…as dignitaries grace fidau
By Mumini AbdulKareem and Mike Adeyemi
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has described the death of the Seriki N’ Driver of Ilorin, Alhaji Soliu Olarongbe as a big loss to the dynasty that will be very difficult to fill.
The Senate President stated this during the Fidau held for the Olarongbe at his residence, Ita-Adu, Gambari area on Monday.
According to Saraki, the death of Alhaji Olarongbe is a big loss to the entire dynasty and it has created a vacuum which will be very difficult for anyone of us to fill.
He added that, “It is my prayer that almighty Allah continues to grant him Aljanat Firdaous even as he called on the people to learn from the impact of the deceased as a hero of his community.
Saraki was represented by the Director-General of the ABS constituency office, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi.
The Fidau which was conducted by the Imam Imale of Ilorin, Alhaji Abdullahi AbdulHamid witnessed mammoth crowd from within and outside the state including the Ciroma of Ilorin, Alhaji Abubakar Sulu-Gambari, Kwara State Governor-elect, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq who was represented by Hassan Razaq Bamu and Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad who was represented by Hon Shuaib AbdulKadir.
According to Sulu-Gamabri, late Olarongbe was a very courageous man who despite his limited education, achieved much more than those who saw the four walls of the classroom.
Bamu speaking on behalf of the Governor-elect noted that the deceased has done tremendously well for the youth of his community with various philanthropic gestures, adding that the large presence of diverse people at the event testified to his good deeds and the life of selfless service he lived.
Also, the former Dean of School of Post Graduate Studies, University of Ilorin, Prof Lanre Badmas described late Seriki N’ Driver as a paragon of humility and committed servant of Allah who was a very passionate lover of Ilorin tradition and helper of the community.
“He is known to be a loyal supporter of Alimi’s house. That is why he served three consecutive emirs of Ilorin. We will miss him and the politicians should learn to take life easy and serve humanity rather than amassing wealth as lessons from his death,”, he added.
In his sermon, the Grand Mukadam of Ilorin, Ustaz Suleiman Danborno called on politicians to bury their differences and work for the progress of the community. The Islamic cleric said the late Olarongbe had excellent relationship with his peers and friends of different political affiliation.
Other dignitaries at the event who also spoke glowingly about the late Seriki N’ Driver included the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Hajia Sarat Adebayo, one-time chairman of the Commission, Suleiman Yusuf Kayode Maja, Kwara State PDP Chairman, Engr. Kola Shittu, APC Kwara South Senatorial Chairman, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun, former lawmaker, Hon Nimota Ibrahim, former governorship aspirants, Soliu Mustapha, member-elect, House of Representatives, AbdulGaniyu Cook Olododo, Alhaji Abdulraheem Olesin, Alhaji Ahmed Dembo and former Grand Kadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Idris Haroon and Alhaji Umar Ahmed Iyaka, from Minna, Niger State, among others.
