Dr. Fatai Bello, a statesman by all standards and a unifying figure in kwara State has exited into eternity in a hail of glory.
His death last Sunday was sudden, shocking and devastating. But the Janaza (Islamic burial) and the Fidau (Islamic prayer for the dead) demonstrated his Pan-kwara, Pan-Nigeria character.
The sometimes toxic politics of Kwara took a break on Sunday as Kwarans of all political persuasions trooped to his residence in GRA, Ilorin to pay their last respect to The Good Man at his Janaza. It was the same yesterday, at his Fidau. In short , the political class was , for a moment, united by Dr. Bello.
At the Janaza and Fidau, the leaders and stalwarts of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) showed the way. . Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq, the Mutawalhi of lorin and Dr. Bello’s treasured friend and confidant, wore a sombre look all through the Janaza.
Prominent Leaders of the opposition Parties – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Party (ADP)- were so visible at the burial and funeral prayers.
Among the opposition juggernauts in attendance were Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, Hon.
Kola Shittu, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun, Dr. Abubakar Kannike, Otunba Taive Afolabi, Alh. Tajudeen Alabi and other leading figures.
Truly, Dr. Bello was an APC Chieftain but his partisanship was not toxic. Within the ruling party, he was an elder with wisdom whom everyone approached for political solution.
In Oyun politics, he was deeply respected and celebrated. In the larger Kwara South politics, he was a through-bred, decent political leader with a dignifying character and carriage.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, would sorely miss his trusted Adviser without portfolio. The presence of senior Government officials at the Janazah and Fidau demonstrated their strong bond.
I can attest to the fact that though he held no government post, Dr. Bello was a go-to person in governance matters.
I am honoured to have attended both the Janaza and Fidau; I couldn’t have done otherwise given my closeness to him. Our path first crossed during the first term in office of Governor Bukola Saraki, CON when we both served in the Kwara State cabinet. Dr. Bello was the Special Adviser to the Governor on Emergency Management while I was the commissioner for Information and later Education.
We parted ways politically, however, after the end of Dr. Saraki’s first tenure but we never severed our relationship. It was therefore, a pleasant return to our political comradeship when APC and candidate AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq reunited us in 2018/2019.
We both served in the Governor elect’s Transition Committee. But more significantly, Dr. Bello belonged to the class of APC chieftains who have the ears of the governor.
I often visited Dr. Bello’s house not just for consultation on Politics and Governance, but also for mock table tennis competition. He was a star Ping-Pong player and has a table tennis courtyard at his residence. People went there regularly for recreation and for friendly competion.
Exactly a week before his death, I attended a meeting in Ilorin on the burial of late Sir Joseph Adeniyi Aderibigbe , the first Secretary to the State Governnent ( SSG) and Head of Service ( HOS) in Kwara State. Dr. Bello’s senior brother and former military Governor of Kebbi State, Gen. Salihu Bello (Rtd) heads that committee. I was excited that Dr. Bello was a member of that committee and I had looked forward to working with him. We will miss him.
Since Prof. Olusegun Elegbede broke the sad news to me that fateful Sunday night, I have become much more reflective about life. Dr. Fatai Bello was enigmatic in life as he is in death. May Allah be pleased with him. Ameen.
Good Night, Dear Brother; Aljanah Firdaus, the Good Man.
Oloriewe Raheem Adedoyin,
Ilorin,
Kwara State.