My response to Alhaja Faozart Gidado nee Yayi Akorede, the “Iya Adinni” of Akure Muslims on why Ondo State Muslims would never forget Sheikh Yayi Akorede as Akure Chief Imam?
“ Alhaja Faozart Akorede-Gidado: I am honored to read your comments on why I so much cherish your late father- my great Uncle who was like a “Maleika” in Islamic Doctrine and a “Breed Apart” in my esteem.
Your father had singlehandedly made the case for Muslims in Ondo State never to be discriminated against in dishing out the political spoils to both Muslims and Christians including the “Isese” Group who now saw an opportunity to get organized in Ondo and Ekiti States in particular and in most parts of the South and even in the Arewa Group of States in the 3 Geopolitical Zones of the North. to get recognized as a Constituency and as an interest Group.
Today in Ondo State and I guess in Ekiti State, if a Christian is elected as Governor, 9 chances out of 10 he might be forced to consider a Muslim for his Deputy to maintain some needed balance in the Power Structure of the State.
If any single individual in Ondo State can be cited as the person most responsible for that development in Ondo and Ekiti States of Nigeria. That individual was Sheik Alhaji Yayi Akorede.
That was why Alhaji Asari Dokubo in Rivers State has now become a force to reckon with in Rivers State and among the Ijaws of Nigeria.
Most Ndigbos of Nigeria were predominantly Roman Catholic Christian, today you have a few Muslims among them so they could qualify and tap political opportunities in Government based on their faith and religion.
Sheik Yayi Akorede was one of the pioneer architects of that movement or development in Nigeria because he became their self appointed spokesman in Ondo State and he had effectively used his powerful platform as a very eloquent and influential Chief Imam in the Southwest to do that.
I want the whole world to know that about him long after his departure to Allujanah.
That, as an Akure Historian, is my job and my fiduciary obligations to him as my Uncle and as a great Akure Patriot and Hero.
Many are going to stumble on this information in the Information Super Highway and on Internet long after I am dead and gone like all of my ancestors.
I wrote the Biography of my grandfather Erinlakatabu the 41st Deji of Akure titled, “the Lion King and the Cubs” precisely for that reason with my own money and talent and the initiative has made Deji Afunbiowo Adesida the most famous Deji in all of Akure History followed by his grandson Deji Afunbiowo the Second, Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida (2010- 2013) who was once described by his Eminence the current Sultan of Sokoto retired Brigadier General Said Abubakar the Third as “the Deji of Nigeria” because he was widely known and influential in Nigeria.
Copies of the Lion King and the Cubs” can be found today in the US Library of Congress, in the Smithsonian Institute in New York, in the British Museum, in the Library of the British Parliament and in many University Libraries around the World including the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Elizade University, Ilara Mokin , Ondo State University Akungba and Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti and many Secondary School Libraries in Aquinas College and Oyemekun Grammar School my Alma Mater, Fiwasaiye Grammar School and St Louis Secondary School in Akure to mention a few.
Dr. Wumi Akintide