Kakalistiq.com reports that the serene town of Ejinrin in Epe Division, Lagos State, became the solemn backdrop for a heartwarming celebration of the life of Pa. Rafiu Shoye Shittu, the beloved father of Dr. Hakeem Shittu, Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB).
Dignitaries from various spheres paid their last respects in a poignant ceremony earlier today, including LASUBEB Board members, including Dr. Saheed Ibikunle, Mrs. Sherifat Abiodun, and Hon. Babatunde Jimoh, along with MOCPED Acting Provost, Dr. Ganiyat Kosoko-Oyedeko, Lagos NUT Chairman, Comrade Akintoye Hassan, and Hon. Fariu Arebi.
The gathering also saw the presence of notable figures such as Eredo LCDA Chairman, Hon. Ismail Akinloye, Epe and Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA Party Chairmen, Hon. Toyin Gbadamosi and Hon. Wittu, Otunba Nuru, Epe LGEA Secretary, Hon. Shittu Idowu (SAICO), and counterparts from Lagos, Ejinrin-in-Council Chiefs, NUT, and AOPSHON members.
As family members grappled with the mixed emotions of celebrating a life well lived and mourning the loss of a respected patriarch, the air resonated with lamentations and heartfelt emotions. The late nonagenarian was remembered as a compassionate family man, and the gathering became a poignant testament to the strong bonds he shared with his family.
Hon. Shittu Hakeem, an accomplished finance and account guru and a prominent figure in the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC), was visibly emotional during the janaza prayers and burial led by the Grand Chief Imam, Fadeelatul Sheikh AbdulRahmon Abiola Sadala.
In an emotionally charged moment, Mrs. Lateefat Shittu, the devastated daughter of the deceased, struggled to share memories of her late father. Overwhelmed by grief, she expressed her inability to find words, wishing her father could return to continue showering love and affection.
When Dr. Shittu gathered the strength to speak, he conveyed appreciation for the outpouring of support and shared reflections on his late father’s life. “I am deeply moved by the love and solidarity shown to me by everyone during this challenging time. My father was not just a parent; he was a pillar of strength and wisdom. His legacy lives on in the values he instilled in us. We are grateful for the support and prayers as we bid farewell to a remarkable man,” he said.
The burial ceremony served as a platform for words of wisdom and advice from the Grand Chief Imam, emphasizing the importance of using positions of authority to impact lives positively. The Ulamas underscored the lesson in death and the need for trust in the Almighty, urging the gathering to keep promises and embrace acts of kindness.
In the vote of thanks, Hon. Wale Raji Anomo, Chairman of Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA, expressed gratitude to SUBEB board members, party stalwarts, and well-wishers for their love and solidarity. He offered prayers for journey mercies.
The final respects paid by LASUBEB Chairman, Dr. Hakeem Babatunde Shittu, to his late father, Pa. Rafiu Shoye, as he was laid to rest in Ejinrin stand as a poignant reminder of life’s transient nature. “From Allah, we’ve come, and to Him, we shall return.” May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.
