The 8th-Day Fida’u prayers for the late Elemoro of Ibeju-Lekki, His Royal Majesty, Oba Tajudeen Afolabi Adebanjo Elemoro, were held yesterday at the Elemoro Palace, Ibeju-Lekki, bringing together royal and spiritual fathers, traditional chiefs, members of the Elemoro Royal Family and the wider community to pray for the repose of the late monarch.
Speaking at the gathering, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, an elder and member of the Elemoro Royal Family, paid tribute to the life and legacy of Kabiyesi and assured members of the family that every effort would be made to preserve the unity and dignity of the Royal Family at home and in the diaspora.
He urged all members of the family to remain united in this period of mourning, stressing that the passing of the monarch must not become an occasion for rancour or division within a family bound together by a proud ancestry and common heritage.
Senator Ashafa called on members of the Royal Family to work closely with the Lagos State Government, the relevant Local Government authorities and the Burial Planning Committee towards giving the late monarch a befitting final farewell.
He noted that the burial ceremonies, expected to take place in about three months, should reflect not only the stature of the departed Kabiyesi but also the history, dignity and rich traditions of the Elemoro heritage.
Senator Ashafa further appealed to all branches and generations of the Elemoro family to approach the coming months in a spirit of brotherhood, mutual respect and collective responsibility. According to him, the greatest tribute the family can pay to Kabiyesi at this time is to remain one — preserving the bonds he inherited, strengthened and has now entrusted to succeeding generations.
He prayed that Almighty Allah forgive the shortcomings of the late monarch, accept his good deeds and grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus, while granting the Royal Family and the entire Ibeju-Lekki community the fortitude to bear the loss.