Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, was agog yesterday, as eminent Nigerians stormed the city to pay their last respects to the late Dr. Olusola Abubakar Saraki.

Saraki died in a Lagos hospital in the early hours of yesterday, ending a chapter in the political history of the state.

Though the body was scheduled to arrive the city at 3:30p.m., the state government practically relocated to the Ilorin International Airport before 2:00 pm to receive not only the body of the most influential Kwara State indigene in recent history but also the eminent citizens expected at the burial.

The VIP Lounge was filled with the team waiting to receive the body and guests. The team was led by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Speaker Abdulrazaq Atunwa and his deputy, Yisa Gana. They were joined by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaq Gold, commissioners, state lawmakers, special advisers and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and local government chairmen.

Reporters, photographers, politicians and airport staff also roved up and down on the tarmac to catch a glimpse of guests.

Also at the airport were senators Simeon Ajibola, Shaba Lafiaji and members of the House of Representatives from the state.

First to arrive was Alhaji Yusuf Alli (SAN). He arrived with a member, House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmad Alli aboard a chattered jet.

Chairman of Bicourtney Aviation Services Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), Senator Danjuma Goje and Andy Uba arrived at exactly 3:20 pm aboard another private jet marked: M-ANGA.

At 3:26 pm, a presidential jet marked Nigerian Air Force 5N-FGS conveying the Minister of National Planning Dr. Shamsudeen Usman touched ground. Some other top Federal Government functionaries flew with them.

Two minutes later, Speaker Aminu Tanbuwal, former Imo State Governor Jim Nwobodo and others arrived aboard another chattered jet marked D-AFAC. They were received by the Kwara State Speaker and other state government functionaries.

At 15:40 pm, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, arrived aboard a chattered jet marked: 2S-UBS. He arrived with some aides.

At 4:03 pm, another chattered jet marked: 3B-RGT conveying Kola Abiola and some federal lawmakers also touched the ground.

Senator Bukola Saraki and some family members arrived aboard a Rivers State jet marked: N565RS at 4:09. Decked in white agbada and a white cap to match, the former governor who wore mournful look, was received by his successor and Speaker of the House of Assembly, among others. He was immediately massed by a retinue of aides and politicians. They condoled him.

Security operatives tried in vain to keep people away from the bereaved.

At exactly 4:28 pm, a chattered Overland jet marked 5N-BCR landed with the body. The body tucked in a brown coffin, was moved into a waiting ambulance marked: KW 240 A08 belonging to the Specialist Hospital, Sobi, Ilorin.

The body was received by Bukola and Ahmed among others.

The arrival triggered uncontrollable emotions among sympathizers. Some burst into tears. Many shouted: "Allahu akbar" repeatedly as the coffin was being trasferred into the ambulance.

The crowd of A-list guests left the airport located on Ogbomoso road creating traffic snarl. Their vehicles were joined by the masses who rode on commercial motorcycles along with police escorts leading the body and the dignitaries to the Muslim praying ground on New Yidi Road. Residents who lined the road at both sides shouting: "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar."