Ona Ara Local Government, under the exemplary leadership of its Executive Chairman, Dr. Temitope Kolapo GLORIOUS, celebrated a landmark event yesterday as Sheikh Al-Imam Tirimisiyu Ahmoda Rufai was officially turbaned as the Chief Imam of Ona Ara Local Government.
The historic ceremony, marked by grandeur and reverence, was presided over by His Eminence, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Abubakry Agbotomokekere, Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Grand Imam of Oyo State, and Grand Patron of the League of Imams and Alfas of Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta States. It drew prominent personalities and faithful from Ona Ara and beyond, uniting the community in celebration of faith and leadership.
Key dignitaries at the event included Oyo State Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Abiodun Fadeyi; Director General of the Oyo State Liaison Office (Lagos and Abuja), Dr. Ezekiel Temitope Oladimeji OTOPE; and the President of the Ona Ara Development Forum (ODF), among others. They joined Dr. Temitope Kolapo GLORIOUS in welcoming His Eminence and the Chief Imam in Council to the ceremony.
In his goodwill message, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Abiodun Fadeyi lauded the appointment of Sheikh Al-Imam Tirimisiyu Ahmoda Rufai and charged him to prioritize prayers for peace, unity, and development in Ona Ara Local Government and the wider community.
Dr. Temitope Kolapo GLORIOUS praised the newly turbaned Chief Imam for his dedication to Islamic values and his longstanding collaboration with the late Chief Imam Kupalo. He encouraged him to advance the peaceful coexistence and interfaith dialogue championed by his predecessors, particularly through the Ona Ara Chapter of the National Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), to ensure sustained progress and harmony within the community.
The event also featured the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including the Aare Musulumi of Ona Ara, Alhaji Chief Abdul Rauf Olaniyi Diekola Awee; Seriki Musulumi of Ona Ara, Hadji Abdulfatah AbdulAzeez; Chief Waheed Ajao Adurodekun; Hon. Taiwo Akeem Oke; Hon. Windapo Oluwole; and Hon. Abolade “Yerima” Femi, among others.
The Ona Ara Local Government extends its heartfelt congratulations to Sheikh Al-Imam Tirimisiyu Ahmoda Rufai on his well-deserved appointment. His wealth of experience, humility, and devotion to service are a beacon of hope for the Muslim community, and the government is confident that his tenure will herald greater unity, faith, and progress in Ona Ara.
