Prominent Islamic Scholar Muyideen Bello Laid To Rest In Ibadan… Gov AbdulRazaq, Oyetola, Saraki, Lukman Ahmed Offer Condolences

Sheik Muyideen Ajani Bello, a prominent Islamic scholar and preacher, who died on Friday, has been laid to rest at his Akobo residence in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The Islamic funeral prayer (Salatul Janazah) was held for him on Friday.

The death of the Islamic scholar ,who was born in Ibadan in 1940,  and was widely respected for his powerful and emotive sermons, was announced by  Alfa Aribidesi of At-Tawdeeh Islamic Da’awah on Friday morning.

What You Need To Know About The Influential Islamic Preacher

The late Sheik Muyideen Ajani Bello, who had his first experience as a public speaker at the age of 10, disclosed in an interview about six years ago that he had wanted to become an electronics engineer.

He eventually got a National Certificate of Education (NCE) certificate and he became a teacher  at Ansa-ru-deen College, Shaki, Oyo State but however left when he was told  that ghosts do come to the night market in the town.

‘I was enjoying the teaching job until some people in the town told me that ghosts normally came to the night market in the town. I couldn’t stand it, so, I returned to Ibadan to report that I could not cope with living in the town’ he had submitted.

As the son of an Islamic scholar, Bello began to learn Islamic knowledge as a young boy but became an expert in public speaking through the encouragement and the support he got from his uncle.

‘When I arrived in Ibadan, my uncle enrolled me in school. While I spent my day in school, the rest of the day was spent studying the Quran. My father was the first Islamic cleric in my family and his younger brother was the second person to become an Islamic scholar. This really got me interested in studying the Quran.

Exactly one year after I got to Ibadan, which meant  that I was 10 years old at the time in question, my uncle took me to a public lecture. He carried me on his shoulders, and I was the one that delivered the lecture. Surprisingly, the crowd that turned out was huge.

On that particular day, people gave me money that was carried in a bag. And from them on, whenever I was taken out by my uncle to speak, the crowd was always huge because the people wanted to see and know who the little boy was’ he submitted.

The late Islamic scholar also talked about how his meal preferences had changed and how he still ensured that he visited gym for exercise.

 ‘I loved to eat akara and eko when I was a young man. But today, I love to enjoy my cup of tea. I drink tea every day.

 I hardly eat amala. Sometimes, I eat it maybe once in one month. I don’t really like it that much.

You’ll be surprised if you visit my gym. I have all that a man of my age would need’ he said.

Sheikh Bello also disclosed  during an interview that  a particular Islamic event he attended in Ibadan was the most memorable public lecture he ever had.

‘On that fateful day, I delivered a lecture at a function in Lagos. But I also had another event  to attend in Ibadan on the same day. On our way to Ibadan, our car was involved in a ghastly accident. The car fell off a bridge, leaving all of us with varying degrees of injuries.

We were all rushed to the hospital. But a huge crowd had gathered, waiting for us. Soon after I was attended to by the doctors, I insisted that we should go for the event. Interestingly, that lecture that I delivered turned out to be one of the best that we ever had. And all through the event, I was on my feet. That day has remained memorable with me’ he said.

The news of Sheikh Bello’s death had since produced an outpouring of grief and condolences.

 Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF)  and  governor of Kwara State ,  Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq noted in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye that he received with shock, sadness, but total submission to the will of Allaah the news of the death of the Islamic scholar. 

Governor Abdulrazaq recalled that the fiery preacher stayed in the national limelight for over four decades as a consistent advocate of Islamic monotheism, piety, civic virtue, and responsible leadership and followership. 

‘He kept his honour as a disciplined scholar with mass appeals across social strata. He spoke truth to power in a nuanced way that respects sensibilities in equal measures.

The death of Sheikh Ajani Bello is, indeed, a national loss. Our commiserations go to the people and government of Oyo State, the Ansar-Ud-Deen Family worldwide, and the Muslim community as a whole. We ask Allaah to ease his accounts, grant him al-jannah Firdaus, and uphold his family upon goodness and his fine legacies’ the governor said.

Former Senate President ,Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has also offered his condolences while praising the late Islamic scholar’s  deep knowledge of Islamic theology.

‘Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.

With complete submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT), I join the Muslim Ummah in mourning the loss of our beloved Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello. He was renowned for his deep knowledge of Islamic theology and celebrated for his moral character.

I pray that Almighty Allah (SWT) grants Sheikh a place in Aljannah Firdaus and gives his family, friends, and all those touched by his passing the strength and patience to bear this great loss.

Ameen’ he submitted in a social media post on Friday.

Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has also commiserated with the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society in particular, and the Muslim ummah in general, over the death of Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello.

Describing Bello’s death as shocking and devastating, the former Osun State governor also commiserated with the people of Ibadan, Governor Seyi Makinde, the immediate family, friends of the deceased Islamic scholar  and the Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN).

Oyetola, in a statement issued by his Media Office, expressed shock at the passing of the cleric, saying the late Bello lived a pious and exemplary life that was devoted to service to Allah and humanity.

‘I was extremely shocked and sad to learn of the passing of our father and Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society,  Northern  states’ council, Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello. His death is a huge personal loss because he was a father figure to me.

Sheikh Bello was a friend and supporter of our administration while we were in Osun and he did not withdraw his love when we got to the Federal as he continued to extend to us wise counsel. He will be greatly missed.

On behalf of the APC family in Osun State, I join family members, friends, the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, and the people of Ibadan to mourn the death of Sheikh Muhydeen Ajani Bello.

I pray  that Almighty Allah will overlook his shortcomings, admit him to Aljanah firdaus and grant his family and loved ones the strength and fortitude to bear the loss’ he said.

Hon Lukman Olukayode Ahmed, a Kwara State APC chieftain , who served as Governor AbdulRahman  AbdulRazaq’s  Special Assistant  on Poverty Alleviation Kwara Central, during his first term, has also offered his condolences.

The APC stalwart in a statement issued in Ilorin and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com  noted that Sheikh Bello, who he called ‘cerebral scholar’, lived to serve the Almighty Allah and humanity with his unusual insight into the Holy Qur’an, depth of wisdom, and the gift of interpretation, which provided peace, comfort, and guidance for many.

Hon Lukman Ahmed , who extended his heartfelt condolences to the Bello family, and entire Muslim Ummah, noted that the Islamic cleric was a towering figure in the Islamic World, renowned for his eloquence, tireless devotion to propagating the teaching of Islam.

‘He played an instrumental role in promoting unity, peace and moral values across Nigeria and other countries as well.

His exemplary leadership, profound knowledge, and unwavering commitment to the cause of propagating the word of Almighty Allah have left an Indelible mark on the lives of countless individual and Muslim Ummah in general.

I pray that Almighty Allah SWT will forgive all his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, and grant him Al-Jannatul Fir’daus.

May Almighty Allah give his family, friends, loved ones and Ansar-Ud- Deen Community the strength and patience to bear this great loss’ he said-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you