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Arisekola on our minds

By Abudr Rahaman Aderinoye
18 June 2015   |   12:18 am
THE Book, “Arisekola in Our Minds; A Compendium of Tributes” compiled and edited by Prof. Rashid Aderinoye, of University of Ibadan is a collection of documented as well as published articles and tributes on the Subject i.e. Aare Alhaji Abdul Azeez Akanmu Arisekola Alao, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland.
Prof. Rashid Aderinoye

Prof. Rashid Aderinoye

THE Book, “Arisekola in Our Minds; A Compendium of Tributes” compiled and edited by Prof. Rashid Aderinoye, of University of Ibadan is a collection of documented as well as published articles and tributes on the Subject i.e. Aare Alhaji Abdul Azeez Akanmu Arisekola Alao, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland.

Although, it is a publication with articles and tributes on the Subject (Aare), it is, however, more of a “collection” on the personality of the subject which is intended to immortalise as well as celebrate the ‘life and times’ of an ‘internationally acclaimed good man’ who departed this world on Wednesday, June 18, 2014.

The introductory aspect of the book i.e. the “Front Matter” covers 17 pages in roman numerals, which include the foreword by the Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadan, Oloye Lekan Alabi, the preface by the Editor and other ancillary contents.

The 202 paged book, published in March 2015; barely a year after the demise of Aare, gives credence to the fruitful life that the Aare lived.

The entire tributary contents which include relevant and appropriate pictures add up to 195 pages of 11 sections (sectionalised by titles) with 82 articles being an editorial and publications from Tribune Newspapers, 38 from The Nation, 8 from the Sun, 6 from the Punch, 2 from ThisDay, 2 from Village Fortune, one each from The Guardian and Vanguard Newspapers while 14 were compiled from the Condolence Register and other sources such as letters sent to the Deceased.

The sectionalisation of the compendium with different titles as well as relevant, rich and exquisite pictorial references added value to the Book and actually, further justifies its being “A Compendium”.

 

Pages1-75 of the Book featured articles from the following individuals, Femi Abbas, Ladi Williams, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Ayinla Mukaila, Imam, Alhaji Abdul Razak Akuru, Dr. Taiye Ayorinde (Baale of Ekotedo), Oloye Lekan Alabi, Prof. D.O.S Noibi, The late Chief Imam of Ibadan, Chief Imam Busari.

On page 67-71 we have the famous, astute and prolific Punch Columnist Tunde Fagbenle, Paul Omorogbe and JimohMumin. Pages 77-84 could best be described as Presidential Tributes of the Compendium as five former Heads of State and one former Vice President described the late Aare as a good man who lived for the benefit of others and would be sorely missed.

These include Presidents Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Goodluck Johnathan, Gen, Ibragim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari as well as Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Pages 85-102 can better be described as the Governors Tributes as it contained tributes from Military to civilian and Deputy Governors published in different newspapers.

They include, Governors General Tunji Olurin, Prince Amien Oyakhire, Omololu Olunloyo, Rashidi Ladoja, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alao Akala, Kayode Fayemi, Gbenga Daniel, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Ibikunle Amosun, Olusegun Mimiko, Alhaji Fatai Ahmed, Babatunde Fashola, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Senator Isiaka Ajimobi.

Deputy Governors include Hazeem Gbolarumi and Chief Moses Adeyemo both of Oyo State. Details of the content of their tributes are better appreciated in reading the book.

The fourth section of the Book, which captures tributes from Royal Fathers and Religious Leaders on pages 103-116, includes those of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba (Dr.) Samuel Osundiran Odulana Odugade I; The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Sultan Abubakar Saad III, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III; the Oyo Traditional Council (Oyo Mesi); the Iyalode of Yorubaland, Chief (Mrs.) Alaba Lawson; traditional rulers from Okeogun and Ibarapa areas of Oyo State; the Prelate emeritus, Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde; the National Missioner of Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, the Aare Musulumi of Ibarapaland, Alhaji Sanusi Mustapha, Ojolowo; the Chairman Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim wing), Alhaji Taofeek Akeugbagold; and the leader of Anglican Church of Nigeria, Ekiti Province, Rev. (Dr.) R.A. Adetiloye.

Politicians were not left out as their tributes spread over Pages 117-132. They include those of former Senate President, Senator David Mark, former Speaker House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, Hon. Monsurat Sunmonu, Mr. Remi Babalola, Senators Teslim Folarin, Olufemi Lanlehin, Hosea Agboola, Iyiola Omisore and Rasheed Olasunkanmi Akinlabi.

Others include Seyi Makinde, Muhammad Dele Belgore (SAN), Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan and Hon. Segun Olulade, The various Islamic organisations tributes were captured on pages 133-140.

These include the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) to which he was the Vice President, Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) through its Secretary General and National Coordinator, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, The Oyo State Muslim Community via its Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Kunle Sanni, Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates Association (UNIFEMGA), The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the founder of Daru Dawah Islamic Centre, Sheikh Mustapha Zuglool, Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), Jama’atuNasru-l-Islam (JNI), Nawair-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, The Companion, Al-Muminaat Organisation, Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (AUD/ASN) and National Council of Muslim Youths Organisation (NACOMYO) and the University of Ibadan Muslim Graduates Association.

Family and Friends paid their tributes on pages 141-162. Some of them include, Pa Jenrola, the Mogaji Arisekola at the Ita-Baale family house, Oba-Otudeko Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, Chief Harry Akande, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Folorunsho Adewole, the Pioneer Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Mustapha Akanbi, Evangelist Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Joseph O. Sanusi, Prof. A.O. Popoola of the Faculty of Law, O.A.U, Ile-Ife, Ambassador Roland Ola Omorua, Nigerian Embassy, Bangui CAR, Pastor (Dr.) J.A. Adeniji, S.D.A Conference, Oke-Bola, Ibadan.

A section of the compendium, from pages 163-167 contained those who could be described as beneficiaries as they all described him as a father. These include, Yinka Ayefele, Hafeez Adeaga, Rashidat Ogundele, Iyabo Yisa and Bashiru Ayinla.

All acknowledged that Aare was more of a father to them whom God has made a pillar of success in their lives. Pages 169-184 contained Tributary Messages, mainly advertorials in National Dailies which opened with a poetic ode with the title “Good Night, Aare” written by Governor Ajimobi of Oyo State and his wife. Last of the tributary messages/advertorials on page 184 announcing the demise of Aare is a list (36) of Aare’s Children.

Arisekola at 70, a Posthumous birthday write up on Aaare was the last part of the Compedium on pages 185-195, authored by Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi and Ayo Akinyemi published in The Nation Newspaper (Saturday, 14th February, 2015) and 14th February, 2015 on page 34 of Saturday Tribune.

Aaare was mirrored in this Compendium as a God-creation to the service of humanity, a special envoy of God to bring smiles to the faces of those that came across him. He came, doggedly ran his race, faithfully delivered on the errand his creator sent and left in a blaze of glory.”

Sunre o enire Ibadan. (good person of Ibadan), Aare Alhaji Abdul Azeez Arisekola Alao, the first Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland and Aare of Ibadanland and Vice President, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). •

The reviewer Abdur-Rahman Adebayo Aderinoye is a product of Barakaat Nursery/Primary School in Ibadan, the pioneer Islamic Nursery/Primary School in Ibadan established by the Islamic Education Foundation (IEF) to which Aare Arisekola Alao is the Patron. The book Arisekola in our minds is a compedium of tributes edited by Rashid Aderinoye

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