I lost someone very dear to me yesterday. I lost a man who treated me and referred to me as “my daughter”, a man who was truly a father to me. When my own father died eight years ago, (incidentally he would have been 87 years old tomorrow), he stepped in and stepped up.

Dr. Amuda Aluko, the Tafida of Ilorin, passed away yesterday.

Decency, duty, reliability, honour, dignity, respect: these are all qualities that he not only held in high esteem, but practised every day during his time on this earth. He was a serious and disciplined man, but he could never resist the opportunity to have a laugh and share many of those rib-cracking funny incidences, occasions and stories from his rich and colourful life. Boy, did he have a great sense of humour!!

He had a strong sense of right and wrong, and very high principles that he stuck to no matter what. If he was ever in situations where he had the choice between right way out, and the easy way out, then for Dr. Amuda Aluko, the right way would always be the path to take.

He was a community leader who undoubtedly contributed immensely in the development of his community, his state and the country as a whole. He was greatly respected in all forms – as a medical doctor, a traditional; titleholder and a political and community elder of the Ilorin Emirate.

He was a man of repute and had a dignifying aura about him. On a personal level, he was always willing to help and offer advice where necessary. I remember the last ‘heart-on-heart’ conversation I had with him, as much as I remember our last meeting. What a pity we could not meet as planned due to flight delays. I had to fly back to Abuja whilst he was flying back to Ilorin. Had I known……………

He was asked in an interview less than a year ago, (August 2019), of how he would want to be remembered. This was his response:

“Truth is the greatest weapon I have. If you have the truth, then fairness, justice and equity won’t be far away from you. Honestly, I have paid my dues and I have no cause to complain or regret.”

Alhamdulillah. Alhamdulillah for a life well spent.

I will dearly miss you. My heart is broken over your loss but as Allah (SWT) said, Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un .

May Allah protect your family and all your loved ones and grant them the fortitude to bear your irreplaceable loss.

May Allah grant you His love, grace and His generosity and reward you with the highest place in His Jannat-Ul-Firdaus.

Rest in peace.