Friends, associates, religious leaders, and well-wishers on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, gathered in honour of Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki and shared their favorite memories of the former Second Republic Senate Leader during the prayer service held to mark his 11th death anniversary in Ilorin.
The annual prayer session was held at Baba Oloye’s residence , Ilofa Road, GRA, Ilorin . The prayer service was presided over by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir .
The event was attended by Kwara state PDP Chairman, Hon Tunde Mohammed, his immediate predecessor, Alhaji Kola Shittu, State PDP Secretary, Mr AbdulRahman Kayode Abdulahi, former Kwara state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Alhaji Saka Isau SAN, Alhaji Kayode Maja, Alhaji Musa Abdulahi, former member of Kwara state House of Assembly, Hon Jimoh Raheem Agboola, Alhaji Saka Onimago, Ambassador Nihinlola Akanbi, Hon Nimata Ibrahim, Alhaji Saka Kutigifu, Hon Ebun Owolabi, Alhaja Aminah Obadara, Alhaji Ahmad Al-Hassan, former Commissioner for Industry and Solid Minerals, Alhaji Lateef Okandeji, Alhaji Biodun Baraje , Alhaji Lanre Mustapha, Hon Kazeem Adekanye and other Kwara state PDP bigwigs.
Late Dr Abubakar Olusola Saraki, a medical doctor and a notable Nigerian political figure, died on November 14, 2012, at the age of 79.
In his short sermon, the Grand Mukadam of Ilorin; Sheikh Sulaiman Abubakar Soroh (Dan–Borno), urged supporters of the late politician not to lose hope noting that God’s mercies may come when least expected while noting that losing hope would amount to committing a sin. He also submitted that if someone continues to offend God and He continues to bless him or her, it is simply an opportunity for such a person to stop committing sins.
Also speaking, Sheikh AbdulRazaq Aduagba said attendees of the event were those who have continued to appreciate the late Dr Sola Saraki for impacting their lives noting that ‘this is a good development’ cognizant that he had though died eleven years ago, but people still treat anything that have to do with him with reverence.
He condemned the role of some among elites in the state ahead of the 2019 general election noting that they promoted rumours that certain properties in Abuja are owned by some people and after the election they could not produce evidence and no one talks about it anymore.
Aduagba also urged parents to show interest in shaping the future of their children while emphasizing the ‘temporary nature’ of positions of authority.
He also said some people usually become friends of those in positions of authority whilst they are public office holders but will leave once it ends, saying ‘we have ore ipo, and ore igba’.
Hon Babatunde Mohammed also extolled the virtues of Baba oloye and called the former Senate Leader a great philanthropist.
‘ First and foremost I want to say that I had the opportunity to serve as one of our highly respected father, late Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki’s Personal Assistants. I was with him for almost 10 years as his personal assistant. I want to say that Baba lived a fulfilled life. Baba is somebody that when he was alive he was always happy when he is able to assist the less privileged. And I want to say that across all the states that we have in Nigeria, I cannot be mentioning names, but many wealthy politicians even came to him for assistance, and he happily supported them financially, and he did this for close to 40 years. So, Baba lived a fulfilled life and he was always happy to help people.
I think it’s highly imperative to note that even when there was no politicking, each time the military took over power in those days, Baba will continue to assist people. Most especially whenever there is hardship in the community; Baba will come home and ensure that he finds a way to make everybody happy. This is a great lesson to us as politicians and even to the government. I want to say that we are very happy that our own leader today, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the former president of the Senate, has been doing the same thing. He lost election gallantly in 2019. Oga has continued to assist people and he did not even allow that to demoralize him. He has been helping people, and assisting people across all the 16 local governments that we have in Kwara state, even outside Kwara State. And look at what happened recently in the 2023 general election, he equally lost. Even with that, our leader ,Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been assisting people’ he said.
