The former Senate leader in the second republic and strong man of Ilorin politics, Olushola 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 Wednesday 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.