Ajase-Ipo, Kwara State – In a rare display of political unity, leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP) came together to honor Professor Wale Sulaiman’s late mother, Alhaja Belawu Akanke Sulaiman, at her Fidau prayer held in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun Local Government Area.
The event saw chieftains from the state’s leading political parties set aside their differences to pay tribute, underscoring the unifying legacy of Professor Sulaiman, a renowned neurosurgeon, academician, and politician celebrated for his inclusive leadership.
Prominent attendees included the state chairmen of APC, PDP, and SDP, as well as serving and former members of the National and State Assemblies. Traditional rulers, academics, and notable public figures also graced the ceremony, marking it as a historic moment of solidarity in Kwara’s political landscape.
Dr. Yusuf Kolawole Jumaah, former Chief Imam of the University of Ilorin Muslim Community, delivered an enlightening sermon on the significance of Fidau prayers. He praised Professor Sulaiman for his contributions to the medical field and his commitment to philanthropy, attributing his achievements to the diligence instilled by his late mother. Dr. Jumaah urged the family to sustain Alhaja Sulaiman’s legacy by engaging in community development and humanitarian efforts.
Professor Sulaiman, in an emotional tribute, described his late mother as a paragon of love and generosity whose values will continue to guide the family. His Royal Majesty, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming turnout, particularly from traditional rulers across Kwara South, and commended the attendees for honoring the deceased.
The Fidau prayer drew an impressive array of dignitaries, including the Emir of Ilorin’s representative, Professor Isiaq Oloyede (JAMB Registrar and former Unilorin Vice-Chancellor), Professor Abdul-Wahab Egbewole (current Unilorin Vice-Chancellor), and Professor Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN). Other notable attendees included Hon. Lukman Olaiwola Mustapha, Prince Saheed Popoola, and former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Professor Ali Ahmad.
Also present were Hon. Olushola Odetundun, Hon. Owolabi Olatunde Razaq, and the APC and PDP chairmen, Prince Sunday Fagbemi and Alhaji Babatunde Mohammed, respectively. Representatives from youth and women’s groups, including Kwara South Youth for PWS, PWS Women in Politics, and Igbomina Youth Assembly, further highlighted the inclusiveness of the occasion.
This monumental gathering, inspired by Professor Sulaiman’s exemplary leadership and cosmopolitan
