Date: 2017-05-19

The Emir of Ilorin Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari has disclosed how the departed Kwara State political icon and father of the Senate President, Dr Olusola Saraki, paid salaries to his colleagues as senate leader.

The Emir, who made the disclosure during the commissioning of the house for Sola Saraki Educational Foundation in Ilorin, yesterday, described the late Waziri of Ilorin as a philanthropist who lived all his life and expended his resources in helping people.

His words, "During his time in the senate as senate leader, there was a period when the senators did not receive three months salaries and he (Sola Saraki) was paying their salaries, this shows he lived a life dedicated to selfless service of humanity." In his remarks, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, commended the conveners of the foundation and pledged his moral, financial and physical support to its sustainability.

The Senate President, who was represented by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in the state charged members of the foundation to ensure that the legacy of the late political icon lives on, particularly in the areas of health and education. Meanwhile, Governor Ahmed officially named the state University after the late strongman of Kwara politics, Dr Olusola Saraki.

Ahmed, who made the announcement in Ilorin yesterday at the launching of Sola Saraki Educational Foundation, said the University would henceforth be called Sola Saraki University.

In his address, Ahmed stated that renaming the university was a better way of immortalising the late political icon, who he described, as "outstanding politician, mentor and philanthropist." The governor said that all arrangements to that effect would be finalised before the end of the year.

He described the late Saraki as a philanthropist, who touched the lives of his people, particularly the downtrodden. He said that the late Waziri of Ilorin's love for education was evident in his contributions to the building of several primary and secondary schools in the state.

Ahmed commended the initiator of the foundation for complimenting government's efforts in making education accessible to all. He called on individuals and corporate bodies to invest in education as a way of securing the future of the children, who he described as 'leaders of tomorrow.' Ahmed, who promised to improve and expand access to quality education in Kwara, noted that investment in education is an investment for the future. The governor, on behalf of the state executive council, donated N15 million for the take-off of the foundation.

Earlier in his welcome address the chairman Board of Trustees, Barr. Tunji Arosanyin, called for the support of everyone to ensure the sustenance of the foundation.

In the same vein, the convener, Alhaji Ladi Hassan, said the foundation is concentrating on education and health care. He added that it will provide scholarship for the less privileged students yearly, honour distinguished medical students, sponsor academic research and those with health challenges. The National Spokesperson of the APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, described the gesture as a good innovation typifies how much the late Saraki sacrificed in assisting people while alive.

Also, the Emir Okuta, Baruten Local Government Area of the state , Alhaji Abubakar Sero Idris has commended the initiators of the Sola Saraki Educational Foundation describing it as one of the best ways to immortalise the former senate leader.

The Emir noted that there was nothing too much that any government , group of people or even individual can do for the late Senate leader that was too much considering his achievements for the youths the old and the less privileged across the country during his life time.

The traditional ruler urged Nigerian politicians to emulate all the good deeds of late Doctor Olusola Saraki by being generous and not greedy to the people. Other speakers who lauded the project are; the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Engr Musa Ayinla Yeketi, Dr. Yahya Aliru, Hon Nimota Ibrahim and Ilorin Emirates Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alhaji Abdulamid Adi.