I was still a teenager while Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola was animate. Yes, I was very young but I could still prick my ears at his many deeds before he died in 2014. I was never a beneficiary of his many philanthrophies but at least, I’ve heard the belivable validation of his good deeds preached by his beneficiaries turn loyalists and even some of his critics were not shy to eulogise him as at when due. Yet more, while he was still on Mother Earth, I knew many people who had once traipsed to his house and will never return empty handed, many people who will wail to his house and return with the happy camper faces. Indeed, Arisekola was the ‘Afunimawobe'(Cheerful giver) that Ibadan people will forever miss.
In the light of this, as we enthusiastically anticipate for February 14th as Valentine’s day, intriguingly again, the lovers of Arisekola will also fantasize the same picture of this day for the birthday of one Ibadan’s favourite son, of which would have been the 76th birthday of Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao, the erstwhile Aare Musilimi of Yorubaland. Maybe on that day, all roads would have led to his palatial residence at Oluwo Nla, Ibadan, for the big event. It would have been a celebration in the city because Arisekola was at the epicentre of the politics and social life of Ibadan.
Wherein, in the essence of his postmortem birthday which shall come up on the 14th day of February, this piece shall center on the story of Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola in memory of one of the most celebrated men to pass through this clime.
Alhaji Arisekola was born on February 14, 1945 to the family of Alhaji Abdur Raheem Olatunbosun Olaniyan Alao and Alhaja Rabiatu Olatutu Abegbe Alao. The parents, who were peasant farmers hailed from Ajia in Ona-Ara Local Government of Oyo State. Alhaji Arisekola attended St. Lukes School, Adigun, Ibadan and ICC Primary School, Igosun, Ibadan. He, thereafter, successfully passed the entrance examinations into the famous Christ School, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State and Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, albeit could not take up his admission in either school due to the poor financial position of his parents. History unfurled that a scholarship opportunity was not allowed by fate to be utilized by him either. Nonetheless, the determined AbdulAzeez studied Western, Arabic and Quranic education privately, and comfortably transacted business with the brightest and best in the corporate world.
However, young AbdulAzeez first joined his uncle, the late Alhaji Karimu Olasupo Jenrola at the popular old Gbagi Market in Ibadan as an apprentice trader. After successfully understudying his uncle, he started the sale of Gammalin 20 products vide the incorporation of his Azeez Arisekola Trading Company in 1961 with a loan of 310 pounds given to him by Mr. Olaniyi Owodunni. The Western Regional Manager of Imperial Chemical Industry (ICI) of England, Mr. P.K. Hampel, a Briton, discovered in the young AbdulAzeez, great business acumen, a fantastic impetus for hard work, integrity and creativity and therefore appointed him a dealer of their products in the now-defunct Western Region of Nigeria. From there, the future business magnate took off, combining charity as a hobby.
Therein, within a year, he received a commission of 1,000pounds from ICI and an all-expenses paid trip to the company’s headquarters in the United Kingdom. An astute young man, he purchased a Peugeot pick-up van at the cost of 400 pounds and by 1970, he built his first house at the age of 25 years. According to the Nation Newspapers, In 1972, he registered his motor company, Lister Motors, becoming the star dealer for the Japanese brand, Datsun. It was during that era that Aare’s fame as a philanthropist soared as he donated cars to institutions and individuals like one donates loaves of bread. He also had a fair share of social life and became the toast of parties and juju musical bands. But all the social circuit stuff stopped in 1980, when he became the first Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland. His business interests included automobile, oil and gas, banking and insurance, food and beverage, farming and animal husbandry, real estate, publishing, transportation and food processing. From his league of friends, staff and admirers, Aare was a detribalized man as his love for Nigeria was great. His avowed love was based on a popular saying of the Holy Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) that, “The love of one’s nation is part of faith”.
Years into the future, Arisekola-Alao’s love for education led to the establishment of “Pa Raheem Alao scholarship foundation for indigent students of tertiary institutions”. The beneficiaries of this scholarship are paid either monthly, per semester or annually. Again, he was a co-founder and highest donor of Barakat International School situated at Bodija, Ibadan. He also had endowments in most Nigerian Universities and had donated substantially in millions of naira to many of the private tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Also, the Abdul Azeez Arisekola Central Mosque, which he named after himself, was built along Iwo Road, Ibadan. The mosque has three full time Imams and dozens of staff.
Record also shows that he was instrumental to the establishment of the Grand Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria (1996) and the Alasalatu Ibadu Rahaman which was set up for the spiritual advancement of Muslim Women.The late Arisekola-Alao was the greatest financier of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) and National Council of Muslim as well as the Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) sponsoring their seminars and Islamic vacation courses annually. He bank rolled the annual seminar of the organisation. He was patron of more than 100 Islamic organisations within and outside Nigeria.
