*Photo: Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele (1st left); Prince Samsudeen Adebayo Apelogun(2nd left) Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi,the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo Land(right) during the turbaning of Apelogun as the Asiwaju Adinni and Baba Adinni of Ogun State Muslims and Remo Land, respectively…in December 2024*
Divergent views have been on
since Friday, 18th April, 2025 when the Ogun State Government announced the National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners, Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Prince Adebayo Apelogun as its 2025 Amirul Hajj.
While some argue that an Amirul Hajj should be someone of a high social cum religious standing in the society, others said being the leader of ‘okada riders association’ should not preclude one from playing the role of leading a state contingent to Hajj, provided such a has capacity to deliver.
One of those opposed to his choice, for example said ” In other States we have great people, Emirs, former governors, Permanent Secretaries and Administrative juggernauts, but Ogun gave us this man. Well at least he can use Okada to carry pilgrims if a challenging time comes.” Similar to that was the viewpoint that “I don’t mind if the Governor vacates his seat and appoint the man as Ogun State State Governor. That’s a purely political office. It’s may be salutary than making him Amirul Hajj. It smacks of insensitivity to the sensibility of Muslims. Let’s wait for the person who will be appointed to lead Christians to Jerusalem.”
A respondent who saw nothing wrong in the appointment however said ” I am aware of a Marwa (Tricycle)driver
with a first degree in Computer Science. Sad, but true. He currently has 2 kids in the university. One studying medicine, another studying Nursing.He is a Muslim brother, and he would probably be a better Amirul Hajj than the very many typical Amirul Hajj we have.” Another analyst said the “Chairman/ President of Motorcycle and Tricycle riders is a big politician. He delivers votes that some top people cannot. For as long as he can coordinate pilgrim activities, i see nothing wrong with the Governor’s choice. Better to have a field person as Amirul Hajj than one that will stay in his hotel room and be giving orders.”
The view of another commentator is that “Some of those you call okada riders are educated individuals who don’t ride okadas themselves. They invest in okadas, providing them to riders who pay back in installments. Some even buy okadas for their colleagues. Why do we ridicule them? Meanwhile, some ‘japa’ individuals do worse jobs abroad, yet tgey are celebrated and installed as kings in their communities, with people attributing their success to dollars rather than their actions. Those prominent figures you mentioned – are they truly men of God in the eyes of Allah? Aren’t they the ones who embezzled Nigeria’s money? I plead with us to respect all legitimate professions.”
Checks jointly carried out by The Shield Online(theshieldonlineng.com) and Hajj Panorama
(hajjpanorama.com.ng) however showed that Prince Samsudeen Adebayo Apelogun is not a push over in Ogun State religious and elite circles.
Apart from being the National President of ACOMORAN, Apelogun, popularly known as ‘Allrounder,’ is the Asiwaju Adinni and Baba Adinni of Ogun State Muslims and Remo Land, respectively.
His turbaning, held mid December 2024, at the Remo Divisional High School in Sagamu, Ogun State, attracted dignitaries from far and wide. Those dignitaries included top government officials, leading politicians, religious leaders and traditional rulers, among them, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remo Land.
Apart from Prince Apelogun who will serve as the Amirul Hajj, Hon. Kayode Akinmade
Special Adviser,Information and Strategy, Ogun State Government, in a press release also announced thirteen others as welfare board ad-hoc committee members, to facilitate this year’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land from the state.
Sheikh Ishaq Olorungbebe will serve as the chairman, while Sheikh Lawal Iskeel (Sugar), Sheikh Shile Rufai, Imam Sabeeq Aladi Ibrahim, Sheik Wasiu Raheem Balogun, Imam Abdul-Lateef Ismail Afolabi, TPL. Ogunfowora Kamoru Olayiwola, Alhaji (Imam) Hassan Tijani, Alhaji Hussein Oredipe Mustapha, Alhaji(Imam) Uthman Akewukanwo are members of the committee.
Others are: Alhaja Alarise Korede Fausat, Alhaja Egunjobi Kafilat Aderonke and Alhaja Jinadu Zainab Iyabode.
