American legendary poet, Maya Angelou, once said in one of her enduring quotes: “A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.” These words come to mind whenever the thought of the late business magnate, Aare Abdulazeez Arisekola-Alao flashes.
For good reason, Arisekola, who passed away on 18 June 2014 in the United Kingdom at age 69, has continued to live in the hearts of his families, friends and associates. For these special people, it was a moment of sober reflection once again as they all gathered last week at Aare’s sprawling mansion at Oluwo-Nla, Ibadan, Oyo State to mark 10 years of the transition and offer prayers for the repose of the soul of the late billionaire. On that day, his mansion was filled with clerics, friends, and family members who all participated in the special prayers.
During his lifetime, Arisekola was at the epicentre of the politics and social life of Ibadan. But in 1980, the businessman and socialite exited the social circuit for the Islamic world when he was turbaned the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland and later Vice-President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA). He later devoted the vigour and energy with which he dominated the social scene to the service of Islam. But Arisekola’s unequalled generosity is one reason many will not forget him in a hurry. He touched so many lives probably in a way no other person has ever done in the ancient city.