…Over 65, 000 attended the annual convention
…We will extend Ahmadiyya convention ground to Ipokia – Oba Kehinde Olugbenle
The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has commended the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Nigeria for preaching peace, unity and brotherhood at all times.
Osinbajo said these virtues should be emulated by all religious organizations, ethnic groups, and humanity as a whole.
The Vice President who is also a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor stated this during 66th Jalsa Salana (Annual Convention) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Nigeria (AMJN), at Ilaro, Ogun State.
He lambasted some politicians for creating unrest in the country “please let us all remain as one despite some people want to create division among religious, ethnic groups in our nation. There must be love among us all regardless of religion”, Osinbajo stated.
“Your organization all over the world preaches peace and unity, you have choose to live with other people in peace.”
Ahead of 2019 general elections, Osinbajo advised the gathering to guide against discrimination and hate speeches.
In his welcome address, Amir Sahib (National President) AMJN, Dr Moshu’ud Aderenle Fashola, emphasised the need for everyone to be pious and be reformed. Fashola noted that “a pious man won’t engage in arrogance, selfishness and other vices.”
He acknowledged the unique roles of the Nigerian Police towards ensuring peace and tranquillity in the country. In his words “to have a better Nigeria, we must invest so much in police,”.
Welcoming the over 65, 000 mammoth crowd to his domain, the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, His Royal Highness, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, congratulated the Jama’at and promised to ensure that the convention ground of the Ahmadiyya Jama’at is expanded, going by the huge number of delegates from within and outside the country converging on Ilaro annually. “I congratulate you on the successful hosting of yet another most attended religion convention in our country, said Olugbenle.
Oba Olugbenle who is also the Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas eulogized Ahmadiyya Nigeria and explained the impact of Jama’at in Nigeria educational sector “for those who were born early 19th century till after Independence, they must have passed through Ahmadiyya schools one way or the other.”
Dignitaries at the event include, Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi; who represented Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Governorship Candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Abiodun Akinlade; the Zonal Director of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC); Rector, the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Arc. O. O. Aluko; and Missionary-in-Charge of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, Maulvi Abdul Khalique Nayyar.
Others are, Naib Amir (Deputy President), Northern Region, Dr Yeqeen Habeeb; Naib Amir, Eastern Region, Dr Abdul Ghaniyyi Enahoro; Naib Amir, South West, Barrister Abdul Azeez Alatoye; Naib Amir, Special Duties; Dr Nurud-din Akindele; Sadr (Head), Majlis Ansarullah (Elders Forum), AMJN, Engr. Abdul Waheed Mojeed Adeoye; Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalist, Lagos State Council and AMJN, National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Qasim Akinreti; AMJN National Legal Adviser, Barr Bashir Badr; Naib Amir (Deputy President) Special Duties, Engr. Ahmed Al-Hassan; Financial Secretary, AMJN, Alhaji Abdul Ghaniyyu Idris; and General Secretary, AMJN, Alhaji Abbas Iromini.
