Top political stalwarts, eminent Nigerians storm Ilorin for Baraje’s mother fidau
8 aircraft lands at airport
By Mumini AbdulKareem and Matthew Denis
It was a gathering of top political stalwarts and eminent personalities in Nigeria yesterday in Ilorin at the Fidau of the mother of former nPDP leader, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.
The roll call included serving and former governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, top party chieftain and religious scholars among others.
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led the pack of dignitaries that graced the fidau for the repose of the soul of the late Hajia Ayisat Omoagba Baraje.
Saraki arrived the Baraje family residence in Baboko, Ilorin, venue of the prayer in company of Kwara and Benue states governors, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and Samuel Ortom respectively. Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike later joined them.
Other dignitaries that graced the event included the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Deputy National Chairman of the APC (North), Lawan Shuaib and his South counterpart, Niyi Adebayo, Senators Barnabas Gemade, Sha’aba Lafiagi, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, his predecessor and member of the House of Representatives, Hon Razak Atunwa, representatives of the Emir of Ilorin, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, members of the Kwankwansiya political group in the state and former presidential spokesman, Dr Doyin Okupe.
In his sermon at the occasion, the grand Mukadam of Ilorin Emirate, Sheikh Sulaiman Dan Borno, called on believers to be steadfast and imbibe the spirit of doing good at all times, adding that whatever one does has its rewards.
The cleric enjoined women to be of high virtue and be submissive to their husbands for their children to be responsible and successful in life.
“God bestows successful children to virtuous wives and mothers. Virtuous woman bears responsible children. Every man with good wife is blessed with all blessings of Allah”, he said, adding that Hajia Baraje was a dutiful, responsible and glorious mother as well as wife.
“Women who inflict pain, trouble, lack of rest of mind on their husbands may not attract blessings of Allah. Also, all those people who are not good to children of other people should know that their own children may suffer,” he said.
Dan Borno also admonished the people to take good care of their mothers while alive, describing care for mothers as debt that should be paid by every child.
The Imam Imale of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi AbdulHamid, who led the fidau prayer said that life is all about good times and bad times, adding that believers should expect what Allah brings with faith and prepare for eventual end.
Meanwhile, a total of eight chartered flights landed at the Ilorin International Airport for the fidau.
The dignitaries who started arriving the airport from 10:12am have since left the state after holding meeting with Saraki.
Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwwal was the first to leave around 4:36pm followed by the Senate President.
The airport was however crowded by some of Saraki’s loyalists including women and youths who showered praises on him.
