National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, and Governors Babagana Zulum of Borno State and Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Monday joined hundreds of sympathisers in Osogbo for the burial of Mrs Sidikat Basiru, mother of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
The mother of the APC scribe, whose death was announced on Sunday, was laid to rest according to Islamic rites after a Janazah prayer held at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Mosque, Osogbo.
The event attracted prominent political figures, including the APC governorship candidate for Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the APC governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, and former Osun Deputy Governor, Titi Laoye-Ponnle, Immediate past deputy Governor of Osun State Benedict Alabi, alongside hundreds of party members, associates and sympathisers.
At the event also, were the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Asiwaju Musulumi in Southwest, Edo and Delta, Asiwaju Khamis Badmus alongside other prominent islamic scholars.
Speaking with journalists, Basiru described his late mother as an embodiment of industry, love and self-sacrifice, whose unwavering commitment ensured that he and his elder brother received quality education despite her modest means.
According to him, she made enormous sacrifices, including selling her personal belongings and treasured possessions to pay their school fees. He expressed gratitude to Allah that her efforts were not in vain, as she successfully raised two sons who became accomplished men.
The APC National Secretary also paid tribute to his mother’s devotion to Islam, recalling that she was passionate about the punctual observance of prayers and instilled strong religious values in her children.
“She’s a devoted Muslim. She brought us up in the way of Allah. In fact, a few times that we had quarrels were when I was not very diligent with my prayer times. Whatever you do, if you don’t observe your prayers as and when due, and instead accumulate them, it doesn’t go well with my mother.
“She believed in family. I come from a polygamous home, and she always encouraged us to see ourselves, our stepbrothers and our stepsister as one family. As you can see, all of us are here together today, so I will miss her,” he said.
