OPINION: AbdulRazaq: Tribute to Father of Illustrious Children. By Raheem Adedoyin

Date: 2020-07-28

The week closes with deadly vengeance. Iconic lawyer and statesman, Alhaji AbdulRazaq AbdulGaniyu Folorunso (aka AGF), exited with grace.

It is heartbreaking and there will be plenty of wailing; but unlike the trending deaths, Babas departure was neither gory nor premature. Alhamdulillah.

Tributes have been pouring on the great man. Even if you don't know him, there is enough to read about his awesome legal, political and entrepreneurial conquests.

But I have chosen to pay tribute to Baba AGF from the prism of his illustrious children. They are a true reflection of the man's grace, humility, candour, success and greatness. I have personal experience in this.

Start with Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq. I supported his candidature and was with him on election day in 1999 when he was contesting for Kwara state governorship under the platform of the People's Democratic Party. It was an audacious thing for me to do because I was a public officer (Chief Executive of the Kwara State Printing and Publishing Corporation, KWPPC) and political heavyweight Dr. Olusola Saraki's All People's Party (APP) was heavily favoured to win the elections in Kwara. I was with Dr. Alimi as results were coming in. He lost but it didn't diminish his quest for political emancipation.

Dr. Alimi was pivotal to my election as a national officer (Deputy National Publicity Secretary) of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in 2001. He was the one who took me and my friend, late Ahmad Ahman- Pategi (former Kwara State PDP chairman) to Chief Tony Anenih's residence in Abuja for endorsement. That visit sealed the fate of the high- level conspirators against my election.

Over the years, Dr. Alimi has remained so engaging in developmental discourse on Kwara. He is a good listener and very quick to acknowledge your goodness. He took particular interest in the manifesto that a team I headed worked on for then APC candidate, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. He calls regularly to express appreciation for what people do, sends goodwill messages to my family (especially his favourite, my son Abdulmojeed), shares his thoughts on and seeks information on Kwara and national matters. In today's Kwara, Dr. Alimi is a steady hand and father figure.

Aunty Aira. That's what I call Sen. Khairat AbdulRazaq- Gwadabe. She was an active Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) during the period I was PDP national officer. I watched her from close quarters, including during the transition period for Gov. AbduRazaq. Very cerebral and respectable.

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, you already know: a successful entrepreneur, humble, focused governor of Kwara, good listener and very engaging.

AA's WhatsApp display photograph was (and still is) permanently AGF's picture. You need no convincing about the father and son's close relationship.

Mallam Isiaka AbdulRahman (MIA), incredibly, I don't know much personally but his reputation as a Good Kwaran, facilitator of jobs, wealth creator and philanthropist is well- known in Kwara circles. Through MIA, you will also know humility is a family trait. Early this year, we flew together on Overland flight from Ilorin to Lagos. He sat quietly at the back seat, alone, sipping coffee. I went to greet him and was saying he couldn't see me in Ilorin again as promised. He didn't say anything.

As soon as we alighted, I walked up to him and that was when he told me " you are confusing me with my elder brother Dr. Alimi." And then added these remarkable words: "The Governor says a lot about the good things you are doing with him. The family appreciates ." I was travelling abroad that night and promised to call him on my return. I have not done that but I will now.

Hajia Aisha Mohammed Lawal is also a chip off the old block. They all just look alike(no pun intended). I was still Editor- in- Chief/ Chief Executive of The Herald Newspapers when she married then Governor Mohammed Lawal. I attended the wedding ceremony in the family house in Ilorin. I still saw the archived photographs of the event this week.

I served with Hajia Aisha on the handover committee that Governor-elect AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq set up. Her contributions were so informed and she conducted herself so humbly.

The youngest of the siblings, Abdulrauf, I don't know but those who do say he shares the family traits and values.

If you are blessed with the children that AGF was blessed with- all successful in their chosen fields, all maintaining the sterling reputation of the Patriarch and the heritage of the family- you will live forever - in people's memory.

I send my deep Condolences to the AGF family, the Ilorin Emirate and the Government and People of Kwara State.

May Allah grant Baba Aljanah Firdaus. Ameen.

*Raheem Adedoyin is a former Editor-in-Chief/Chief Executive of The Herald Newspapers

Source

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Jide Oyinloye     KWASSIP     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Osi     Yinka Aluko     Aisha Gobir     Olota Of Odo-Owa     Tunji Oyawoye     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     Michael Ologundea     Gbugbu International Market     Abubakar Aliagan     Rebecca Bake     Unilorin FM     Playing Host     Oasis Muslim Care Foundation     College Of Health     Idowu Aremu     Ijagbo Health Centre     Ishola Balogun Fulani     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Gani Saadu     Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye     Waheed Ibrahim     Saduki Lafiagi     Bolaji Nagode     Paul Olawoore     Dairo Kunle Paul     Okeose Christian Cementary     Muhammad-Mustapha Suleiman     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Balogun Fulani     Oye Tinuoye     Ajibike Katibi     Baboko Primary School     Yemi Sanni     Jalala     Cassava Growers\' Association     Students Union Government     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Abdulrasheed Akogun     QuickWin     Durbar Festival     Charles Ibitoye     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     Yahaya Seriki     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu     Muazam Nayaya     Kwara-SAPZ Project     CUTI     Yekeen Alabi     Jumoke Gafar     Bayo Ojo     Bureau Of Lands     Bilikisu Gambari     ASMAU PLAZA     Salmon Babatunde Salmon     Otoge     March 18     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Bankole Omishore     General Hospital, Ilorin     Oke-opin     Just Event Online     Dasuki Belgore     Chief Of Staff     Yusuf Arowosaye     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Yahaya Muhammad     Gobir    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

MAI Akande     Elesie Of Esie     Okedare     George Funsho Adebayo     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     Prince Sunday Fagbemi     CUTI     Busari Alabi Alausa     Durbar     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Oniye     Nigeria Computer Society     Aso Ofi     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Lola Ashiru     College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies     Olaitan Adefila     Christopher Odetunde     Split Diamond Interchange     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Abdulrazaq Adebayo     Isiaka Gold     Lukman Adeloyin     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman     Yashikira     08001000100     Ethical College     Folashade Omoniyi     Ibrahim Taiwo     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Waziri Yakubu Gobir     Kamaldeen Kehinde     Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa     Modibo Kawu     Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi     Abatemi-Usman     Segun Olawoyin     Abdulwahab Ololele     Old Oyo     Moshood Mustapha     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Saliu Ajia     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     Eleyele     Post Utme     ASKOMP     Salman Alada     Niyi Ogundiran     Kwara Polytechnic     Tunji Oyawoye     Rotimi Oyedepo     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Read With Me     Alimi     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Agboola Abdulraheem     Doyin Awoyale     Dunmade     Shaykh Luqman Jimoh     Village Alive Development Association     Bola Sagaya     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Ibrahim Mashood     Solomon Edoja     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Folorunsho Erubu     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Abdullahi Biffo     Yakubu Gobir     Lanre Jimoh     Durbar Festival     Olusin Of Ijara Isin     Bashirat Bola Bello     Bisi Oyeleke