Confirming his death, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, said the late religious leader died in his house in Lagos on Friday evening at the age of 79. His illness was announced in Abuja at an Islamic forum where he was expected a few weeks ago.
“Dr Adegbite passed on this evening in Lagos at the age of 79,’’ a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mrs Funmi Wakama, said.
In his tribute, Amosun described the late Seriki of Egbaland as one of the icons produced by the state.
“Dr Adegbite shone like a star in the field of law and was well known across the world as the mouthpiece of Islam in Nigeria,’’ the governor said.
He said that the late Adegbite was a man who usually offered wise counsel to governments at federal and state levels.
The governor added that the demise of Adegbite was not just a loss to Ogun State but to Nigeria as a whole.
“While praying that Almighty Allah grants his soul Aljanah Firdaus (paradise), the governor commiserated with the Adegbite family, the people of Egbaland, the Muslim community and Nigerians in general’’.
Commenting on the demise of Adegbite, his deputy, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said Nigeria had lost one of the illustrious sons of Africa.
“Baba was an academician, a lawyer, a religious leader, a political figure, the whole religious community would surely miss him,’’ he said.
Oloyede, who is also the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), said: “it is painful that we lost him. The religious community in Nigeria would surely miss him.’’
The late Adegbite, who hailed from Abeokuta , was Attorney-General of Western Nigeria.
He belonged to several national, international, professional and business organisations.
He was the principal partner of Lateef Adegbite and Company, a leading law firm, which specialises in commercial law practice.
The late Adegbite was a member of the Board of Directors of the Industrial ad General Company Limited and a director of Jaiz International Plc.
He was the Seriki Musulumi and Baba Adinni of Egbaland and the founder of many Islamic societies and associations.
He was one of the founders of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in 1954 and was the first president of the association.
He is survived by a wife, children and great grand children.
The late Islamic leader would be buried in his Onikolobo residence in Abeokuta at 2 p.m on Saturday. (NAN)
No comments:
Post a Comment