The Chief Imam of Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu, has passed away at the age of 75.

The respected Islamic scholar died in the early hours of Monday in a hospital in Abuja after over 40 years on the Minbar (pulpit), also serving as the Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Ulamas.

Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has expressed shock at the news of the passing of the Chief Imam of Ilorin.

Saraki, in a statement by his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, described the late Chief Imam as an institution whose life was defined by scholarship, devotion to Allah, and selfless service to the Ummah.

He said that Sheikh Soliu’s over four decades of continuous leadership on the mimbar transformed him into a moral compass and spiritual authority whose influence transcended the Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State.

He added that Ilorin, Kwara State, and the Nigerian Muslim Ummah have lost a towering spiritual leader, an accomplished scholar, and a symbol of faith, moderation, and service to humanity.

“The late Chief Imam served diligently as the spiritual head of Ilorin and as Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Ulama, Alfas, and Imams, guiding generations with wisdom, clarity, and uncommon humility.

“From the pulpit, his sonorous voice consistently called the faithful to righteousness, peace, discipline, and communal harmony. His sermons and teachings further strengthened Ilorin’s historic reputation as a bastion of Islamic theology, jurisprudence, moderation, and intellectual excellence.

“A worthy heir to a noble lineage of Islamic scholarship, Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Bashir Soliu embodied the finest values of Ilorin’s spiritual heritage. His life reflected piety, loyalty, diligence, and a deep respect for knowledge.

“Beyond his role as Chief Imam, he was a teacher, mentor, and father-figure to many, shaping minds and character through learning and exemplary conduct. His leadership fostered unity within the Ilorin Emirate and strengthened the harmonious relationship between the Emirate Council and the Islamic community,” he stated.

He recalled the father-and-son relationship he had with the late scholar, describing his prayers, counsel, and moral support during critical moments in his public service as unforgettable.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has expressed sadness over the demise of Shaykh Soliu.

Sulu-Gambari, in a condolence message issued by his Press Secretary, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, described the late cleric as “a colossal loss to the Ilorin Emirate, the entire Muslim Ummah, and humanity in general.”

He confirmed the cleric’s death, saying: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. It is with total submission to the will of Almighty Allah that we received the news of the demise of the 12th Chief of Ilorin, Shaykh Muhammad Bashir Imam Soliu Onida.

“He was a cleric with unique features, intelligence, honesty, loyalty, dedication, and tolerance. His demise has caused us in Ilorin Emirate great sadness of no particular measure. We reflect on his lifetime as a man of great honour and piety.

“Late Imam Soliu was full of wisdom and was notable for unifying the entire Muslim clerics as well as promoting inter-religious harmony in the state,” he said.

The monarch said that the Janazah was held at the Palace Square yesterday at 4:00 pm.

Sulu-Gambari therefore prayed to Almighty Allah to grant Shaykh Muhammad Bashir Imam Soliu absolute forgiveness, accept his good deeds, and admit him into Al-Jannatul Firdaus.

The senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, has enjoined all to pay their collective final respects to the revered and beloved Chief Imam.

He wished Allah’s absolute forgiveness for the deceased, acceptance of his righteous deeds, and admission into Al-Jannatul Firdaus.

Born in 1950 in Ilorin, Sheikh Soliu was said to have died after a brief illness.

The Guardian Newspaper recalls that the late Chief Imam, last year, married a new wife.

According to sources close to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Imam Soliu became the 12th Chief Imam of the Ilorin Emirate in 1983, a position he held for over 40 years.

Throughout his tenure, the late Chief Imam was widely respected for his knowledge of Islamic teachings, firm leadership in religious affairs, and consistent advocacy for peace, unity, and religious tolerance among Muslims and the wider society.