PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has noted that Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao, who died in a London hospital, on Wednesday, lived a fulfilled life.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, in Abuja, on Wednesday, revealed that Jonathan received with great shock and sadness, news of the death of the renowned Nigerian businessman and religious leader.
It read: “On behalf of myself, the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria, I extend 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.”
The president noted that Alhaji 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.
His death, end of an era in Oyo —Ajimobi
OYO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, described the death of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao, as tragic, disheartening and a big blow, not only to Oyo State, but also to the entire country.
The governor stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Wednesday, by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo.
He said that he received the news of the death of the business mogul and religious leader with shock and disbelief, saying the passage of Alhaji 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.
Governor Ajimobi described the late Alhaji Arisekola-Alao as a devout Muslim, shrewd businessman and a philanthropist, whose commitment to the cause of the downtrodden in the society was unequalled.
He was passionate about Nigeria—Atiku
FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the demise of Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao 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.
His death, rude shock —Alao-Akala
FORMER Oyo State governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, described the death of Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao as a rude shock.
Alao-Akala, in a statement made available in Ogbomoso, on Wednesday, said his death was a great loss to the nation.
“The news of his death came as a rude shock. He was a devoted muslim, quintessential leader and philanthropist, who will be greatly missed.
“His contributions to religious activities, the state and national development cannot be quantified. He had created a vacuum too difficult to fill,” he said.
His death, personal loss—Oyinlola
FORMER Osun State governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, expressed shock and disbelief at the death of the Aare Musulimi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao.
Prince Oyinlola, in a statement on Wednesday described Arisekola’s death as a monumental loss to the Yoruba race, Nigeria and the Muslim world.
“He was a very good man. A leader in all ramifications. He was a free-giver, a cheerful philantropist. He was a friend to the old and the young. He was, in particular, a very good friend of the poor.
“During my years as governor of Osun State, Aare was so close to me that he even jokingly referred to himself as the assistant deputy governor of Osun State. His death is a personal loss to me, to my family and to the political family I represent.
“His death is definitely the end of an era in the religious and political life of Yorubaland. He was a rare breed, a great star in our firmament.
His death shocking, most unfortunate —Mimiko
ONDO State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, described the death of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubalnd, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao as shocking and a great loss to the nation.
Lamenting the death of a foremost industrialist and highly spiritual being, Mimiko, in his condolence message to the family, said the death of the Deputy Head, Nigeria Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs is most unfortunate and a loss irreparable .
Dr Mimiko said: “No doubt, Aare Arisekola-Alao is still needed around and would be sorely missed by all for his spiritual and fatherly role.”
Praying that God should grant him eternal rest, Dr Mimiko said the Muslim leader “lived an exemplary life and was a blessing to his generation, as he made his mark in the area of leadership, service to God and humanity.”
He was a bridge-builder —Ahmed •Contributed to economic well-being of Nigeria —Kwara Speaker
GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State described the death of Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao as a tragedy, describing him as a bridge builder.
Governor Ahmed, in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, and made available to journalists in Ilorin, on Wednesday, said it was painful that Arisekola died at a time when Nigeria needed wise counsel of such elder statesman at this critical time in Nigeria’s history.
Also reacting to his death, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt Honourable Razak Atunwa, said the late philathropist contributed significantly to the socio-economic well-being of not only the South-West, but the entire nation.
His death unfortunate —Aregbesola
OSUN State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday, joined notable Nigerians in mourning the passing away of the businessman and Islamic leader, Alhaji Adulazeez Arisekola-Alao.
In a statement by the Director of Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Arisekola’s death was described as unfortunate.
Aregbesola maintained that “the death of the Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land only reinforced the essence of mankind’s existence, which is to lead a good life and render service to humanity before the necessary end (death) comes.”
According to the statement, “his death is sad, shocking and unfortunate. He led a good life, a life full of positive examples. Alhaji Arisekola-Alao was a notable figure, successful businessman, a consistent philanthropist and community leader. As Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, he demonstrated his love for peace as a religious leader and led a God-fearing life.
He was generous, patriotic, detribalised Nigerian—Omisore
THE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming August 9 governorship election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, said the death of the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao was rude shock and quite unexpected.
In a statement forwarded to newsmen by his Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, on Wednesday, Omisore described Aare as “extremely generous, patriotic and detribalised Nigerian, whose tremendous contributions to socio-economic development of the nation and religious tolerance would remain indelible.
“Aare was a bridge-builder, who thrived in exhibiting exemplary traits of Nigeria’s founding fathers by promoting unity and ideals of a great nation through his leadership style. He was a radiating symbol of hope and blessing to the poor and the needy in the society, while his passion for manpower development was inspiring.”
He lived a fulfilled life —Amosun
OGUN State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, expressed shock at the death of the deputy head of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao at 69.
In a press release 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.
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.
Humanity has lost detribalised philanthropist —Obey
A close associate and friend of the late Aare Arisekola-Alao, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi has expressed his death as a rude shock.
Obey, who received the unfortunate news told the Nigerian Tribune that the country and humanity had once again lost a detribalised philanthropist, who was poised with the progress and unity of the Nigeria.
He stated further that he had lost someone so dear to him, adding that “the Muslim and Christian folks, religious leaders and Nigeria as a whole would greatly miss him.”
I’m devastated by his death —Babatope
FORMER Transport and Aviation Minister and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, on Wednesday, lamented the demise of the Aare Musulumi of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola- Alao, who passed on in a London hospital, saying he was devastated by the sad incident.
He said: “Arisekola-Alao was a good man. He was deeply religious without being a religious fundamentalist or fanatic.
“Arisekola was frank and very open in his comments on men, matters and events of our national life. He was very generous in rendering assistance to al those who require his help.”
An irreparable loss —CCII
THE Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) described the death of Aare Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao as an irreparable loss and shock to the entire Ibadan home and abroad.
The National Publicity Secretary, CCII, Mr Seye Ogunsina, in a telephone interview, said his death “is shocking, painful and a g
reat loss to Ibadan.”