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Friday Sermon: The Vanity of The Dead

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By Babatunde Jose

And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is over all things competent. Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire..”(Quran 3: 189-191)

In 1972, while working as a reporter at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, in Ikoyi, I developed the morbid pastime of walking through the Ikoyi cemetery, marveling at the vanity of men and the type of tombstones many have fashioned for their departed. However, there were some that amazed me, such as those that were erected by those still living, with the sure intention of being interned therein. Hmmmm! Man proposes and God disposes. We have read in the good books that ‘nobody knows the hour, not even the Angels, nor the prophets of God’, the secret of ‘the hour’ is with God. My grand uncle, late Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony built a mausoleum at Ikoyi cemetery complete with marble finishing and a headstone with the inscription: Here lies the remains of Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, 1907—-‘. What vanity! My Uncle did not die for another 20 years after the erection of the monument; and he was not buried there either. He was buried at Ayinke House, Ikeja General Hospital.

My client, the publisher and owner of Islamic Publications Bureau, was an Indian entrepreneur and had lived for long in Nigeria. His publications were text books for many schools in Nigeria. One December, he went on a tour of the North to visit his branches and consult with the various state governments that patronized his books. Unfortunately his car had an accident on the road to Sokoto and he died, only his driver survived to tell the story. The villagers on realization that he was a Moslem, did ‘janaza’ for him and he was buried there, with a small mound to mark his shallow grave.  His wife later visited the site and asked that his soul should not be disturbed. That was where Allah said he would sleep. Allahu Akbar!

Many have built such grandiose mausoleums to burnish their vanities but in the end such monuments lie waste with the passage of time.

We were at the Vaults and Garden private cemetery last Monday to intern the body of a dear mother Alhaja Dabiri, mother of our new chairman: Crescent Bearers. She was aged 87 and buried according to Islamic rites, without fanfare or earthly embellishments. But not so with the wonders of man’s vaingloriousness we saw at the cemetery which kept many of our mouths agape. Here were graves like no other; with billboards advertising the occupants, many with life-size, wide format portraits of the departed souls. There were some with garden benches for prospective visitors to the graves. Vanity upon vanity; there were empty tombs with built up enclosures, some with marbles, others granites and palladium. Most had enclosures with glass and decorated wrought iron designs, complete with sliding glass doors. Some of those in attendant at the burial were hissing openly and loudly at the obscenity of the spectacles. It was a most odious sight to behold.

If men were remembered for their loudness and vain acts, perhaps it would have been worth their while. Unfortunately, these posers and spiritually ignorant beings are soon forgotten; they did not leave wells for people to drink from, neither did they leave mosques or madrasas nor did they leave worthy children who would continue to pray for them and carry their flags after their demise.

Why are men so vain?  The vain creature is an irreligious being, as he is devoid of compassion and empathy for his fellow man. All he knows, is about himself and his image. He goes to any length to look good and accepted.  In all he does, he plays to the gallery. He donates the fattest offering in the church or mosque, but insist it must be announced for all to know; he is always at the front row in the Friday prayer in the mosque and he has a reserved seat in the front pew in the cathedral. It is however a very sad commentary on our belief and faith that we have carried this odious behavior to the cemetery. The idiocy of human vanity makes one reflect deeply on the whole purpose of life. Why are we here? What is the whole essence of man? Where are we going from here?

Allah says, “I have not created men except that they should serve Me” (Quran, 51:56). This life is a preparation for the Hereafter the ‘Eternal Home’ that will not be going to an end to which all human beings ultimately go. So, Muslims are required to observe righteousness in their daily life, based on Quranic teachings.

In another verse of Quran Allah Almighty says that:

“Know that the life of this world is but amusement and diversion and adornment and boasting to one another and competition in increase of wealth and children – like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allah and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.” (Quran 57:20)

No doubt, all those billboards and fancy epitomes of vanity will wither away with the passage of time and their owners and offspring’s will have a lot to answer for on the Day of Reckoning. Vanity is an emptiness or uselessness of things and Solomon wrote more about vanity than any other author in the Bible and more so in Ecclesiastes where vanity is mentioned 32 of the 35 times in the Bible. We also read in 2nd Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. A great admonition indeed!

Those who have ears should listen now!

Barka Juma’at and a happy weekend

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KFC Reacts As FAAN Shuts Down Its Operations in Lagos Airport

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The Management of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has reacted to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)’s move to shut down its branch at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, for violating laws protecting the rights of people with special needs.

The action was confirmed through a statement released on Thursday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah.

The official statement, titled ‘FAAN shuts down KFC outlet at MMIA,’ highlighted that the closure was in response to the outlet’s breach of the Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, specifically referencing Part C, Section 55 of the General Provisions on Discrimination.

Responding to the development, KFC posted on its official X account that it opposes bias and discrimination, stressing that the incident did not reflect its standards.

The organisation disclosed that it had embarked on efforts to address the situation and urgently implemented sensitivity training for all its employees.

The statement read, “KFC is unwavering in our stance against bias or discrimination in any form, with inclusivity and respect as non-negotiable pillars of our values.

“However, this recent incident has underscored the pressing need for immediate action. We have embarked on efforts to address the situation and extend apologies and deeply regret the frustration and distress experienced by our guest.

“In response, we are urgently implementing sensitivity training for all our employees. This incident is not reflective of our standards, and we will act swiftly to rectify it.

