Former Chairman of Oshodi/Isolo Council, Lagos State, Afeez Ipesa-Balogun, has commemorated his 60th birthday with a special prayer and book launch. The event also featured the unveiling of 60 winners of Ipesa-Balogun@60 Scholarship Scheme.
The prayer held in the mosque built by his late wife, Monsurah Ipese-Balogun Mosque, in Awoyaya, Lagos. While delivering a lecture at the event, former Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbduLateef, said gratitude and patience are the two weapons to overcome challenges in Islam.
“Humans pass through four stages of existence, first, when you are in your mother’s womb; second, when you are born to the world; third, when you are in the grave, and lastly, the judgment day. The most important of these stages is when we are born and stay on the earth’s surface. Why this stage is important because it determines our afterlife, the judgment day.”
He noted that people are led astray because they don’t know that this world is a trial; as they misinterpret success and failure. According to him, “it is only Allah that determines who is successful and who is not.”
He continued: “Some people gave themselves certificates of piousness, saying they are the pious ones. Allah said in the Holy Quran that it is only Him who knows who truly worships him. If we understand trials very well, we will not be running helter and skelter over trivial things.”
He added that a trial is different from an examination where questions are asked and you are expected to give the correct answer. “Trial takes things from people by force without asking, waiting for your reactions to see if they will pass the test and the greatest human enemy Shaitan will be on standby to mislead.
“The greatest mistake of humans is this prayer said by everyone, ‘God don’t allow us to see trial’ whereas Allah created you with trial. The similitude of this popularly said prayer is that of a student who is praying for an exam to be cancelled instead of preparing for the exam. In such a situation if the school eventually cancelled the exam another day will be fixed. So, praying not to witness a trier is not a prayer, to overcome it is the actual prayer.”
Earlier in the week, the celebrant presented a book, titled, ‘Afeez Ipesa-Balogun, Mr Speaker…Exploration Of The Archives’. The book is a compendium on the journey of Ipesa-Balogun from birth, infancy, early school age, high school and tertiary institutions. It centred on his dreams and accomplishments; it chronicles the former council boss’ foray into politics up till his diamond jubilee celebrations.
The celebrant said the book is dedicated to God, his parents – the late Alhaji Atanda Balogun and Alhaja Ramota Balogun (Nee Akinboro) – and his late wife, Monsurat Mosunmola Ipesa-Balogun.
The reviewer, Prof Olugbenga Akingbehin, said the book came at a time of severe dearth of politically stimulating books, noting: “It is a bright spark in the dark world of the Nigerian intellectual voyage. The book’s power and energy should, therefore, fuel the scholarly thirst of students, politicians, historians and future leaders. I hereby commend this invaluable book to the reading public.”
