Kakalistiq.com reports that the KLM Housing Estate in Epe was a hub of solemnity and reflection as political dignitaries and well-wishers gathered to honour the late Alhaja Ramota Bankole, former Lagos State APC Welfare Secretary, who passed away on June 20, 2024, during the hajj in the holy land of Mecca.
Associate Professor Nosiru Onibon, the guest lecturer at the 8th-day fidau prayers held on Thursday 27th June, 2024, delivered a powerful and thought-provoking lecture on the inevitability of death. “Death is enough as a sermon, for it is sacrosanct,” he emphasized, stressing that no human can escape this ultimate fate. “The only antidote to death is not to have come into this world,” he remarked, highlighting the transient nature of life.
Onibon, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of LASUED, reflected on the deceased’s final journey to hajj, noting, “She bade farewell to her family for hajj but couldn’t return. God knows the time everyone will leave the earth.” He lamented that despite humanity’s advancements in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, these have not saved us from our myriad issues.
“Despite the innovation and economic theories from Florida to Harvard, problems persist because we have forgotten their origin and abandoned the Islamic creed,” Onibon observed. He reminded the audience that life is unpredictable and death can come at any moment, as illustrated by Alhaja Bankole’s recent 64th birthday celebration, which she did not return to continue.
Onibon urged everyone to prepare for the day of reckoning by doing good deeds. “We have become too selfish, greedy, and wicked. The world is chaotic because we have turned our backs on God,” he stated. He cautioned that arrogance in wealth, knowledge, and power leads man away from his Creator. “God has promised to take our souls, and we will return to Him for judgment in the blink of an eye.”
The Grand Chief Imam of Epe Division, Fadeelatul Sheikh Abiola Sadala, lauded Alhaja Bankole’s service to Islam, recalling her participation in hajj eight times. “She was a stallion and a vibrant fighter in the political arena of Epe Division and Lagos State. She was accommodating and friendly,” he said, describing the shock of her passing.
Echoing these sentiments, the Chief Imam of Ita-Opo Central Mosque, Fadeelatul Sheikh Abdulkabir Shamra, emphasized the inevitability of death. “Death is our destiny, which Alhaja Ramota Bankole has exemplified,” he noted, reflecting on her final act of devotion during hajj.
The event served as a solemn platform for deep reflection and a call for change, urging attendees to exhibit soul-searching and self-restraint in their daily lives. The gathering was a poignant reminder of life’s fragility and the importance of living a life filled with good deeds and humility.
