Jonathan, Atiku, Ajimobi, Others Mourn Arisekola-Alao’s Passing

There was an outpouring of grief yesterday from President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his Ogun State counterpart, Ibikunle Amosun, among others, over the death of Ibadan-based businessman, philanthropist and Yoruba Muslim leader, Alhaji Abul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao.

Arisekola-Alao, a billionaire businessman, passed away yesterday in his sleep in London at the age of 69.

However, those close to him said he had been ill but it was not life threatening, thus expressing shock that such a vibrant person had died so suddenly.

According to family sources, Arisekola-Alao, who was awarded the national honour, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), by the federal government and was the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, was said to have left his Oluwo Nla Basorun Ibadan “Aso Rock Villa”
residence for London last Friday with the intention of returning today.
Twenty-four hours before his demise, Arisekola-Alao was said to have visited one of his children who had bought a new home in Paris before he headed back to London.

Mrs. Ronke Akinyemi, who was one of those who were with the business mogul last Thursday, said: “They said he has been sick for sometime but I didn't see any reason to say that he has been sick. I noticed he had gained weight but I didn't see any sign of his illness and with that weight, I just felt if anything was wrong before, he was getting better now.

“I was with him. We had our banter as usual. He ate amala (yam flour meal) and drank a coke and he directed that they should go and bring more drinks for people.

“Thereafter, he said he was going to London on Friday but I didn't know that was the last time I would see him.”

We gathered from family members that Arisekola-Alao died in his sleep after he was said to have eaten his breakfast and taken his medication.

Although the cause of his death was not officially ascertained, a very close friend of his, Mr. Oba Otudeko, confirmed his passing.
Otudeko, who described Arisekola-Alao as his brother, prayed for the repose of his soul and thanked God for his life, adding that his funeral would be in accordance with Islamic tenets.

Meanwhile, preparations for the burial commenced in earnest yesterday, just as information filtered in that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, who also doubles as the President-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria (NSCIA), was already with Arisekola-Alao’s corpse in London.

Arisekola-Alao was the Deputy President of NSCIA and was said to have enjoyed a close relationship with the Sultan and indeed the Emirate Council and other traditional rulers across the nation.

Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, according to a brief statement by a former Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim wing), Alhaji Kamil Koyejo Oloso, who officially broke the demise of Arisekola-Alao, had directed that a befitting burial be accorded the deceased at a yet-to-be-disclosed venue.

Early callers at the late businessman’s Ibadan residence included the Chief Imam of Ibadan, Suara Haruna; Alhaji Lateef Oyelade; Rasheeed Adesokan; Chief Lekan Alabi; Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi; Oyo State Head of Service, Tajudeen Aremu; Alhaji Yekini Adeojo; Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Ajibola Afonja; a handful of Islamic clerics, caretaker committee chairmen across local governments in the state; and members of the state executive council.

Others were the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Moses Adeyemo; Ajimobi’s wife, Florence; the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Olalekan Alli; a former SSG in the state who was also the immediate past Chairman, Odu'a Investment Company Limited, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli; former Deputy Governor Hazeem Gbolarumi; and the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Indabawa.
Reacting to his death, the president, in a statement by his media aide, Dr. Reuben Abati, said he received with great shock and sadness news of the death of Arisekola-Alao.

“On behalf of himself, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to the Arisekola-Alao family as well as the people of Ibadan and Oyo State on the passing away of the famed Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland.

“As they mourn the famous entrepreneur, community and religious leader, President Jonathan urges his family, relatives, friends, associates and dependants to be comforted by the fact that Alhaji Arisekola-Alao lived a very fulfilled life, and in passing on, leaves behind a legacy of significant and commendable achievements,” it said.
The president said Arisekola-Alao would always be remembered and honoured, especially for the remarkable entrepreneurial skills with which he established many successful businesses and created jobs for numerous Nigerians, as well as for his religious leadership and philanthropic gestures.

He prayed that God Almighty would receive his soul and grant him eternal rest.
In his statement, Atiku said the demise of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland is a loss to Nigeria.

Atiku said in a statement by his media office in Abuja, that he was shocked and saddened by the death of Arisekola-Alao.
The former vice-president acknowledged that the colourful and astute businessman was passionate about Nigeria; adding: “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.

“I visited him recently after the death of his wife and he hosted me to lunch in his palatial Ibadan home. He related well with all Nigerians.”
He expressed his condolences to his family and people and government of Oyo State over the loss.

