Date: 2017-06-27

In this report, AHMED 'LATEEF chronicles event at the 10th public Ramadan lecture in commemoration of the late Alhaji Yahya Olusola Sanni held yesterday's evening at Yahya Olusola Sanni Memorial Central Mosque, Ilorin.

If deluge of eulogies and prayers were enough to raise the dead from the grave, Yahya Olusola Sanni, would have risen to the utmost surprise of many others even almost 10 years after.

Such was the scene yesterday's evening as eminent personalities and muslim faithful gathered at the public Ramadan lecture.

Among dignitaries at the event were a former Senator, Kwara North Senatorial District, Senator Mohammed Ahmed; former Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Saka Cook Olododo, a senior lecturer at Al-Hikmah University, Dr AbdulGaniyu Agbarigidoma, a brother of the deceased, Alhaji Abdulkareem Kunle Sanni, family members, friends and associates among others.

However, a renowned poet, AbdulGaneey Gbededun, moved audience to tears when he sang the dirge on the deceased. Apparently, the dirge turned to a wake up call for muslims to prepare for the inevitable certainty.

The dirge provoked spirit of empathy on the part of the audience where some of them could not control their emotions as tears rolled down their cheeks.

He said many human beings have been carried away by worldly materials, adding that death remains certain in life.

In his lecture at the event, an Ilorin based Islamic cleric, Dr Abdurrahman Ahmad Al-Imam, reminded muslims faithful that whatever good one does, becomes history.

He urged Muslims to prepare for death in their dealings with fellow human beings.

Al-Imam, who spoke on the topic "Sustaining the Legacies of the Righteous Ones: The Islamic Perspective", said many muslims misconceived the idea of alms giving as prescribed by prophetic saying and tradition.

He explained that it is expected of the bereaved families to sustain the legacies of the dead ones by embarking on projects that would have impact on muslim community.

"Whatever we do on earth today will become history tomorrow. One thing that is certain in life is death, as muslims with strong faith in Almighty Allah, we need to prepare for it in our dealings, deeds and daily activities.

"It is also important to enlighten us on what Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said in one of his sayings that certain rewards would linger for the dead muslims. One of those things that would attract reward from the Almighty Allah to the dead in the grave is the alms he willingly gave out through his righteous earnings.

"Many of us have really misconceived this saying. Those things that we can do to curry the favour of Almighty Allah while in grave are building of mosques, provision of water and educational institutions where people benefit from them in one way or the other", he said.

Dr AbdulGaniyu Agbarigidoma, who led a special prayer for the deceased, prayed Almighty Allah to grant him eternal rest and save him from hell fire.

Agbarigidoma said the brother of the deceased has been of tremendous help to the Yahya Olusola Sanni Memorial Mosque and beseeched Allah to sustain and keep the family.

The deceased, a retired General Manager of Nigeria Television of Authority (NTA), Sokoto, Journalist and Administrator was born to the family of late business mogul, Alhaji Sanni Dada Bida and Alhaja Rabiat Sanni in Gwanara, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State December 12th, 1939.

Yahya began his early education at the Koranic School, Gwanara where he learnt the Holy Quran. For his western education, Yahya proceeded to the Native Authority (N.A) School, Saki where he obtained his Elementary School Certificate. He attended the Famous Baptist Boys High School Olivert, Oyo and later travelled to London where he was trained as a Journalist at B.B.C School of Journalism London.

He also attended Syracuse University, New York, U.S.A and Japan International Study Centre, Tokyo. In addition to his first degree, he also obtained Diploma in Journalism 1972; Post Graduate Diploma 1981 and Certificate in Broadcasting Management in 1984.

Late Sanni started his working career as a young and vibrant journalist in the late 60s with the defunct Morning Post Newspaper. Being a committed and hard working Journalist, he covered the Nigeria Civil War for the newspaper. It was his brilliant piece captioned "The Fall of Enugu" that made both the Daily Times of Nigeria and the Radio Television (RTV) Kaduna to approach him to work for them. He satisfied the two organizations by joining the Daily Times (between 1969 and 1971) and later served the Radio Television (RTV) Kaduna as the News Editor (between 1971 and 1973).

He also worked as News Editor of Nigerian Herald (between 1973 and 1975) and later became Assistant Editor of the same Newspaper between 1975 and 1978. He later joined the services of the Nigeria Television Authority where he rose to become the General Manager, Sokoto and retired in March 2005. Sanni died September 6th, 2007.