to a bounteous packaged meals and gifts items.
The deceased children, supported by official ushers, went on multiple trips, to and fro the logistics rooms, go distribute these robust food and gift package.
The session was coordinated by Alhaja Remi Bello and other siblings of her husband.