“We are actively exploring solutions to equip our team members and establishments better to ensure that every guest feels genuinely welcomed and that we deliver empathetic customer service that proactively addresses the diverse needs of each guest.”

KFC had during the week, denied Adebola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, access to their facility at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport  because of his disability.

Daniel had recounted his experience at the KFC outlet of the airport in a series of tweets posted on Wednesday via his X handle, @DebolaDaniel.

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Ezekiel Bolarinwa Ajayi: Mentor, Philanthropist Revels at 80

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By Eric Elezuo

The ancient town of Ile-Ife was agog weekend, when Professor Ezekiel Bolarinwa Oladele Ajayi, a renowned educationist, accomplished mentor and elder brother of veteran journalist, Dele Momodu, pulled all the stops to mark a resounding entry into the octogenarian club, celebrating his 80th birthday with fanfare, pomp and class.

The event, which attracted family members, colleagues in the academic world, friends and well wishers, was another testament in the expression of influence, clout and connection.

Held at the Rock Rehoboth Cathedral in the centre of Ile-Ife, the event brought out the best in the Stanford trained PHD holder, as beamed with contagious smiles, absorbing accolades from a crowd of well wishers and dignitaries, most of whom traveled half  way across the world to felicitate with the newest octogenarian.

A lavished reception followed after heartfelt prayers were said for the celebrant flanked by his wife of many years, children and grandchildren. The reception witnessed guests savoring the best of continental and local delicacies as well as dancing happily to the old school tunes.

The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the gigantic cake by the birthday boy around whom were dotting family members.

As guests expressed their profound, hearty and sincere congratulations towards the octogenarian, whose event changed the landscape of Ife, many recalled how they have come a long way from their very humble beginning in Gbongan Olufi.

Fondly called Ladele, Prof Ajayi was born on March 23, 1944 in Gbongan, Osun State, where he had his earliest beginnings.

He statted his education at the Saint Paul’s School Gbongan, before moving on to Saint Judes School, Ebute Metta, and later to Saint Stephens School, Ile-Ife, where he completed his primary education.

After his elementary education, he was admitted into the Government College lbadan, where he was described as having  ‘passed out in exceedingly bright colours’. As many that knows him has confirmed that Prof Ajayi was a walking encyclopedia, and vibrated with intelligence while at school.

It was not therefore, surprising that he later proceeded to the United States of America, after his secondary education, where he attended various prestigious Universities including Stanford University. It is worthy of note that all his appearances for university education were on different scholarships. It was also at Stanford that he bagged his PhD honours.

On the completion of his PhD programme in Stanford, Prof Ajayi was recruited by the University of Ife, as it was then known, before its transmutation to Obafemi Awolowo University, where he later became a Professor of Physics, a position he jealousy guarded until retirement from active classroom duties.

According to a very close family member and confidant, Bola Adeyemo, who spoke glowingly about their fond relationship, Prof Ajayi “also became active in things of God. Like a proverbial gold fish, he has been recognized as a Pastor. Ladele played a mentoring role in the final years of school for my twin daughters who both graduated from the medicine program in the same University.

“The mutual fondness between Ladele and I remains very much intact. Ladele and l share common ancestry. His father who was the Otun Olufi of Gɓongan was a much older cousin to my mother and was fondly referred to as baba mi ile ASORO. They both had the same tribal marks. Ladele can be classified as belonging to the royal class as his father was the OTUN OLUFI while his mother was the daughter of the ÒOSA, first class chief in Gbongan.”

A life of Prof Ajayi without a mention of prolific publisher of the Ovation brands,  Chief Momodu, remains incomplete. It is worthy of note that apart from both sharing the same mum as siblings, the Prof was instrumental in shaping and mentally mentoring Momodu on the path of education. His 80th birthday was a reminder of how it used to be in times past as it marks a form of reunion for the Ajayi extended household.

Among those who attended were his daughter, Kemi Ajayi-Ingram, who flew in all the way from the United States of America, with her entire family; his niece, Yejide Ajayi among a host of others.

We wish the ebullient octogenarian a splendid birthday, and many ore years of splendid celebrations.

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Easter, Ramadan: Adeleke Releases March Salaries, Pension, Palliatives, Approves Promotion for Personnel

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the release of salaries, pensions and palliatives for the month of March for all public servants in the state, as well as approved the promotion of service personnel due for promotion from 2023.

Adeleke’s show of love for the entire workforce, is in spite of the fact that the State allocation from the Federation account is yet to be released, according to a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.

The Head of Service, Mr Samuel Ayanleye Aina confirmed the approval of the March salaries, pension and palliatives, noting that the fast tracked approval covered all categories of state and local government employees including tertiary institutions in the State.

“I can confirm that Mr Governor has approved the March salaries, pension and palliative wage awards, including the usual payment of the outstanding half salary for retirees under the contributory pension scheme yet to obtain their bonds. Mr Governor requested for the file and granted immediate approval.

“Any moment from now, alerts will be landing in our peoples’ accounts. This is a preemptive step on the part of Mr Governor to meet the needs of our people”, the Head of Service explained.

Governor Adeleke who has been hosting inter faith leaders at the Government House said he approved the early payment to ease the burden of the workers ahead of the Easter period.

“As I wish muslim and christian faithfuls blessed fasting season, the early payment is a gesture of support for workers whose welfare remains the number one priority of our administration”, the Governor noted.

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