By Agboola Bayo
Ibadan
Governor Abiola Ajimobi yesterday said the Oyo state government would name an important institution in the state after the late deputy President General of the Nigerian Supreme Council on Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and the Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Alhaji Abdul-Azeez Arisekola-Alao.
The governor disclosed this while receiving former vice-president Atiku Abubakar who was in Ibadan on a condolence visit over the death of the late Islamic leader.
Ajimobi said plans were underway to immortalisie the late Aare by naming an important institution in the state after him.
He said the late Islamic leader was very close to his administration and was a pillar of support to his government, adding that he deserved the honour for his contributions to the social, economic and religious development of the state and Nigeria.
He said: “He deserved the honour because he represented what many of us will like to be. As a kind-hearted individual, we will continue to remember him.
Aare was not the richest man in Nigeria but he helped the rich and neither was he the poorest man in Nigeria but he helped the poor; he was also not a politician but politicians curried his favour. We take solace in the fact that a man that lived his life serving the people has been greatly honoured by all eminent Nigerians.”
Speaking during the visit, Atiku said with the death of Alhaji Arisekola Alao, the country had lost one of its prominent leaders in all aspects of human endeavour.
He said the late Islamic leader’s death was a personal loss to him, saying “it is a personal loss to me; he is not only a loss to you and Oyo state, but a loss to the whole country.”
