Head of Nigeria’s Yoruba Muslims Dead

Nigeria Muslim community has lost another leading figure with the prominent businessman and Islamic leader, Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao, the head of Muslims in Yorubaland and Deputy President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, reported to have passed away on Wednesday, June 18.

“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,” Governor Abiola Ajimobi told Nigeria’s The Guardian, describing the death of Alhaji Alao as tragic.
“It is indeed the end of an era for us in Ibadan and Nigeria in general,” the governor added.
The news of Arisekola-Alao’s passing away was first reported by his eldest daughter, Khadija, who confirmed his death to the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to OnIslam.net correspondent, the highly revered Muslim leader passed away in London.
He was the Deputy President General of the NSCIA, and the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland until his death.
Governor Ajimobi described the late Alhaji Arisekola-Alao as a devout Muslim, shrewd businessman and a philanthropist.
“Uncle Arisekola-Alao was an upright, consistent and principled man. He called a spade by its name without minding whose ox was gored,” he said.
“Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland was also a pillar of support to our administration whose wise counsel had helped tremendously in the success story so far recorded by our government,” he remarked.
The death of Alhaji Arisekola-Alao comes days after that of the Emir of Kano.
Ado Bayero, the 83-year-old emir of Nigeria’s northwestern Kano city and prominent Muslim leader who ascended the throne in 1963, died on Friday.
He has been buried according to Islamic rites, with his funeral attended by prominent Muslim figures including the Sultan of Sokoto and head of the country’s Muslim community Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar.

Source: OnIslam