So, Baba Muhydeen Ajani Bello won’t be at my book lunch – By Ismail Omipidan

We were together in Kaduna for the 9th Triennial Conference of the Northern States’ Council of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society from October 25 to 27.

Before then, he was in Abuja earlier where we had very frank discussion on burning development within the society. After the Kaduna meeting, we began another leg of conversation on certain misconception about a branch in the society and we agreed to continue with a view of setting the record straight. Unfortunately, the other leg of the conversation can no longer take place for he has taken eternal flight to his maker.

While the whole interactions lasted, I told him about my book: “Persona Non Grata,” which with Allah’s permission is expected to be publicly unveiled early next year. I reached out to him because he was one of the few Islamic clerics in the South West who knew the role I played in ensuring that the political gap between my Principal, Adegboyega Oyetola and his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, were closed.

Yet, for reasons best known to them, many of the young turks in the Aregbesola’s camp, kept accusing me of fuelling the not-too-cordial relationship between my principal and
their benefactor. How? I really do not know. However, as small as I am, I made my own efforts in ensuring that the two political gladiators close ranks. I only gave up in 2021, when I became convinced that the ex-interior minister was the aggressor.

I came in, in August 2019. By September 2019, I had begun discussing with the late Alhaji Mikail Jare Adebisi, former Deputy Chief of Staff to Oyetola, on how to ensure that Sheikh Muyideen Ajani Bello, assist in bringing both of them together. I travelled to Ibadan to see the revered cleric and I am aware he did his best. Well, you will read the other details in my book, soon. But the point I am trying to make, is that, Baba Muhydeen Ajani Bello, was a peace maker and he gave his all to Islam and Ansar-Ud-Deen Society.

When we lost our mother in 2017, he was there for us. I recalled his sermon on the day where he admonished that we should not rely on anyone that promise to cater for us after the demise of our mother. Rather, he encouraged us to face our work and continue to pray for our late mother, insisting that, that way, we would always have a breakthrough. We held on to those words, and Allah has been faithful ever since.

Baba Muhydeen Ajani Bello, since your demise on Friday, I have been a bit confused, as I know the shoe you are leaving behind will be too big for anyone to fit. Apart from the fact that you won’t be attending my book lunch, the 2025 Ramadan Committee of Abuja branch of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society, which I chair, would have to also put on their thinking cap. We usually take it for granted that we need not stress too much to get a Guest speaker, since you are always there for us. Who now fills that vacuum?

Friday is a special day for me as it is a special day for Muslims anywhere in the world. Scholars believe that those who die on this day are blessed already. My father died 20 years ago, on a Friday. My mother also died on a Friday and here again, our revered Baba dying on a Friday as well. Allahu akbar! May Allah never deny Baba Muhydeen Ajani Bello, the blessings that come with the day.

May Allah grant him Aljanah firdaus.