WHAT I SAW! ..when the ASHIRUS prayed on the 8th day in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State._ - Onibiyo Dayo Writes

WHAT I SAW!

 _...when the ASHIRUS prayed on the 8th day in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State._ 

- Onibiyo Dayo Writes

The sky participated by refusing to disrupt the prayer, despite it taking place in the deep of the raining season, the physically challenged, kids came, mothers, fathers, religious difference couldn't break the cord of oneness, insecurity seized, the cloud added its bright value, the sun refused to beam harsh as legs struggled for space at the event held at the AUD Primary School playing ground, where I had to do battles with the microphone and ensure the coordination of the clerics who filled the space for the no-music oriented event, which is strictly in compliance with islamic injuction. As we were joined by the Government House team that broaden that added colour to the great event 

     CHIEF MRS. AWAWU ASHIRU IJAGBEMI

Sunday September 28th, 2025 is a day that will never be forgotten in a long time in Okun land, as His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo FCA was live at the event with his team, the very large canopies that gave a U-shape could not hold the people, even natural effort by shades provided by the innocent trees, were far from being alternatives as they lost  covering of the vast sea heads that came to honour the sage, late Pa Ashiru Mohammed Ijagbemi who passed on at the age of 95.

I saw love, I saw unity of purpose, I saw coordination  and I saw commitment as several people came on their own, with one thing or the other to show their support for the event, the visitors were beyond Kogi state, extending to border states like Kwara, Ekiti, Osun, Lagos, Katsina, Niger, Ondo, Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi and as far as Zamfara State and so on. What an even to behold.

            LATE PA. ASHIRU M. IJAGBEMI

The traditional rulers were not left out as they were led by the Obaro of Kabba, the Chairman Okun Traditional Council, the Olujumu, the Agbana of Isanlu kingdom, the Elulu of Mopa and other other obas.

The arrival of the DG Protocol of the Government House of Kogi State, handsome, comported and humble Alhaji Sule, managed to allow me a space to take a deep breath for rest, as the list keeps pouring from Distinguish Senator to House of Reps members to House of Assemblies, Chairmen, Commissions and Commissioners, colony of Professors from the academia to religious scholars, Ulama, Imams, the representatives of NASFAT Lagos, the referred Chief Imam Ilorin Dr Sheikh Muhammed Bashir Solihu, OON and several others, while the Host Imam, the Chief Imam of Isanlu Alh Nuraini Abdulsalam led the prayers, all in orderly manner.

On arrival, the Governor His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo FCA went straight to the family house to see the wife of the deceased, Mama Chief Awawu Ashiru Ijagbemi, the Iyalaje of Bagido Isanlu, where he condoled with mama, further to his able deputy's earlier visit during the burial on behalf of the Governor and the state.

His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo FCA in his humble nature, ignited the venue and event when he went round greeting the people and appreciating them with close range contacts, while he later asked the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Development Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris FCA to come and pay homage to him in the _Fatherless Club_ as he is now his senior, having lost his own father recently too.

As we bid Isanlu farewell on Monday 29th 2025 and I battled repairing my cracked voice, I saw the long convoy of willing admirers and the several stops to say see you later evaporating gradually till welcome to Lokoja.

Late Pa Ashiru Mohammed Ijagbemi was the father to others among whom is Kogi State Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Development and the immediate past Chairman for Yagba East LGA, now an SA to the Governor, Hon. Rasaq Ijagbemi.