By Dele Moses, Ilorin
A renowned politician in Kwara State, Dr Amuda Aluko, is dead. Aluko, according to family sources, died at the age of 85 on Friday morning in Ilorin after a brief illness.
The politician was a member of the defunct National Reconciliation Committee of Nigeria (NARECOM) led by Chief Alex Akinyele who also died last year.
Aluko was a contemporary of the state’s late political kingmaker, Dr Olusola Saraki, both of who were said to be the first set of medical doctors the Ilorin community produced.
He was however on many occasions not in the same political camp with Saraki before the latter died in 2012.
The veteran politician was also a community leader in Ilorin as he was honoured with the traditional title of Tafida of the community many years before his death.
He was the Chief Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of Geri Alimi Hospital, one of the oldest private medical Centres in the state.
On Friday, Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, commiserated with the entire Ilorin Emirate and the immediate family of Dr Aluko, the Tafida of Ilorin.
The Governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said that Aluko contributed immensely to the development of Ilorin and the state and described his death as sad.
The statement reads: “The Governor sends his sincere condolences to the Emir of Ilorin Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, the Ilorin emirate as a whole, and the family and associates of the Tafida of Ilorin over this loss. The Governor is sad that the emirate has again lost one of its most illustrious sons whose footprints would remain in the sand of time.
“Dr Aluko was a statesman by any stretch of the word. He established the largest private hospital in the old Kwara State, which is a 100-bed facility, as a practical demonstration of his patriotism and philanthropy. He was among the first generation of medical doctors in the old Kwara State — indeed among the first three. The Tafida, among other marks of his greatness, was a recipient of a national award (OFR). He was a leading Otoge champion and patron who would look back with pride at the birth of a new Kwara he worked so hard with others to realise,” the statement said.
“It is instructive that the Tafida of Ilorin died in the last lap of the month of mercy during which God’s forgiveness and leniency are so close to mankind. We therefore beseech the Almighty Allah to lighten and ease the account of the elder statesman before his creator, illuminate his grave, and grant him al-Jannah Firdaus.”
Also in his condolence message, the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa, described the demise of Aluko as a great loss to the APC, Ilorin emirate, kwara State and the entire nation.
Bolarinwa noted that deceased’s “invaluable contributions to the medical profession, health care delivery through his famous Gari Alimi Hospital, party politics and indeed to Ilorin emirate are hallmarks of the worthy legacies he left behind.”
“On a personal note, he was a dotting political father and adviser. His wise counsel will be sorely missed,” he added.
The APC chairman said Aluko was a bridge builder, a consummate community leader, a devout Muslim and philanthropist.
“On behalf of our party executive, leaders and members, l pray Almighty Allah to grant him aljanah firdaus and comfort the family and loved ones he left behind.”