Agbotomokekere: The Chief Imam of Ibadan Land: Imam Abdul-Ganiyy AbuBakr Agbotomokekere Oke-Koto 2015 till date
HIS BIRTH AND ORIGIN
Sheikh A’bdul Ganiyy, the son of Abuubakr Agbotomokekere (Gatta or Gaataa) was born on the 4th of May, 1935 corresponding to 1354AH during the reign of the then chief Imam Agbeni. The name of his father is As-shaykh Abu Bakr Agbotomokekere (teenagers may be pardoned) son of Muhammad son of Hassan son of Ishaq. All of them were versed scholars, seasoned teachers and leaders of high repute. It has also been established that, his father was a Royal immigrant from Bida, Niger state. His great grandfathers hailed from Bida and stationed in Ibadan for advancing the course of Islam. The father of our Imam is known as Abu Bakr Gaata Agbotommokekere (a.k.a) Alfa Oke-koto, also written as Okeekoto. He succeeded Sheikh Inakoju as the grand Mufti of Ibadanland, a position he held till the 3rd of January 1954. He was a renowned preacher of Islam, who in collaboration with his brother, Abdu Salam became famous for their excellent literary abilities, proficiency and leadership of the muslim communities in West Africa. He authored some books on Islamic studies and the tenets of preaching in Islam. These include “Tuhfatul-Wa ‘izeen and sirajul-Wa ‘izeen etc which were to be expanded and published by his able son who is known as an outstanding scholar and a prolific writer; Murtadho bn Abeebakr ( also written Muritala)’.
HIS ACEDEMIC CAREER
Our Imam started learning Qur‘an from Sheikh Isa Shitu Abonde. He later completed the Quranic study from Sheik Ibrahim Abu Bakr. May Allah bless their souls. He continued this educational sojourn by learning some other books from Sheikh Shitu Junaid Abonde. He also briefly learnt from Sheikh Abdul Wahid Alafara at Oje. He also learnt from the then Grand Mufti Sheikh Burhanudeen sanusi Alaka son of Sheikh Solihudeen Elesinmeta. He benefited a lot from these great scholars. Because of his yearning for further study, his teacher permitted him to go the proprietor of Al-Kharashi Memorial Arabic school, Odo Okun for further Arabic and Islamic study. This availed him the opportunity to be well versed in speaking and writing of Arabic language which later enabled him to author some books. Some of his classmates are; Sheikh Haroon Adelodun Badrudeen Ilorin, Sheikh Alhaj Sirajudeen Oloso, Sheikh Alhaj Abdur-Rahim Sanusi Elesinmeta, Sheikh Alhaj Abdur-Rahim Muhammadul-Awal (Imam Raiway) and Sheikh Alhaj Hamzat Uthman. Our Imam went for Holy pilgrimage in Mecca in 1975. He thought Arabic and Islamic studies at Oke Agbo in Ijebu Igbo under Islaahudeen society from 1961-1963. He also served as a teacher under the Western Region Government at IDC, Akinkunmi Adifa, Akinyele Local Government. He joined the staff of Kharashi memorial school (the first formally established Arabic and Islamic centre in the South West region of Nigeria ) since 1970 till date.
HIS EFFORTS IN SPREADIMNG THE TEACHING OF ISLAM
He had imparted immensely on a lot of scholars in various branches of Islamic studies in compliance with the teaching of the prophet that "the best among you is he who learnt the Quran and teaches it". He is also one of the prominent preachers of Islam in Ibadan land appointed by the then chief Imam Mudathir Abdul-Salam on 23rd of January 1989. Others in the league of preachers are: Alhaj Abdul Rauf Salman (Imam HLA), Imam Dhikrullah Abdul-Hamid (Imam Ogbere) 3 Alhaj Abdul-Raheern Sanusi Alaka Elesimeta 4 Alhaj Abdul-Majid Alfa Abata (Imam Gbagituntun) He was appointed by the late chief Imam Shuarau Baosari Harun as the Ashura Lecturer. Our Sheikh was installed and turbaned to succeed his father (as Magaji) in the year 2002 under the late chief Imam Shuarau Baosari Harun III. He also became Mogaji Barika Jum ‘ah in the year 2007. He was appointed the chief Mufassir for Ibadan in the year 2009 and on Saturday 16th November 2013 he was installed as the Grand Mufti for Ibadan land by the chief Imam late Alhaj Shu‘arau Baosari III.
HIS ROLE IN ADVANCING THE COURSE OF ISLAM
Our Sheikh has a lot of concern for the religion of Islam especially when we talk about teaching and preaching. He therefore organizes regular lectures in front of his house and he specifically chose 9th and 10th of Muharram every year for a special annual lecture; this he inherited from his fathers. He is the povost of Kharashi Memorial Arabic College from 1994 till date.