His Last Moments On Earth
He was a regular visitor in Europe either for medical check or for leisure. He was in Switzerland on Monday, June 16, 2014, to see his medics as he used to do. He spent that Monday there and told his associates in Nigeria he would be back in the country on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, but he never did because his trip to London to attend business meeting on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 would be his last.
He d!ed in his London home the next day, Wednesday, June 18, the same day he was to return to Nigeria. He was 69.
Born on February 14, 1945, to Alhaji Abdur Raheem Olatunbosun Olaniyan Alao and Alhaja Rabiatu Olatutu Abegbe Alao, both peasant farmers from Oyo State, he was reluctant to acquire western education because of his love for Islamic education which he had been attending since he was three. The intervention of one of his teachers made him complete primary school in 1960.
According to Encomium magazine, he later enrolled at Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State. But he dropped out due to the inability of his parents to further sponsor him. What he, however, lacked in education he gained abundantly in business. In 1961, he started the sale of Gammalin 20 by establishing Azeez Arisekola Trading Company.
He became interested in the sales of vehicles and established Lister Motors in 1972. His company was very prominent in the sales of Datsun that Chief Ebenezer Obey waxed an album for him. He (Obey) sang his praises to the high heavens in the album.
He was very close to the corridors of power during General Ibrahim Babangida and General Sani Abacha’s regimes. It was his romance with the power that be that got him the contract to supply food to Nigerian soldiers in ECOMOG peace keeping forces in troubled spots in Africa. He established Lister Foods because of this contract.
His other business interests under Lister conglomerate span real estate, oil, flour mills, insurance, media and agriculture. He was a recipient of many awards and honours including the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland which he was decorated with in 1980, due to his immense contribution to Islamic activities. He was one of the greatest financiers of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN).
He sponsored hundreds of people throughout the country to hajj every year. In 2008, he was honoured with the national award Commander of Order of the Niger (CON) by late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua. He is survived by many wives and many children.
From; Ethnic African Stories