In his generousity, the late Arisekola-Alao sponsored hundreds of people to Mecca for the yearly pilgrimage. He was the only Nigerian honoured with selecting delegates by the Chief Imam of Mecca for the annual ceremonial washing of the Ka’aba and annual international convention of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Egypt. Furthermore, in one of the testimony of Professor Adeolu Akande of the Nigeria Communications Commission, (NCC), he highlighted how Arisekola sent Christians on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and In later encounters at his house, he highlighted how he has seen the congruence of the Christian and Islamic faith in the residence of the Aare Musulumi. He also summarized how an Islamic leader like him was also actively involved in the determination of the leadership of many Christian groups and associations. He made known how he was involved in nominating members into boards of christian organisations and was yearly sending hundreds of christians on pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. He didn’t need to go in search of such role. They brought such roles to him. So was it with Islamic groups, student unions, labour groups, the traditional institutions, musicians, artists, artisans.
Few years back, “Arisekola In Our Minds”, written by Lekan Alabi and edited by Professor Rusheed Aderinoye. It was launched by Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State at Aare’s Oluwo Kereke Basorun Area home in Ibadan, at the 70th posthumous birthday Fidau of Aare on Valentine’s Day few years back. The book, which is a testimony of how Aare Arisekola lived his life, there Lekan Alabi highlighted different episodes of him and Arisekola into six acts. Some of the episodes of which included how Arisekola acted as a man of good cheer and great humour, he recalled some of his quips as his mood or occasions dictated. General daily attitude: “Tell Rafiu (the chief gatekeeper at Aare’s Oluwo home, Ibadan) to allow all visitors in. Allah will provide succour to us all.” When a business deal sailed through: “God damn it. Even though I am unlettered, I know how to use my brain for good.” Also, When angry or rejecting an offer: “Capital No! And no Jupiter will make me change my mind.” While settling disputes: “Let us be fair to all parties in a case, and remember the Judgment Day in heaven, when Allah shall apportion the deserved judgment to every soul.”
Moreover, In his own reminiscence, nephew of the late Aare Musulumi, who was then the special Assistant to the Oyo State governor on Pubic Information, Mr. Demola Solalu, once testified how he sponsored him throughout his education. That there was never a day he would asked him for assistance and he would deny him. Quick to acknowledge this again, a glance at his condolence register, one will quickly pick out the words of Chief Ebenezer Obey in turn wrote: “He was a man who believed in equality and religious tolerance. He will be forever missed by all and sundry. He practiced his religion with all his heart and he accommodated everybody irrespective of their religion or nationality.”
Today, 7 years after, the Ibadan people will miss walking en masse in and out of his house, as he is an unflinching donor of gifts and items. No wonder his house was once the melting point of Ibadan. If there is a prominent personality in Ibadan you have not seen for a considerable length of time, you are most likely to meet him during a casual visit to Arisekola’s residence. His residence was a magnet of sorts. As described by Professor Adeolu Akande, his generosity is as legendary as that of Mansa Kanka Musa of the Mali Empire fame. Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, the governor of Oyo State, is never tired of recalling his first encounter with Arisekola after his (Ajimobi’s) sojourn in the United States of America. According to him, he had attended a party in Ibadan where a guest dominated the entire scene by spraying musicians and guests alike with crisp new Naira notes. Just coming from a clime not conversant with such display of wealth, he enquired who the person was and everyone around chorused, “Oyinbo o ni Datsun” (“The Datsun merchant”).
Once again, from his testimony, the NCC chairman made known how Arisekola was not a politician if defined by membership of a political party. He highlighted how Arisekola didn’t need one because he belonged to all political parties. He spoke of his role in the Second Republic when he strongly identified with the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Arisekola was a major financier of the personal lifestyles and political aspirations of many leaders of the rival Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). Until his death, he sponsored the aspirations of politicians of different and indeed rival political parties. He financed all parties in all elections. You only know his preference by identifying who received the highest financial support from him.
Today, maybe his critics still lament of his popular weaknesses and trials. The most threatening to his white garland was his uncompromising support for the government of his friend, General Sani Abacha, in defiance of the popular Yoruba support for the sanctity of the June 12 election won by another friend of his, Chief M.K.O Abiola. Maybe his people will forgive him anyway? In few days time, precisely February 14, the world shall celebrate his 76th postmortem birthday, of late Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola Alao, CON, the first Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, late Aare of Ibadanland and former Vice-President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). Even today, seven years after his death, Ibadan people still remember this man of great intellect, kindness, friendliness, business acumen, energy and wits, the late Aare was most of the time, in his lifetime, providing relief to the poor, weak, hungry, the rich and famous.
Ogungbile Emmanuel Oludotun
