The Gamji group held the session in honour of late Ahmadu Bello, 60 years after death

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

60 years after his assassination during Nigeria’s first military coup on Jan 15, 1966, the Gamji Members Association in Kwara State held a special prayer session on Monday to honour the late Premier of Northern Nigeria and the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello.

The session was led by Alhaji Ibrahim Danmaigoro, Senior Special Assistant on Religion (Islam) to the Kwara State Governor, who urged Gamjites and Muslims to emulate the virtues of generosity, humility, simplicity, and selfless service as demonstrated by Sir Ahmadu Bello and other departed leaders.

The special prayer session also featured prayers for the deceased members of the Gamji group, the likes of Mal Gidado Bello (G.B.O. Bello), former principal private secretary to the late Governor Mohammed Lawal, Imam Kayode Eleshinla, Alhaji Muritala Orire, Alhaji Salam Salam, Alhaji Saka Shiru, Alhaji Sidiku Omoda, and Alhaji Muhideen Alanamu.

Similarly, prayers were offered for other notables, including the late Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Solih; the late Chief of Staff to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Mahe Abdulkadir; and the former Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Ilorin, Prof. Badmas Yusuf, who passed away recently.

Speaking at the session, the President-General, Alhaji Mohammed Akanbi, thanked Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his support of GAMA and Dr. Mohammed Alaaya, former non-executive director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, for facilitating the prayer session.

Other dignitaries in attendance included Senior Adviser and Counselor to the Governor, Alhaji Saadu Salahu; former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Nurudeen AbdulRaheem; Justice Tunde Garba (retd.); and children of the deceased Gamjites.

The Ilorin Gamji Members Association (GAMA) is strongly associated with Islamic values. But not exclusively a religious organization by definition, it operates within a cultural and religious context that aligns with the Islamic identity of the Ilorin Emirate.

Source: The Punch Newspaper