Daud Olatunji
Former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, on Sunday shared a startling account of his birth at the 25th remembrance prayer for his late mother, Alhaja Rafatu Alake Mojibola Sanusi-Amosun, held at the Amosun family residence in Abeokuta.
The event marked two and a half decades since her passing on October 27, 1999, with a gathering of Islamic scholars and family members who offered prayers for her soul.
In an interview, Amosun emphasized the importance of honoring one’s parents even after their passing, a principle he said is supported by both the Quran and the Bible.
“Beyond respecting our parents, when they are no longer around, the best gift we can offer them is prayer,” Amosun stated. “Since this is a significant 25-year milestone, we decided to make it slightly more elaborate — not a celebration, but a gathering to seek Allah’s forgiveness on her behalf.”
During his address, Amosun unveiled a deeply personal and unexpected story about the extraordinary circumstances surrounding his birth. “I spent three and a half years in my mother’s womb,” he revealed. “My father, who was not present at the time, even arranged for fuel to be bought to burn my body if I did not survive the birth.”
The former governor explained that his mother’s pregnancy was a mystery to many, as the pregnancy appeared and disappeared over the prolonged three-and-a-half-year period.
“When I was finally born, many people fled, unable to believe I was a human being,” he said. “But here I am today, alive and well.”
Amosun’s elder brother, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun, known as Alhaji Agba, corroborated the story, adding that three days before the naming ceremony, their father sent a traditional naming gift along with a letter. The letter revealed the names chosen for the newborn: Muhammad Ikleel Oyelaja Oluwatoyin Ibikunle, Duro-Orike ku Koriya Amosun.
He said, “Three days before the naming ceremony, we went to get the package sent by our father, and when we opened it, we saw the names and a ram for the ceremony.
“Our father warned all of us not to envy him; rather, we should love him and be honest with him so that we can benefit immensely from him.
“I can tell you that anytime we need to do anything in the family, he will finance all of it, and sometimes he finances more than half, leaving a little for us to contribute. He has been a blessing to us.”
Amosun reflected on the transient nature of life, calling for prayers for his late mother and all departed souls.
“We pray Allah forgives them and grants them Al Jannah Firdausi,” he said, expressing hope that his family would pray for him as well when his own time comes.
The remembrance ceremony was attended by prominent Islamic leaders from Egbaland and beyond, as well as his former aides from his eight years as governor of the state.
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