Muslims across all groups converged at National Mosque, Abuja on Monday to offer prayers for the late Dr AbdulLateef Adegbite, former, Secretary-General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
Adegbite died on Friday Sept. 28, during a brief illness in Lagos at the age of 79.
The prayer was coordinated by Muslim Consultative Forum (MCF) and Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), as well as Abuja Muslim Forum and was attended by representatives of Islamic societies and Muslim groups in Abuja.
One of the National Mosque Deputy Imams, Sheikh Kabir Ahmad led other Muslims to read a complete Surah Yasin, (Chapter 36) of the Holy Qur’an for the repose of the soul of late Adegbite.
Ahmad, who was assisted with another deputy Imam, Dr Ahmad Makari, eulogised the sterling qualities of??Adegbite and urged others to emulate him.
He said that during his lifetime, his main focus was Islam and the overall interest of the Muslim Community in Nigeria.
“He died thinking about Islam and the Muslim community. His legacies will continue until the last Day of Judgment. We shall surely miss him and we will continue to pray for him till eternity,’’ he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Sheik Abdurasheed Adiatullah, a member of National Council of Ulamas in Nigeria, who also prayed for Adegbite, said that he was a focused Islamic leader.
Adiatullah said that as a founding member of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria in 1954 and NSCIA in 1973, Adegbite’s exit had left a big vacuum for the Muslim Community in Nigeria.
The NSCIA Director of Administration, Malam Amin Igwegbe described his late boss as “very sincere, upright and courageous leader, a bridge builder and a promoter of peace.’’
Igwegbe, whose tributes was read by his deputy, Malam Kazeem Mohammad, said as a detribalised Nigerian, “it would be extremely difficult to find his replacement, especially on various issues of religious and national interest.’’
The Corps Marshal of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Osita Chidoka at the prayer session, lauded the contributions of Adegbite to national development and urged all to emulate his good qualities.
Chidoka, who was represented by Mohammed Nasir, Chief Route Commander of the Corps, said, “we will miss him greatly, but we pray Allah to forgive his shortcomings and grant him an honoured place in paradise. (NAN)