Ajimobi also described the death of Arisekola-Alao as tragic, disheartening and a big blow, not only to Oyo State but also to the entire country.
The governor said this in a statement issued in Ibadan yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo.

He said he received the news of the death of the business mogul and religious leader with shock and disbelief, adding that the passage of Arisekola-Alao marked the end of an era in the history of the state.

“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,” the governor said.
Ajimobi described the late Arisekola-Alao as a devout Muslim, shrewd businessman and a philanthropist whose commitment to the cause of the downtrodden in the society was unequalled.

The governor commiserated with the family, friends, associates, religious leaders, the Muslim Ullammahs and the entire people of the state and prayed for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

On his part, Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, expressed deep shock at the death of the deputy head of NSCIA.

In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun said the Islamic leader lived a fulfilled life, describing his passing on as painful, as it was close to the Ramadan fast when his philanthropy would be most appreciated.
“It is most unfortunate that Alhaji Ariselola-Alao would die at a time when a lot of Muslims would have benefited from his generosity, but Almighty Allah knows best,” the governor said.

Amosun, who commiserated with the NSCIA, family members of the deceased and his associates, urged them to take solace in the fact that the late Islamic leader led an exemplary life through his unwavering stance in the propagation of Islam.
Similarly, Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) expressed shock and sadness at the passage of Arisekola-Alao.
In a message of condolence to the family of the deceased, the governor said the passage of the frontline politician and religious leader would leave a vacuum that would be very hard to fill in Oyo State in particular and Nigeria in general.

According to Fashola, Arisekola-Alao would be sorely missed by all for his widely acknowledged philanthropy, statesmanship and entrepreneurial leadership.

While also condoling with the government and people of Oyo State, Fashola said the indelible mark left by the businessman in the field of commerce and industry and the contribution he made to the economic development of the South-west region and Nigeria in general would never be forgotten in a hurry.

In his reaction, former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, described Arisekola-Alao as a great man whose greatness will continue even in death.
In a statement issued by his media aide, Sunday Dare, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said he was saddened and shocked at his death. 

“That such a great man like this who still had so much to offer his people and country could die so suddenly is painful and a huge loss,” he said.
Tinubu said his death had left a great vacuum both in the religious and socio-political spheres of the country and he would be missed.
He condoled with his family, the Muslim Umah and the government and people of Oyo State.
In addition, the Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Senator Olufemi Lanlehin, described the death of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland as most shocking, devastating and saddening.

Lanlehin said in a statement issued by his media aide, Olawale Sadare, that Arisekola-Alao who was also the Aare of Ibadan land, answered the final home call at a time his good leadership qualities, management acumen and humanitarian services were most needed by the people from all facet of life.

“The unfortunate news of the death of Aare, as he was fondly called by admirers, came to us with a rude shock in view of the fact that he was a model who touched not only the lives of many people positively but also contributed his quota to the socio-economic and political as well as religious development of the African continent.

“For many years, Alhaji Arisekola-Alao played the role of a statesman, astute businessman and devout religious leader. In all of this, he was able to transform the society as many people across the world who came across him benefited one thing or the other.
“Ibadan land, the Muslim community and the entire universe will sorely miss him,” Lanlehin stated.

In his condolence message, former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode, said he was saddened to hear about the passing of Arisekola-Alao.

“He was such a generous, kind and loving man. This is a terrible blow to Yorubaland and a great loss to Nigeria. My heart goes out to his family, his loved ones and to the people of Ibadan particularly.  May his precious soul rest in perfect peace,” he said.

In their remarks, Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his predecessor, Senator Bukola Saraki, described the death of the Aare as a tragedy, saying he was as a bridge builder.

Governor Ahmed, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said it was painful that Arisekola-Alao died at a time when Nigeria needed the wise counsel of such an elder statesman at this critical time in Nigeria’s history.
Ahmed commiserated with the people and Government of Oyo State, the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and the Arisekola-Alao family on his painful loss.

Saraki said his death was a great loss to the country and to the entire Muslim community in the country, adding that the late Arisekola-Alao remained a kind and humble personality who used his wealth to bring succour to human kind.

He prayed to Almighty Allah to grant him Aljanah Firdaos.
In his message, former Minister of State for Finance, Mr. Remi Babalola, said he was devastated by the news of the demise of Arisekola-Alao, pointing out that the death of the business mogul was a big loss to the nation.

He expressed his condolences to the family, the people and government of Oyo State and prayed that Almighty Allah grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

June 19, 2014