The Waziri of Ilorin,
Abubakar Olusola Saraki, died at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence, in the early hours
of today. He was 79.
His
son, Bukola Saraki, who announced the death said the
family ”take solace in knowing that our father lived an exemplary life of
service, and selfless devotion to the development of his people and nation.”
The
body of the late politician has been moved to Ilorin, the capital of Kwara
state where he reigned as a political godfather for several years.
The deceased will be buried today at 4.00
pm local time, family members said. The state government which
pundits describe as ‘Saraki’s empire’ has declared three days of
mourning.
“Baba will be sorely missed,” Bukola, former
governor of Kwara state, now a senator said.
He was born 17th of May, 1933 in Ilorin, Kwara State, he attended the Eko
Boys High School for his secondary education and proceeded to London for his
university education, attending the University of London and St George’s
Hospital Medical School, after which he returned to Nigeria to work as a
medical officer at the General Hospital, Lagos and the Creek Hospital, Lagos.