Raheem Ibrahim
The National President of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alhaji Abdulmumini Ayo Abdulmalik, has commiserated with the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman, Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji(Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari,CFR; His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as well as others on the death of the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Shaykh (Dr) Muhammad Bashir Saliu, OON.
The Chief Imam died on Monday, 19th January, 2026 after a brief illness at the age of 76 and had since been buried according to the Muslim rites.
In a statement signed by Mallam Suleiman Shuaib Dagbo, the IEDPU National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Abdulmalik, who also sympathised with the family of the late cleric, described his demise as a great loss not only to Ilorin Emirate but also to the humanity at large.
Alhaji Abdulmalik, who noted that the late great cleric was a pride to the community, said that the late Chief Imam provided quality and fascinating spiritual leadership for the community for 43 years, saying that he would be remembered forever for adding glamour and grace to the office of the Chief Imam.
While condoling with his family, the President also sympathised with the Imam Imale of Ilorin, Shaykh Abdullahi AbulHameed, other members of the Ilorin Emirate and Kwara State Council of Ulama as well as the entire people of Ilorin Emirate on the demise of the outstanding cleric.
Alhaji Abdulmalik prayed to Allah to forgive the shortcomings of the Chief Imam and reward his good deeds with Aljanat Fridaous.
Similarly, the Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman has expressed profound shock and sadness over the return of the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Shaykh Muhammad Bashir Solihu, OON, back to his creator
In a condolence statement issued by his media aide, Mohammad Abdulkadri. Prof Sulaiman said the late 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin, who until his death was a respected Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Ulamas bequeathed legacies of a committed devotee and service to Almighty Allah as well as humanity.
According to him, Imam Al- fulani who recently marked forty- three years of active service as Chief Imam of Ilorin embodied influential characters of an avowed preacher, servants of Allah, and an avid reciter of Al- Quran in a most thrilling golden voice that will continue to resonate and inspire generations of adherents of Islam.
The former minister of National planning deeply commiserate with His Royal Highness, Mai Martaba Sarkin Ilory, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, CFR, Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union, (IEDPU), the Council of Ulamas, his families, as well as the entire Muslim Ummah over what he described as : “A Colossal loss to the entire Muslim Ummah”.
Recalling with heavy heart, Prof Sulaiman, said “I had personal relationship with the late erudite Islamic Scholar and benefited from his spiritual blessings at several gatherings and ceremonies during his life’s inspirational journey that was notably defined by spirituality which puts Ilorin on the national maps of respectability in matters concerning Islamic tenets and erudism”
He besieged Almighty Allah to forgive the highly referred Chief Imam of Ilorin and make Aljannat Fridaus his final abode just as he also prayed to God to grant his loved ones in this trying times the fortitude and rectitude to bear the irreparable loss.