By Aminat UmarÂ
   The Executive Vice Chairman of Lagos Central Mosque and Bashorun of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, has emerged as the 14th Baba Adinni of Lagos Central Mosque.
Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy’s emergence followed a keenly contested but free and fairly conducted election Wednesday at the Lagos Central Mosque, Idumota.
Out of three persons said to be interested in the position, only Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy and the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Al-Hujjaj International Umrah and Hajj Services Ltd, Alhaji Jelili Animashaun, were present for the screening.
The screening and election which commenced 11am Wednesday lasted four hours.
One of the Executive Council members of the Lagos Central Mosque, Alhaji Fatai Dawodu, chaired the 30-man Screening and Election Committee.
The two candidates were drilled for hours before the committee members went into voting.
Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy emerged victorious with 22 votes while Alhaji Animashaun had eight votes.
With this, the coast is clear for the Bashorun of Lagos to replace Sheikh AbdulHafeez Abou, who died on January 9, at 101, as the 14th Baba Adinni of Lagos Central Mosque.
Speaking with The Nation, a member of the Executive Council, Dr Abdullah Jubril Oyekan, welcomed the emergence of Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy as Baba Adinni of Lagos.
According to him, the former Executive Vice Chairman of Lagos Central Mosque is fit for the position, saying that he has been working closely with the late Baba Adinni before his demise and that he was already designated for the post.
Dr Oyekan, who was part of the Screening and Election Committee, said: “The new Baba Adinni is a very familiar figure; he’s been associated with the central mosque for about 45 years. In the last few years, he was deputy to the former Baba Adinni. They worked very closely and when old age caught up with the late Baba Adinni, he (Alabi-Macfoy) was more or less designated to play the role as we gave him the title of the vice chairman of the council, a title of convenience, there is no sub-position in the constitution.
“All the antecedents so far raised our expectations that with his appointment as the Baba Adinni, we should be able to achieve more and he has a lot of goodwill with people around him. I’m very hopeful and prayerful and that he would exceed our expectations.”
Alhaji Alabi-Macfoy hailed the committee for a good job and thanked Allah for his emergence.
He said his capability to step into the big shoes was not in doubt.
He said: “I’ve been working and making a lot of strives in the administration of the Central Mosque and Lagos state before the demise of Sheikh Abou. I’ve been doing it and I hope to continue. Fortunately for me, we brought a lot of Lagosians who are intelligent and professionals into the executive council with the view that they would help to run the mosque. I’ve told all of them that as far as I’m concerned, I will do it with all the members of the executive. They’re all old but still vibrant, responsible and people of financial strength and capability. I will ensure proper administration of the mosque. I will computerise their account system and work hard with other trustees.
The Nation
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