Alhaji Shittu, who died on the 7th May 2022, aged 90, was a naturally-gifted Nigerian multi-millionaire businessman and pathfinder, who set the records straight for Aiyepe – a small town straddling Ikenne and Odogbolu in Ogun State Nigeria – as a commercial hub or epicentre, in an arguably positive way. Ikenne is the state origin of Nigeria’s current Vice President – the Law Professor; Yemi Osinbajo, and the ancestral home of Nigeria’s foremost politician and Leader of Oppostion, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Children of all ages, adults low and high, would line up the streets, during Eid-ul-Adha, when we were growing up, to watch Safi and Sule of blessed memory, in their shiny Mercedes Benz, each his own and later owning many more after that, that I have even lost count, en route to the central prayer grounds or Yiddi. That centre point is now the site of the largest mosque in Nigeria, dwarfing the mosque in Tinubu Square – an area of outstanding beauty in Lagos. Theirs was a sight to behold; adults waved, children watched in awe and out of pure love jubilated at the motorcade procession, from the Shittus’ compound – that much I remember about the brothers. But what is factually enriching, and which will doubtless stay the course of time and history, is that the men maintained their pristine social status in a way that is rare these days. Visiting him with my dad, one late evening, Alhaji Safi received the late diplomat and his son well in his palatial part of the twin buildings at Aiyepe, that have remained the ‘cynosure of all eyes’ since the early 70s, to borrow Professor Chinua Achebe’s words. The area has itself now become popular with the noveau riche; credit of course there to the Shittus, who pioneered construction in the area. We would later visit our own house, which was under construction at the time, that same evening, twilight fast approaching and enveloping us in an unmistaken pall. It shows a rare and uncharacteristic humility of someone in his endowed position, that he could so honour us – getting out of his seat or comfort zone. Well spoken, calm, articulate but reserved, he certainly deserves to be honoured in the same way as the greats. Ijebu-wide or Nigeria-wide, he commanded the sort of respect that was unequalled amongst his peers. The Shittus made the folklore of their time. By local accounts and narratives that transcend local boundaries. The first West African Lace factory – the Austo-Nigerian Lace Factory, a first in Nigeria, he was its unstinted co-founder. Alhji Shittu was born in Aiyepe and is survived by a number of children, a number of whom are my own friends. He held the position of the regent for many years and was a charismatic muslim leader, being the Baba Adini of Ijebuland, a position of enormous Islamic importance. I am most certainly humbled by his ebullient and cheerful nature. He will be missed by not just everyone including his grandchildren but by Cash Madam, the multi-millionaire Nigerian socialite. Rest in eternal peace Alhaji Mobolaji Safi Shittu-MOHAMMED SAHEED BELLO -LLB
(HONS) SOLICITOR- Senior Courts of England & Wales
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