By Ojotule Romanus
Kogi State Government has held Special Prayers for the late Former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubarkar Audu, as part of the many activities lined up for the 10th Memorial Anniversary of the late political incon.
The prayer which was held at the Government House Mosque in Lokoja, attracted Islamic clerics and Scholars from within and outside Lokoja.
The prayer session was led by the Chief Imam, Government House Mosque, Alhaji Mohammed Bashiru, and featured special prayer sessions from the state chapter of the Jama’atu Nasir Islam (IJN), the Council of Ulama, the League of Imams, kogi state and other Islamic clerics.
Speaking at the event, Kogi State Governor represented by the Director General, Government House Administration, Alhaji Shaibu Oricha described the late Former Governor, as one of the pillars that impacted the state significantly just as he pointed out that the state government decided to put the prayer in place to honour him and to pray for the continued response of his soul.
He deslosed that the prayer service was a preamble to the main event which the state government had scheduled for his country home of Ogbonicha.
According to him,” every year, we continue to remember him for his leadership qualities and contributions to the state and also pray for forgiveness by God Almighty for his shortcomings”.
Alhaji Oricha said the state government under the leadership of Governor Ahmed Usman Odoodo values the the giant contributions of the late former governor hence, the need to honour and pray for him.
He also commended the governor for remembering the late political icon by putting up the memorial prayers and prayed God Almighty to reward him.
In his address, the Chief Imam Government House Mosque, Alhaji Muhammad Bashiru, while praying for the continued response of his soul, stated that prayers remain the best thing to offer to someone who has died.
He added that as a Muslims, they would continue to pray for God Almighty to grant him aljanatu, (Paradise).
In their separate speaches, the representives of the state Council of Ulama, Alhaji Idris Babango, and Jama’atu Nasir Islam, Alhaji Idah Adebayo, while commending the State Government for deeming it fit to organise the special prayer session for the late former Governor, prayed God to grant him the highest aljanah.
Also speaking, the Director General Government House Protocol , Alhaji Suleiman Ibrahim, stated that Governor Ododo was very mindful of the Quran he reads everyday that indicates that prayers remains the best for anybody that is dead, hence the need for the prayer session.
According to him,the State Government was also putting together a mega programme in honour of the late former Governor Abubarkar Audu.
He described the initiative as histoic and that the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo feels the late former Governor needs to be remembered for what he has been able to do for the people of the state while he held sway as the governor. Just as he used the forum to pray for the response of his soul.
