By Ado Oyeyemi
The Ogun State Muslim Council, Egba Zone, has installed the Peoples Democratic Party’s Deputy Governorship Candidate for the 2027 election, Hajia Lateefat ’Yemi Sowunmi-Kolapo, as its Grand Matron.
Sowunmi-Kolapo, who is the Iya Sunnah of Egbaland and Ameerah of Ogun State, was installed and decorated during a ceremony held at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, on Thursday.
The event, themed “Socio-Economic Stability: A Fortress for Global Security,” attracted Muslim leaders, political stakeholders, traditional rulers and other members of the community.
The installation came against the backdrop of preparations for the 2027 governorship election, with Sowunmi-Kolapo using the occasion to call for greater political participation among Muslims and urging voters to reject electoral violence, vote-buying and apathy.
Speaking after her installation, she described the honour as a demonstration of the confidence reposed in her by the Muslim community, saying she was grateful for the recognition.
She said, “It’s a great honour for me because when people appreciate you and they show it, you can only be thankful to God and them.
“I thank the Ogun State Muslim Council for this great honour. As we were told, the Iya Sunnah of Egbaland is expected to be decorated OMC Grand Matron (Egba Zone). Our late revered mother, late Chief Khadijah Adebisi Edionseri, was the Iya Sunnah of Egbaland and OMC Grand Matron.”
Sowunmi-Kolapo added, “Stepping into her shoes is a big deal for me. I pray Almighty Allah guides my steps and makes the journey fruitful.”
She also appreciated members of the Muslim community for their support since the beginning of her political journey, saying the goodwill she had received remained significant to her.
The PDP candidate, however, used the occasion to urge Muslims to become more active in civic and political affairs, stressing that political participation was important to protecting their interests, values and heritage.
She said religious leaders and members of the community should not assume that their interests would automatically be protected without active participation in the political process.
“If you don’t struggle for power, some oppressors will use the same power to destroy you, which is why we say our power is in our votes,” she said.
Sowunmi-Kolapo urged Muslim parents, leaders and other stakeholders to educate younger people on responsible democratic participation, adding that elections should be peaceful and based on citizens’ choices rather than financial inducements.
Earlier, the Ogun Muslim Council, Egba Zone, highlighted the link between socio-economic stability, education, security and global peace during the ceremony.
The guest lecturer, Sheikh Sulaimon Faruq Onikijipa, OON, who spoke on the theme of the event, urged governments to prioritise security, education and the economic welfare of citizens.
Onikijipa said sustainable stability could not be achieved in a society where citizens lacked access to quality education, adequate security and the basic socio-economic conditions required for dignified living.
Also speaking, Senator Prof. Iyabo Obasanjo commended the Ogun State Muslim Community for honouring Sowunmi-Kolapo and supporting her emergence as the PDP deputy governorship candidate.
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Obasanjo described the new Grand Matron as humble, faithful and kind, while acknowledging her contributions to the Muslim community.
