Encomium
+His unfulfilled dreams
THE Will of the late billionaire, Aare Arisekola Alao has been read one week ahead of the official date. Shortly after his death, a family source revealed to ENCOMIUM Weekly that his Will which include all his assets, estate and billions will be made public on Thursday, July 3, 2014. But on Thursday, June 26, 2014, his lawyer declared the content of the Will to his children at the Chief Registrar’s office, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The administrator of the Will, Obafoluke Otudeko is said to have led the children to the declaration of the Will. The details of the content of the Will was not made public but it is a common knowledge that the late philanthropist had huge shares in First Bank of Nigeria Plc. In fact, he called the shots in matters relating to the bank. He participated in the oil and gas sector of Nigeria economy. He also had many fuel stations scattered across Nigeria. The billionaire traded in cars, flour mills and biscuits and the factories under his Lister Group is an asset included in the Will. Aare also has houses in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and USA.
Alhaji Arisekola Alao died in his London home on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, after a protracted battle with Prostate Cancer. He was buried on Friday, June 20, 2014, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Islamic top shot died with many unfulfilled dreams among which were the re-opening of few of his businesses. He had planned to re-open his Ibadan Flour Factory, Lister Flour Mills and Lister Biscuits before the commencement of the Ramadan. The factories which are worth millions of naira are located at Podo Layout on the old Lagos-Ibadan Road, Ibadan, Oyo State. It was gathered that the late businessman planned to hold a reopening ceremony when he returned from London before death came calling.
Family sources also divulged that late Arisekola Alao had pumped huge money into the companies expected to reopen this week.
Before his death, Aare Arisekola Alao nursed the dream of seeing Ibadan State crated from Oyo State. He also looked forward to his 70th birthday which is eight months away.
We spoke to one of his children, Semiu Arisekola Alao on Friday, June 27, 2014. He told us he was not in the mood to speak, that we should call later.
-FOLUSO SAMUEL
