The Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheik Liadi Orunsolu, is dead.
It was gathered that he died at the age of 98 on Tuesday morning, at his Abeokuta residence.
His remains would be committed to mother earth at 4.00 pm. The late chief imam was until his death the President-General, League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State.
In his condolence message, the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun said the late Imam lived a pious, worthy and highly commendable life.
The governor sent his condolences to the people of Egbaland in particular, the state and the Muslim Ummah in general.
He described Orunsolu’s death as a great loss to the state and noted that the late Chief Imam spent his days praying and teaching values and precepts of the Quran.
“Baba Orunsolu lived a pious, worthy and highly commendable life that will be remembered by posterity. I urge all Muslims in the state to immortalise him by living the virtues of love, peace, and good neighbourliness he lived and propagated,” the governor said.
He added that the death of the late cleric marked the end of an era and a great personal loss.
“I will personally miss his warmth and candour. He always spoke truth to power and was a huge pillar and supporter of our administration. We were like father and son and he never related with me as a governor. He was brutally frank on issues concerning the people and the wellbeing of our state.
“The fact that Chief Imam died after the successful completion of the 2020 Ramadan fasting and Eid celebration at a grand old age of 98 indicates Allah’s pleasure with him. He was unpretentious about what he preached and practised, and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his forthrightness.
“I pray that Allah would grant the soul of the departed good rest in Aljannah Firdaus and comfort his family,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the former Governor of Ogun State and Senator representing Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun, has paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased nonagenarian.
Amosun, who was in company of a former Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Sarafa Tunji Ishola, a former Ogun State House of Assembly member, Hon. Idowu Olowofuja and others, arrived Orunsolu’s compound around 8:30am.
The former Governor described the death of Orunsolu as a great loss to Egbaland and Ogun State in general; taking solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life.
He sympathized with the family of the deceased and the entire state, praying God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
