Baba Adinni of Lagos Calls for Islamic Records Centre at Raabitah Eko 2025

By Abdulfattah Abdussalam

The Baba Adinni of Lagos, Alhaji (Chief) Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, FCA, has called on the Raabitatul-Aimmah wal Ulama fi Bilad Yorubá (League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland) to establish a dedicated centre and library for Islamic records, archives, monuments and activities, with special focus on Nigeria and the South-West.

He made the appeal in an extempore goodwill message at “Raabitah Eko 2025”, organised by the League in Lagos on Saturday, November 15, 2025.

Alabi-Macfoy said such an institution would serve Muslims, scholars and researchers, and pledged to facilitate the inauguration of a committee to drive the project.

The Baba Adinni also advised Muslims in Yorubaland, particularly in Lagos State to adequately prepare for future political developments and avoid a repeat of the tensions experienced during the 2023 elections.

He recalled how the Lagos Central Mosque mobilised Islamic groups, institutions and individuals in the subsequent elections that year, efforts he said contributed to the eventual victories recorded by the ruling party at both state and federal levels.

Alabi-Macfoy conveyed the goodwill and support of the Lagos Central Mosque to participants at the conference and wished them successful deliberations.

The Mudir of Markaz, Agege, Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah Adam el-Ilory, was among the principal Imams who convened the event.

Full speech below:

GOODWILL MESSAGE DELIVERED  BY HIS EMINENCE, ALHAJI SIKIRU ALABI-MACFOY, THE BABA ADINNI OF LAGOS, TO THE DELIGATES AT “RAABITAH EKO 2025” ORGANISED BYRAABITATUL-AIMMAT WAL ULAMAI FII BILADI YORUBA (LEAGUE OF IMAMS AND ALFAS IN YORUBA LAND IN MOREMI HALL AT THE SHERATON HOTEL, 30 MOBOLAJI BANK ANTHONY WAY, IKEJA ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15TH, 2025

Assalam alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakhatuh

 PROTOCOL

I am deeply honoured to be in the midst of you eminently revered Imams, Alfas and other distinguished, highly spiritual and pious Ulamas across Yoruba Land and beyond. I am particularly gladdened and humbled to be counted among the erudite Islamic scholars who will deliver goodwill messages, lectures, notes and papers today and for the three days of the conference.

This auspicious occasion is geared towards providing sustainable strategies that would engender the strengthening of peaceful coexistence among the monarchs, religious and political leaders in Nigeria.  

This theme of the Conference is very important now, quiterelevant and could not have come at a better time. If this Conference could, insha Allah, provide sustainable answers to its stated main objective, which is to foster the much desired, significantly enhanced level of relationship among- and within- all the ethnic and religious groups, the correct atmosphere, where we speak in one voice and act in concerted manners will be created. This will improve the standing of Islam and Muslim Ummah in Lagos and Nigeria and better facilitate the re-election of our amiable, hardworking, focused, peace-loving leader, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, a Muslim brother.

It is noteworthy that our Centre of Excellence, Lagos, is already reputed to be the epitome of harmony, tolerance, stability, peace and progress, the enviable pole positions His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu immensely  contributed to, as a democratically elected Governor of the State.

Alhamdulilahi, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed  Tinubu(GCFR) now as President is in full stride to replicate many unprecedented accomplishments at a nation-wide level, as he did when the Governor of Lagos.

He is the first Yoruba President who is a Muslim. He has been doing better than any of his predecessors, considering the parlous state he met the nation . Yes, he has taken some hard decisions, in his strive for an accelerated realisation of noble visions to quickly meet our needs, aspirations and development. We are beginning to see and feel the impacts ofthese bold and brilliant best approaches to governance.

President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is already well acquainted with the concerns of Nigerians before mounting the saddle. He had a master plan he had worked on for decades, before 2023. He came well prepared, and he is steadily but surely moving  the nation in the right direction. He has done the necessary things that previous leaders were afraid or unwilling to do.

Our Muslim brothers is leading us on the right path, transforming our landscapes with laudable landmark legacy projects, and, he has been coordinating our huge potentials towards the realisation- soon- of a  country that will be ideal and safe for all and be the pride of Nigerians, home and abroad as well as of black race all over the globe. With our brother in the driver’s seat, a true Giant of Africa beckons. However, at this crucial times, our President and a Muslim brother needs our loyalty, understanding, patience, love and above all our Unity and together.  

Our one voice and resolute collective actions will bring the desired results. We should, from our strengthen and better united position, network, mobilize and work with the Christians and people of indigenous religions to promote understanding, unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Lagos and Yoruba Land. We must work with all religious andethnic groups in Lagos and Yoruba Land, We must encourage all Nigerians, not lose faith in the leadership ability and sincerity of our President.

Three of the best ways to create a more favourable atmosphere for His Excellency’s re-election in 2027 are: first, to show by example love and obedience to our President; second, to promote awareness and understanding among other religious and ethnic groups in Lagos, by propagating the facts that His Excellency is the best President that all can have at present, be it the Christian, the Muslim and the adherent of other religious groups; we must trust him and rally behind and around him to make sure he fully turns Nigeria around and set us on irreversible path to greatness; and third, we are to encourage all Nigerians to collect Permanent Voters Card, keep it and use it, to re-elect our President turning out at the polling booths in large numbers in 2027

Let us take the heed of our Glorious Quran.

Qur’an 4:59 says: “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those of you who are in authority”.

Let no threat of any foreign invasion deter us, and let us continue to impress it on all Nigerians that there is no “Christians Genocide” as there is no “Muslim Genocide” or “genocide of any groups in Nigeria. Most Nigerians in Yoruba Land, particularly in Lagos, have people of other faiths, especially Christians, as family members, including our President himself. We cannot afford the inaccuracy to hold; this dubious, divisive, devious and dangerously wrong framing of our security challenges is unfair, considering the huge efforts of His Excellency.

President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) is on top of the situation and has done far more than any other President before him in addressing the problems of insurgence, kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across the nation.

The Muslim Ummah across the Yoruba Land need to puthouses in order and work more assiduously to engender a more vibrant Islam that will work for the betterment of all Muslim and ensure that His Excellency, the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains in saddle till 2031, Insha Allah. A lot depends on all the Islamic leaders and institutions in Yoruba Land and across the country, especially those of us seated here today.

Let me use this opportunity to offer my profuse appreciation and commend distinguished individuals and bodies that facilitated the hosting of this year’s Conference in Lagos. I must also commend all bodies and individuals- late and alive, particularly, our revered father, the late Sheikh Adam Abdullahi El-Ilory, who was involved in the creation of the League of Imams and Alfas. What you have sowed is already producing bountiful harvest.

Almighty Allah (SWT) will reward you in million fold here and in hereafter. Amin.

Here wishing you a successful deliberation. Ahlan Wa Salan.

Signed: His Eminence, Alhaji (Chief) Sikiru Alabi-Macfoy, FCA, FCCA, FCTI, FCIS, ACS. Baba Adinni of Lagos. Executive Chairman, Jama’atul Muslimeen Council (Lagos Central Mosque)

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