Elected and appointed political office holders in the country have been chastised for their seeming neglect of the electorate.
Delivering sermon at the eighth-day final of Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, who represented Kwara South senatorial district between 2015-2019 in Ojoku town, Oyun local government area on Wednesday, an Offa, Kwara state-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Muyideen Hussein, came down hard on politicians.
Sheikh Hussein, therefore, advised politicians to always make impact and carry the masses along ahead of election period.
Late Ibrahim, who represented the Kwara South district in the eighth National Assembly, died on Wednesday last week in an Abuja hospital.
The cleric, who doubles as the Chief Imam of the ancient town of Offa, spoke glowingly about the late politician and advised those in attendance to emulate his good virtues.
He added that the deceased bequeathed a good legacy for his children through landmark achievements in and out of power.
“I urge all politicians seated here today to show kindness and love to the masses in case of another day. The masses will not ditch you when you need them, but the rich can betray you anytime.
“Rafiu used his positions to affect positively the lives of all in Kwara South. This informed the number of monarchs from the district for his final,” he said.
He condoled with the Senate President Bukola Saraki, adding that “one of the political trees you planted has fallen. This has indeed left a huge vacuum in the Saraki political dynasty.
Earlier, in his sermon, Sheikh Suleiman Onikijipa represented by his younger brother Sheikh Usman Onikijipa, reminded all that death, a necessity, would strike unannounced.
He added that anybody who is spiritual would always be thankful to God.
Sheikh Onikijipa said that Rafiu’s death was an act of God, adding that, “it is not the number of years one lives that matters but one’s impacts on humanity.
Also speaking, the President of the eighth Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki described Senator Rafiu’s death as an irreplaceable loss but admonished the people of Ojoku and Kwara South to take solace in the fact that he lived an impactful life.
Saraki recalled how passionate the late lawmaker was about issues related to the geopolitical zone, noting that his good legacy will continue to speak for him.
He prayed for the soul of the deceased, the family he left behind, and the entire Ojoku Community, Kwara South for the irreparable loss.
Saraki prayed for the soul of the deceased, the family he left behind, the entire Ojoku Community, and Kwara South at large.
Dignitaries at the event include Senator Saraki, former governor AbdulFatah Ahmed, ex-speaker of the state House of Assembly, Professor Ali Ahmad, serving House of Reps member, Yinka Aluko, former Peoples Democratic Party National Chair, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, Director General National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Suleiman Abubakar, former House of Representatives leader, Mulikat Akande and traditional rulers across Kwara South senatorial district.
