Prominent businessman and Islamic leader, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, died on Wednesday at the age of 69.
The eldest daughter of the deceased, Khadija, confirmed the death of Alao, who is the Deputy President-General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland.
A family sources said 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.
The source said the late Arisekola 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.
Another source at the family house in Oluwo Nla, Basorun Ibadan, said 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 and due to return with Arisekola’s corpse for burial on Thursday.
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; former deputy governor in the state, Azeem Gbolarumi.
Others are former Congress for Progressive Change governorship candidate in the state, Bayo Shittu; Chief Lekan Alabi, Rasheed Adesokan, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, religious leaders, among other sympathisers and government officials.
Ajimobi described the death of Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, as tragic, disheartening and a big blow to the entire nation.
He said, “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.”
First son of the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Samuel Odulana, Prof. Femi, told reporters 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 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.
President Goodluck Jonathan in a condolence message issued by Dr Reuben Abati, Special Adviser (Media) President Jonathan urged his family, relatives, friends, associates and dependants to be comforted by the fact that Arisekola-Alao lived a very fulfilled life.
In passing on, President Jonathan said Alhaji Arisekola-Alao leaves behind a legacy of significant and commendable achievements, noting that Alhaji Arisekola-Alao will always be remembered and honoured, especially for the remarkable entrepreneurial skills with which he established many successful businesses and created jobs for numerous Nigerians.
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