The remains of Deputy President General of Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola Alao, who on Wednesday died in London, few hours before he was due to return to Nigeria will be buried tomorrow after his corpse was said to have arrived the country today.
Oyo State governor, Senator Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi, officially broke the news of the death of the spiritual leader to both President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo.
The state government has declared Friday as a public holiday, while it declared seven days of mourning, during which the flag will fly at half mast.
Immediately the news of his death filtered into town on Wednesday afternoon, people began to put calls across to confirm the authenticity of the news which had flooded the social media. The great Islamic leader was said to have departed the shores of the country for medical check up in London, England, last week Thursday.
Sources informed Nigerian Tribune that late Alao had gone for a medical check up on Wednesday morning and opted to have a little rest. That could not however be as he failed to wake up from his sleep which drew the attention of his family members. Attempts to wake him led to the discovery that he had passed on.
It was also gathered that the business mogul had put a call through to one of his personal assistants in Ibadan in the early hours of Wednesday to prepare his cars for his impending arrival later in the day. This it was gathered made the news more shocking as the crew had filled the tanks of the cars on the convoy list meant to pick him up at the airport, while awaiting further directives.
But to their surprise, the next directive was various calls from far and near to confirm the rumour of his death. Few minutes after, some dignitaries, like Chief Lekan Alabi and Alhaji Lateef Oyelade arrived the Bodija mansion of the automobile dealer.
Nigerian Tribune also learnt that the renowned philanthropist returned from a lesser hajj last week before his last trip outside the country.
As the news of his death was officially announced through various media, dignitaries started paying condolence messages at his Bodija residence.
Thereafter, Alhaji Lateef Oyelade ordered that the main building be put under lock and key, which was immediately adhered to.
When Nigerian Tribune visited the place, people from all walks of life could not control themselves as they betrayed their emotion while expressing their shock at the demise of Alhaji Arisekola Alao.
One of them was a blind young man, who revealed that the deceased had assured him that he had concluded all plans to ensure he regained his sight.
Though, he could not mention his name to our reporter, he was a known figure around Arisekola’s residence. According to him “So, I can’t see again in my life. Daddy told me before he left that he had concluded arrangement with the medical people to ensure that I regain my sight. My hope is dashed,” said the young man who wore a red T-shirt and a pair of jeans.
Immediately after he uttered that, he directed the man assisting him to take him for ablution to pray.
The residence was also thronged by various men and women, both literate and illiterate, religious leaders and scholars, most of who just returned from the lesser hajj and those that had been penciled down for the next hajj.
Various Islamic clerics were also not left out, but in their own case, they were consoling themselves that the deceased lived a life worthy of emulation, hoping that he would find favour from Allah.
In addition, the shock of his death was freely expressed as most people who usually thronged his residence for one assistance or the other cried uncontrollably on getting to the residence. One of them, who said he could not believe that “Daddy is dead”. The young man eventually had cause to believe when the state governor arrived at the house. He broke down and was rolling on the ground before some people came to placate him.
As sympathizers were discussing in hush tones the demise of their benefactor, a truck conveying goodies meant to be distributed at the commencement of 2014 Ramadan drove in, those around the gate side broke down into tears.
The Chief Imam of Ibadan land later held a brief exhortation for the crowd he left the venue.
Some of the dignitaries who were around on Wednesday evening were Oyo State Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi and his wife, Florence, his deputy Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, Speaker House of Assembly, Honourable Monsurat Sunmmonu and some lawmakers, Head of Service Alhaji Tajudeen Aremu, SSG, and some Local Government caretaker chairmen.
Others included Chief Lekan Alabi, Alhaji Rasheed Adesokan, Dr K.K. Oloso, Chief Imam of Ibadan land, Alhaji Muhydeen Bello; former deputy Governor Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi and Alhaji Akewugba Gold, among others.
