Arisekola Alao dies at 69

Are Musulumi of Yoruba land and billionaire businessman, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao, is dead. Family sources told our correspondent that the religious leader died in his London home on Wednesday where he had been since last week Thursday. He died on the day he was expected back in Nigeria. He was aged 69.

The family source said that the Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria did not show any sign of ill health, although he was said to have embarked on the journey on medical grounds.

“On the day he was going, he told us that he would be back on Wednesday so we were expecting him. Unfortunately, the news of his death was all we heard,” said the source who pleaded anonymity.

One of the deceased siblings, Alhaji Abu, who confirmed his death, said he was too shocked to comment on Arisekola’s death.

A source at the family house in Oluwo Nla, Basorun Ibadan, also told our correspondent that Arisekola died in his sleep after breakfast on Wednesday. President-General SCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, was said to have flown to London to join family members to bring Arisekola’s corpse for burial on Thursday (today).

Some of the early callers at the house included the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence, Head of Service in the state, Tajudeen Aremu, Chairman of First Bank, Ajibola Afonja, Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheik Suara Haruna, others are a former deputy governor in the state, Azeem Gbolarumi, a former Congress for Progressive Change governorship candidate in the state, Bayo Shittu, Chief Lekan Alabi, Rasheed Adesokan, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, religious leaders, sympathisers and government officials.

In his reaction, Ajimobi described Arisekola’s death, as tragic, disheartening and a big blow to the entire nation.

“Aare cannot die as those who lived the kind of life he lived, with imprints in the lives of millions of people, never die. He lived a life that was devoted to the lives of others. It is indeed the end of an era for us in Ibadan and Nigeria in general. Uncle Arisekola-Alao was an upright, consistent and principled man. He called a spade by its name without minding whose ox was gored.

“Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland was also a pillar of support to our administration whose wise counsel had helped tremendously in the success story so far recorded by our government,’’ he remarked.

The first son of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana, Prof. Femi, told our correspondent that Arisekola’s death was a tragedy to Ibadanland.

“Arisekola was a leader in Ibadan, who stood by my father. He has left us too early. He contributed immensely to the development of the city and Nigeria. With my father, they brought peace to Oyo State.

“He knew the Bible so well that he offered to read the first reading during the centenary celebration of my father at St. Peter’s Church, Aremo on April 14. That showed that he was a balanced religious leader. It’s a big loss to all of us and I don’t know how to break the news to Olubadan, who is like a father to him,” he said.

Also, a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has said his demise was a loss to Nigeria.

Atiku said in a statement by his media office in Abuja on Wednesday that he was shocked and saddened by the death of Arisekola-Alao.

He noted that “the colourful and astute businessman” was passionate about Nigeria.

“Arisekola was a devout Muslim and community leader. He was generous and loved his people; the quality of his humanity and compassion was unprecedented. The country will surely miss him,” Atiku said.

“I visited him recently after the death of his wife and he hosted me to a lunch in his palatial Ibadan home. He related well with all Nigerians,” the Turakin Adamawa recalled.

He expressed his condolences to the family and people and government of Oyo State over the loss.

In a statement, a former governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, described the deceased as the father of all whose death was a loss to the nation.

“The news of his death was a shock to me. He was a devoted Muslim and a philanthropist who will be greatly missed by Nigeria. I pray that God will grant him god rest.”

In his tribute, Gbolarunmi said he spoke with the deceased on Tuesday and that it was a big shock that he died on Wednesday.

“Someone just called to inform me, but it was just unimaginable because we still spoke at length yesterday (Tuesday) and I did not have the feeling whatsoever that anything was wrong with him. So, the news was a big shock and surprise to me,” he said.