24th Year Remembrance: Family Holds Special Prayer For First Asiwaju of Offa, Late Chief J.S Olawoyin
The family of the first Asiwaju of Offa, Late Chief J.S Olawoyin has held a special prayer in commemoration of 24 years after death of the great politician and nationalist.
The interfaith prayer session was held on Friday 11 October 2024 at J. S Olawoyin house Offa by both Christian and Muslim faithfuls.
Speaking on the premise of the gathering, a prominent son of the late nationalist, Chief Barr. Shegun Olawoyin said the prayer is an annual responsibility of the family and well-wishers to remember their father and a great nationalist, Chief J.S Olawoyin and at the same time as part of the preparation ahead of the forthcoming 100 years posthumous birthday. He added that the 100 years posthumous birthday will take place in February 2025 to celebrate and immortalise the great legacies and giant strides of Chief Olawoyin in Offa community, Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.
According to him,“ Today, we are gathered as we always do every year to pray for our father, it is 24th year remembrance. By God’s grace, February next year, our father will be 100 years, and we are planning ahead to celebrate 100 years of J. S Olawoyin posthumously and his 25th year after death. He was one of the few nationalists who fought for Nigeria’s independent, and we will continue to celebrate his legacies”
Talking about the giant strides of late J. S Olawoyin, Salient Reporters gathered that the late Chief Olawoyin, born on February 5, 1925, is a political phenomenon in Kwara State who fought for the division of Kwara State, fought for the creation of Local Government, established Owode market in Offa in 1958 and fought for the creation of Kwara State during the Northern Nigeria Leaders of Thought Forum in Kaduna in 1966.
While praying for the late nationalist, the Chief Imam of Musulumi N Fẹ Àlàáfíà, Sheik Shubli Amofin Agba described late Olawoyin as a God-fearing father who made sacrifice for the progress of Offa community. In his sermon, Sheik Popo referenced the roles Chief J.S Olawoyin played in the establishment of Post Office, Police Station, Owode Market and the building of Musulumi N Fẹ Àlàáfíà central mosque in Offa. He therefore urged the sons and daughters of Offa community to emulate late Olawoyin as his name can never be erased in the history of Offa community.
Similarly, the Christian faithfuls during the prayer session described Baba Olawoyin as a figure of peace, progress, and harmony in the family, community and among the religious body.
Present at the prayer service are: Ojomu of Offa, High Chief Bayo Akinola, Asalofa of Offa,High Chief Isiaka Adebayo Shittu, Chairman Offa LG, Hon. Olatunji Suleiman, Hon. Dupe Jejelola ( nee Olawoyin), Mrs. Kikelomo Balogun (nee Olawoyin), Dr. Remi Oni, Mrs. Bola Oni, Otunba Lanre Folorunsho among others.
