ARÍṢEKỌ́LÁ: THE LATE ÀÀRẸ MÙSÙLÙMÍ OF YORÙBÁ LAND
Hajji Azeez Arisekola Alao was turbaned as the Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land on June 14, 1980. He was just 35 at the time.
Same 1980, he was also conferred with the chieftaincy title of Bobagunwa of Ejigbo, by the Ogiyan of Ejigbo, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin. He was the Aare Ikolaba, given by the late Olubadan Daniel Tayo Omopeunnu Akinbiyi in 1981.
Ever since the turbaning ceremony, Hajji Azeez had stopped attending social events where he would spray musicians. He became conscious of his public activities till he breathed his last. Earlier before his becoming the Aare Musulumi, he’d been a socialite. Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi benefitted from his generosity. He waxed an album in his honor. “Oyinbo oni Datsun mi…” By 1979, Arisekola had become a popular distributor of Datsun cars, when he was barely 34.
So, it’s no exaggeration to say that Arisekola had been a millionaire since the late 70s. It’s noteworthy to acknowledge that he started as a Gamalin 20 distributor, walking from one place to another just to sell the product. By the late 1980s, he’d registered his Lister Group of Companies. He was the Chairman/Managing Director, Lister Group of Companies.
When Babangida became HoS in 1985, Arisekola became a friend of Mr. President, though their friendship had been active since the early 80s. He also benefitted from the Abacha military administration. You remember how UI students mobbed him in 1996? They didn’t spare his Limousin. Remember this song?:
🎶 S’ebi alasalatu la ba de bi
A de Adamasingba lo d’Abacha
S’ebi Alasalatu la ba de bi 🎶
Hajji Azeez Arisekola Alao
Akanmu ìkó
Ajagunna isowo
Omo Rabiatu Olatutu Abegbe
Omo Alao Olaniyan
Oko Olaronke
Oko Afusa
Oko Alh Mariam
Baba Fatima
Baba Ismaila
Baba Abdullahi
Baba Adijah
Baba idris
Baba Ruqoyat
Omo atarugbo f’owo fe omidan
Omo eni a le mu ta ran alanjagbila
To gbe ori alanjagbila mo mi
Atare kere ina latare
Ajagunna isowo tiwon n pe ni Okebadan
Pelenge olola
Awo erin tii damu isona
Omo agesin beri odo
