Razaq Bamidele
Saturday October 12, was a red letter day in Iwo, Osun State. It was the day the community’s king and Muslims honoured veteran journalist, administrator and politician, Alhaji AbdulLiad Tella, and three other illustrious citizens with Islamic titles.
Tella, a former commissioner with the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), was turbaned, as the first Asiwaju Musulumi of Iwoland, making him a foremost leader of Muslims in the community.
Two other illustrious sons and a daughter of the town also honoured with various titles were Alhaji Khalid Gbadebo Badrudeen (Mayegun Musulumi); Barr. Abdulwaheed Olajire Ayinla (Aare Musulumi) and Alhaja Samirat Abidemi Oriolowo (Iya Suna).
As early as 8.00 a.m. that sunny morning, well-wishers from far and wide began to converge on the grounds of the palace of the paramount ruler of Iwoland, Oba AbdurRasheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu 1, for the ceremony.
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Among the early attendees at the colourful event was Tella himself, who was accompanied by his lawyer wife, Funke. The couple was received with a standing ovation by the ecstatic audience of gaily dressed natives and guests, who traveled to Iwo to witness the turbaning.
Others dignitaries were the Chief Imam of Iwoland, Alhaji Abdulfatah Olododo, who supervised the turbaning rites with the support of members of League of Imams and Alfas in the South-west, Edo and Delta states; Provost of the famous Arabic and Islamic Centre (Morcas), Sheikh Habeeb Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory; Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede; Chief Imam, University of Ibadan Muslim Community, Professor Abdur-Rahman Oloyede; former Deputy National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun; Chief Executive Officer, Sharaftell Companies, Alhaji Sharafadeen Yinka Tella, and wife, Omobolanle. Former Osun State governor and Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Abdul-Kareem Adebisi Akande was represented on the occasion by the South-west spokesman of the APC, Ayo Afolabi.
The venue became electrified with the arrival of the state Governor, Alhaji Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, who was received by Oba AbdurRasheed and other dignitaries, including former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ghana, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, who represented the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as chairman of the event.
The climax was the turbaning after which Tella, on behalf of the other awardees, thanked the monarch, the people of Iwo and the League of Imams and Alfas for considering them deserving of the honour.
He promised that, “In shaa Allah, we will not disappoint you, we will not let you down and we will serve as your good ambassadors. This is a challenge and clarion call to do more and we will surely do more by the grace of God.”
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Tella, a former senior editor and manager at the defunct Concord Newspaper and later Managing Director, The Monitor Newspaper, Ibadan, was also a former chairman of the Osun State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing).
His commitment, meticulousness, love for peace and progress and, meritorious service in whatever capacity he finds himself, must have, no doubt, convinced the monarch and the Muslim community that Alhaji Tella merited the honour.
At the reception held at the Riverside Hotel in the town, several accomplished journalists who were mentored by Tella showered endless encomiums on their benefactor, who they severally referred to as, father, mentor, role model, confidant, rescuer among other names.
The ‘Tella Boyz’ who later presented a big congratulatory card to the man of the moment were the former Media Adviser to the former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Semiu Okanlawon, former Adviser to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Mojeed Jamiu, Deputy Director, Voice of Nigeria, Abdul Warith Solanke, former Assistant Editor, Sunday Sun and now on the Politics Desk of The Nigerian Xpress newspaper, Abdur-Razaq Olatunji Bamidele, former Head, Judiciary Desk of The Sun Newspaper, Akeeb Daud Alarape and Adam Adedimeji, the immediate past General Secretary, NBA Lawyers in the Media Forum and former Editorial Board member of Daily Independent newspapers. Adedimeji works with National Assembly Service Commission as Senior Legislative Aide (SLA) to Senator Adelere Adeyemi Oriolowo.
Other mentees of the veteran journalist at the event included former editor of Sunday Sun and now Editor, The Nigerian Xpress, Abdulfatah Oladeinde, the Director of Digital Media Research Centre, DMRC, of the Lagos State University, Dr Tunde Akanni and former group news editor at ThisDay newspaper and current Director of Corporate Affairs at the University of Ilorin, Kunle Akogun.
