On Saturday 10th of February, 2024, members and top clerics of Mahdiyyat Congregation stormed the Eagle Club Event Centre which is located along Adeniran Ogunsanya, a popular street in the highbrow area of Surulere in Lagos State for fidau prayer held in honour of late popular Lagos politician, Alhaji Ganiyu Ayinde Sadabiyu Ogungbo.
The deceased who died at almost 100 years was a core member of the Mahdiyyat Congregation. He was a leader and father figure to many of the popular Islamic organisations. Late Alhaji GAS Ogungbo is highly respected and well profiled within the Mahdiyyat Congregation as they usually regard him their Khalifa. His contribution to the propagation of Islam through the Ahmadiyya body was immense. No wonder the Mahdiyyat Congregation in the South-West trooped out in their numbers to join the children of leader, late Alhaji Ogungbo in the fidau prayer they organised for their beloved father.
The prayer in Surulere, Lagos State was the 3rd fidau prayer session held for late Alhaji GAS Ogungbo, the patriarch of the Ogungbo dynasty in Ijebu Ode. They had done two sessions differently; one was in his home town in Ijebu-Ode and the second was held at Idado in Lekki area of Lagos State. They were done according to the wish of the deceased before he passed on in 2023.
Each of the sessions held was massive and well attended by top dignitaries. Some of them have in one way or the other been impacted by Alh. Ogungbo. They came in their numbers to pay tribute as well as rejoice with the children of the deceased, many of whom travelled from far and wide to honour their beloved father’s wish.
The fidau prayer session was well coordinated by top clerics from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. They took time to invoke quite a number of prayers on the soul of the departed who was a prominent member of the popular Islamic organisation.
Many of the scholars at the event testified to his indispensable contribution to the entire Ahmadiyya Community. The children also took time to pay tribute to their late father, describing his many legacies and how having him as a no nonsense and caring father was a blessing to them.
All the clerics who gave tribute to late Alhaji GAS Ogungbo extolled him as a man who stood by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community during tribulations. They gave instances of some of the many occasions that the deceased has been helpful to them. Notable among them was when they were having issues on where to hold their weekly programmes, Alhaji Ogungbo rescued them by granting them the permission to use his residence in Ijebu Ode for as long as they desire. He was indeed a rallying point to them. He was generous to a fault as no one goes to him crying leaves without smiling.
He was said to be a highly influential man and he uses his sphere of influence to push the course of the Mahdiyyat Congregation. The demise of Alhaji GAS Ogungbo, no doubt has left a big vacuum among the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. They will never forget his great impact in the Islamic organisation in a hurry. They would forever miss him for his wisdom and great influence.
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