Amosun, Fashola mourn Islamic leader, Abdul Lateef Adegbite

Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Fashola, have expressed sadness over the death of the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Dr. Abdul Lateef Adegbite.

The Islamic leader and Baba Adinni of Egbaland died in a Lagos hospital of an undisclosed ailment aged 79.
His death reportedly threw Abeokuta and Egbaland into fresh mourning, coming on the heels of the demise of two prominent Egba sons, Chief Oluwole Adeosun and Chief Segun Taiwo.

Amosun, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Funmi Wakama, described the late Adegbite as one of the greatest men produced by the state.
“Dr. Adegbite shone like a star in the field of law and was well known across the world as the mouthpiece of Islam in Nigeria. The late Seriki was a man who usually offered wise counsel to governments at federal and state levels.
“The demise of Dr. Adegbite is not just a loss to Ogun State but to Nigeria as a whole,” the governor said.
The Ogun State governor also described the NSCIA chieftain as “a strong believer in one Nigeria and a motivator of youths who always preached tolerance and peace at all times.”
In his condolence message issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Hakeem Bello, the governor said Adegbite’s death was “painful and a sad loss to the nation.”
Fashola described the late Adegbite as “a straightforward, honest and courageous personality who spoke the truth at all times.”
He said Adegbite “was an apostle of peaceful co-existence whose religious convictions were not in doubt but who nonetheless epitomised the peaceful essence of the Islamic religion till be breathed his last.
Condoling with family members, the government and people of Ogun State, Fashola prayed for the repose of the departed NSCIA chieftain’s soul.
Also commenting on Adegbite’s demise, deputy NSCIA Secretary-General, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said, “Baba was an academician, a lawyer, a religious leader, a political figure, the whole religious community would surely miss him.”
Oloyede, who is also the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Inter Religious Council added, “It was painful that we lost him. The religious community in Nigeria would surely miss him.”
Adegbite, who was a Commander of the Order of the Niger, was also a director in Nigeria’s first Islamic bank, Jaiz Bank.
He obtained a B.A. (Hons) Law from the University of Southampton in 1962, was called to the Bar in 1965 and obtained his PhD in 1966.
He had over 40 years experience in legal practice at all levels and worked with diverse local and international clientele.
He was one of the founders and the first president of the Muslim Students Society and was an Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the defunct Western State.
Adegbite was Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters in the old Western Region of Nigeria during the military administration of Brig. Oluwole Rotimi (retd.).
In October 1976, he founded the legal firm of Lateef Adegbite & Co as the Principal Partner, with main office in Lagos and a branch office in Abeokuta, specialising in Commercial and Corporate Law. Adegbite was president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee from 1972 to 1985.
He was Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Maiduguri from 1984 to 1990.
Adegbite was also a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange; member of Council and Executive Committee of Lagos State Chambers of Commerce and Industry; deputy president of Nigeria-Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and executive chairman of Nigerian – Arab Association.
Adegbite, who is survived by a wife, children and gand-children, will be buried on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital according to Islamic rites.
Source: Punch