Arisekola Alao: A posthumous celebration of his oak anniversary

This tribute is the celebration of the remarkable life of a unique and most extraordinary personality, who was absolutely outstanding, dynamic, and successful. As is usually the case in all climes, such men always seem to have lived more years than their actual age. Just like a comet, they come once in a century.

Aare AbdulAziz Arisekola Alao was born on 14th February, 1945 (Valentines Day). He would have turned 80 on Friday, (14th February 2025). Dignitaries, bigwigs, clerics and all his ‘comrades’ (the poorest of the poor) and men and women with golden wallets would have graced the occasion. The trio of King Sunny Ade, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey and Dr Yinka Ayefele would have mounted the bandstands.

He passed away on Wednesday, 18th June 2014 in his London home at the age of 69. He was laid to rest at his Oluwo-kekere, Bashorun home (often referred to as the Aso Rock of Ibadan) on Friday 20th June, 2014.

The day of his passage was indeed a dies horribilissima (the most horrible day). Tens of thousands of people were thrown into a state of shock, disbelief and agony. His death came to us like a thurnderbolt, we never expected it, nor prepared for it. The only time that Ibadan was thrown into a state of corporate grief was probably during the time of Adegoke Adelabu’s death who died in a vehicular accident on March 25, 1958 along Lagos-Ibadan highway at the age of 43. Both were Ibadan irredentists. To them, Ibadan was God’s own city.

For all intents and purposes, if anyone could be rightly described as the ‘soul’ of Ibadan, certainly it was Aare Arisekola. He was the first Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, the third Aare of Ibadanland (Aare Latosa and Aare Emmanuel Alayande were the first and second Aare of Ibadanland). Aare Arisekola was also the Vice President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). The Sultan of Sokoto was (and still is) the President of the esteemed organisation.

Aare was substantially instrumental to the emergence of Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo as the flag bearer of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and the governor of the Old Oyo state in 1983. This development was occasioned by the ‘omo wa ni eje ko se’ (son of the soil mindset). However, the civilian government was shortlived; it collapsed under the jackboot of General Buhari’s junta. Aare also supported the choice of all his successors. 

I have an inkling that if Aare had not died at the time he died, the socio-political history of Ibadan would have been different. Interestingly, Aare Arisekola was often referred to as the reincarnate of the famous NCNC Opposition Leader, Adegoko Adelabu of the ‘Peculiar Mess’ fame because of their striking ‘babyface’, brilliance, physical resemblance and facial marks.

As I have stated elsewhere, “the benchmark for assessing a man or woman’s life should not be summarily defined within the shallow confines of high social status, education, pedigree or how rich or poor, or how old or young, but the prime consideration should be about the quality of life lived and not the length of life”.

Myths and oral traditions that have been handed over from one generation to the other have it that his family ancestry is traceable to Efon. However, there is a vague insight as to which of the Efons in the present day Yoruba speaking towns is being referred to, before their final settlement in Adigun and Ajia, somewhere in Ibadan.

He transmorgrified from a czar of ‘baranda’ trader (shrewd way of selling essential goods of others) into a business guru, revered statesman and a religious avatar. The astute industrialist was not only a builder of businesses and industries but also a builder of men and women. Aare was the architect of religious tranquility in the west. In a typical Indian sense, his leadership style would have earned him the prefix of a ‘Mahatma’ for his love for humanity. Throughout his public life, his generosity never waned. His passion for giving had been consistent. Looking back, it was not his wealth that made his life remarkable or significant, on the contrary, it was his attitude towards the wealth. In all his words and deeds, Aare certainly knew the limitations of wealth. Although he was an unusual person, his success story was not an unusual one. One uncommon trait that he was endowed with was his ability to effectively play the role of ‘Majeobaje’, which literally means a servant-leader, a fixer cum peacemaker who hardly cared about his health, wealth, and comfort while bringing succour to his people without strings or conditions.

Aare viewed and treated all his setbacks and challenges as opportunities and openings for him to be his very best in life and that on its own was unique! Aare, as he was fondly addressed had touched the lives of tens of thousands across the globe. He was a very generous and sympathetic personality who was almost always moved to tears at the slightest spectacle of human suffering and pangs. That was not all, he possessed some other qualities that stood him out. His deep religious, cultural and moral values.

Evita Peron, wife to the former President Juan Peron of Argentina once said, “when the rich think of the poor, they think poorly…” from all accounts, Aare Arisekola unlike most rich men was not in consonance with those Evita Peron had in mind. Aare was one of the greatest ‘good samaritans’ that ever lived.

During his lifetime, his presence was too powerful to be ignored – and even with his absence at death, he is still greatly loved and deeply missed.

“Aare Akanmu Arisekola, Aare Ibadan bi oba ilu mewa, Baba oni inu re, Baba alaanu, omo Rahimi Olatubosun ati Rabiatu Olatutu Abegbe Alao, omo ati Efon wa-sogun, eje le wa gba le o lo le mo, odun to buru baba ogba, ogo moro iyekan oba,  Aigberi oga omo Ayoro, omo asiyan kala, omo ati kalara ka ogun, omo agbe arugbo alarugbo lonu igbe lo jo…”

All men of goodwill will continue to embalm his memory in their hearts with affection, reverence, and gratitude. May good fortune continue to trail his memory forever.

1. Akinremi Oladapo Akintola ESQ. is a lawyer and the official biographer of Alhaji Arisekola Alao.

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