One of the most legendary stories about Aare Azeez Arisekola Alao was his visit to Lamidi Adedibu at Molete.
Adedibu was in the middle of Sallah prayers when Arisekola walked in. Instantly, Adedibu stopped praying to receive him. When people questioned his action, Adedibu replied:
“I prayed for money, and Arisekola is the answer. If I ignore him, God will punish me for rejecting answered prayer.”
Another hilarious moment involved Arisekola’s plan to build a zoo. Adedibu volunteered to bring lions from Senegal, but no lion ever arrived. When Arisekola became worried, Adedibu casually said:
“Aare, we’ve spent the money. Put us inside the cage so people can watch us instead of lions.”
Both men laughed—and their friendship remained solid.
Arisekola’s generosity was legendary. He once funded a gubernatorial campaign with ₦30 million daily for 40 days. In another election, he provided 25 brand-new vehicles, even while being linked to the opposing camp.
His generosity went far beyond politics. He was among the few people worldwide privileged to participate in the washing of the Kaaba. In his later years, he sponsored about 500 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, covering all expenses.
Aare Azeez Arisekola Alao wore wealth with laughter, power with generosity, and built a legacy without noise.
