The paramount ruler of Remoland, Akarigbo of Remo, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo, is dead. He died Saturday evening in London.
This was even as the death of the former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Magaji Abdullahi , also occurred in the early hours of Sunday, aged 69. He died after a protracted illness at his residence located at NNDC Quarters, Sharada area in Kano metropolis.
Oba Sonariwo, who was the Chairman of Ogun State Traditional Council, was flown to London on July 17 following an illness.
Oba Sonariwo, who ascended the throne on July 14, 1990, was born on July 28, 1936 and also died in July.
“He died Saturday evening in UK where he was flown to since July 17 after a brief illness. He joined his ancestors in the presence of his Olori, Abosede, who accompanied him on the medical trip,” a family member said.
A Sagamu high chief described the departed Oba as a great philanthropist, saying: “he donated 30-bed ward to the Ogun State Teaching Hospital, Sagamu at a point in time. I can vividly remember that.”
Sonariwo, who was born in Ita Eleye in Lagos State in 1936, attended St. John’s School, Aroloya, Lagos from 1941 to 1949 before he proceeded to Methodist Boys High School from 1950 to 1955.
The traditional ruler, who became an orphan at the tender age of six and had dreamt of working with the Central Bank of Nigeria to become the Governor, “so that I would sign my name on the naira notes,” later travelled abroad for further studies and series of training in tax and the accounting profession.
He worked with the Inland Revenue Service before he was invited to ascend the throne of his forefathers.
A source from the government confirmed that the news of the monarch’s death has been communicated to Governor Ibikunle Amosun by the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa and Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bashorun Muyiwa Oladipo, both indigenes of Sagamu.
The death of Magaji Abdullahi was confirmed by his former spokesman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim, and said that the deceased is survived by one wife, many children and grand children.
According to him, the deceased was a one-time commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport between 1989 and 1990, and later commissioner for Water Resources.
Magaji Abdullahi came into limelight when he contested for the governorship of Kano State under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 1991.
In 1999, he defeated Senator Kabiru Gaya in the APP governorship primaries, but lost to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
He later became Malam Ibrahim Shekarau’s running mate in 2003 and served as Deputy Governor under APP and later ANPP from 2003 to 2007.
The deceased had since been buried in accordance with Islamic rites at the Dandolo grave yard at Goron Dutse in Kano metropolis.
Among those who attended the funeral prayer were Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and his Deputy, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, as well as other top government officials and politicians from within and outside the state. [myad]
