Dr. Olusola Saraki Is Dead

The strongman of Kwara politics and Senate leader in the Second Republic, Dr. Olusola Saraki, is dead.
He died in the early hours of Wednesday morning at his Cameroon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, residence.
The immensely popular politician had been sick for a while.
His son, former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki departed Abuja for Lagos Wednesday morning to convey his father’s body to Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
The elder Saraki’s body will be interred at 4pm Wednesday in Ilorin.

Background:

Sola Saraki was born on the 17th of May, 1933 at Ilorin, Kwara State and died in Lagos November 14, 2012. His mother was from Iseyin in Oyo State and his father was from Ilorin. His paternal ancestors were Fulanis who came from Mali about 150 to 200 years earlier. He was educated at Eko Boys High School. He attended the University of London, and St George’s Hospital Medical School, London. He worked as a medical officer at the General Hospital, Lagos and the Creek Hospital, Lagos.
He first entered politics when he ran in the 1964 parliamentary election for Ilorin as an independent, but failed to win. After the election, he returned to his medical practice in Lagos, only returning to party-politics in 1978/79.
He died on Wednesday 14th November 2012 after a brief illness.