The former Senate leader in the second republic and strong man of Ilorin politics, Olusola Saraki has been laid to rest according to Islamic rites.
He was buried in his country home in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
The 79 year old politician passed away early this morning in Lagos, after a prolonged illness.
Hundreds of people had assembled at the Ilorin International Airport ahead of the arrival of his corpse.
Dignitaries present at the prayer for his burial were the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor of old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo and the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Also present were members of his grieving family, which included former Senator Gbemisola Saraki and former Governor of Kwara state, Dr Bukola Saraki.
The Minister for Interior, Abba Moro, Minister of National Planning, Usman Shamusideen, and the former Minister of Defence, Alhaji Haliru Bello,were also present.
The late strongman of Kwara politics had been battling with an undisclosed ailment for months and had sought treatment in a series of foreign hospitals.
The late politician fondly called ‘Oloye’ was the Waziri of the Ilorin Emirate.
Mourning on Facebook
Meanwhile, the former Governor of Kwara State and son of the late politician, Dr. Bukola Saraki, posted on social media that his late father would be “sorely missed.”
The former governor, who is now the chairman Senate Committee on Environment wrote the following on his Facebook page:
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un ; “Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” (al-Baqarah:156) With gratitude to Almighty Allah, we announce the passage to eternity of our beloved father and grandfather, His Eminence, Oloye (Dr.) Abubakar Olusola Saraki, Waziri of Ilorin, former Senate Leader, Second Republic, Federal Republic of Nigeria who answered the call to the great beyond, in the early hours of today in Lagos (17 May 1933 – 14 Nov 2012).”
“We take solace in knowing that our father lived an exemplary life of service, and selfless devotion to development of his people and nation. Baba will be sorely missed. We pray for the repose of his soul that Almighty Allah grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus. Amin.”
