IN Ibadan, Oyo State,a 71-year-old traditional religion adherent, Pa Olaniyi Ogunkunle, with his three children, was converted to Islam.
Pa Ogunkunle, who hails from Ibuso Gboro on Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road, while speaking at the conversion jointly organised by the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) in Oyo and Osun states, said that he was lured into the religion by his friend, who always preached to him about the religion of Islam.
He said that he was known as Papa “Alaja” because of the sacrifice he always made to ogun, the god of iron.
According to him, he was born into idol worshipping, got married and had all his children worshipping the idol.
He explained that he left the village and came to Ibadan with the idol, adding that this did not stop him from relating with some Muslims living around him.
However, during Quran Walimat in April 8 this year, he made up his mind to become a Muslim.
“It was after the Quran Walimat, that I called my friend who lives at Osogbo and told him about the ceremony and my intention to become a Muslim. This is how the preparations began,” he said.
He said that one of his children decided to join Islam but other could not because of the fear they had for him.
“I accepted Islam not because of anybody or because of people but because of Allah and Prophet Muhammed.
Now, my children could accept Islam as their religion,” he said.
He assured that the ogun symbol would be returned to the village since it belonged to the family and would destroy all bad charms in his possession. “I now wish to be called and addressed as Muhammed Jamiu Olaniyi Ogunkunle,” he added.
In his sermon, the former chairman of the State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Sheikh Luqman Busari, urged Muslims to see propagation of Islam as a task which must be accomplished.
While noting that Allah did not make it possible for some pagans to be converted even by Prophet Muhammed, he thanked Allah who made it possible for the convert, assuring that Allah would forgive him all his sins.
