Meet Late Billionaire,Aare Arisekola Alao's 35 Successful Children And See What His Son Umar Says About Him

The Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Chief
Azeez Arisekola-Alao who passed away on
Wednesday, 18th June 2014 is survived by 35
successful children. They are Isma’il Alao,
Khadijah Alao-Straub(Non-Executive Director,
First Bank of Nigeria), Abdullah Alao, Fatima
Alao, Idris Alao, Marufah Alao, Musa Alao,
Yisa Alao, Mustapha Alao, Maryam Alao-
Noibi, Abdul-Rahman Alao, Asiyah Alao,
Uthman Alao, Alliy Alao, Umar Alao, Jubril
Alao, Bilqis Alao, Hamza Alao, Luqman Alao,
Hajar Alao, Ayub Alao, Hawwa Alao, Khidr
Alao, Adam Alao, Nuh Alao, Zuliakha Alao,
Lubabah Adeojo, Habib Alao, Habiba Alao,
Sa’eed Alao, Halima Alao, Aminah Alao,
Ibrahim Alao, Sekinah Alao, Medinah Alao,
Khalid Alao, and Rukayyah Alao Umar Arisekola-Alao is the Oyo State
Commissioner for Youth and Sports and son
of late billionaire businessman, Azeez
Arisekola-Alao. In this interview February 2014, he talks about
the social life of his father and how he trains
his 45 children.
How was growing up like?
I was born in 1982 and I attended Methodist
Primary School in Ibadan. I began secondary
education at Government College, Ibadan, and
completed it at Bodija International School,
Ibadan. In 1997, I moved to the United
Kingdom and enrolled at Irwin College, where
I studied biomedical science. I obtained a
second degree in accounting at St. George’s
University, Grenada, West Indies.
I have lived life in different ways that allow
me to relate with so many people in different
situations. Being fortunate to have the kind of
upbringing I had, I relate well with the rich
and the poor based on my character. My
experience when I was young in Nigeria was
different from when I got to England because
there I grew up to adulthood.
How many siblings do you have and how do
you relate with them?
It will take much time if I have to name them.
There are 45 children in our house with
different mothers but we do not regard any of
the mothers as a step-mother. To the
children, all the mothers are the same. We
spent time with them regularly when we were
young.
At home, the elder children take care of the
younger ones so I learnt a lot from my
siblings. When I returned home to invest in an
oil and gas business, it was my brothers who
helped me out. We have a good relationship in
the family despite the large number. We have
had misunderstandings in the past but they
only made us stronger.
How often do you see your father?
It is difficult to pin down my father because of
his busy nature. Before I was born, he had
been living the way he is now, so one cannot
change him. He receives a lot of visitors each
day as a religious leader and businessman.
He helps so many people and they keep
coming to him. So, it’s difficult to get his full
attention.
How did you come to terms with the
situation?
It’s not about me alone but the family. It took
us a while to understand why he lives like
that and his mindset. But in all, I have always
had a beautiful relationship with him. He is a
fantastic mentor who finds joy in putting his
children on the right path. He allows everyone
to reason freely with his guidance but
education is one thing he takes pride in. He
gave us the best he could in Nigeria and
abroad.
What have you learnt from him?
My upbringing gives me the opportunity to
understand a lot about humanity. I got to
know that beyond all the certificates, service
to humanity is the greatest way to achieve
joy. We are all human beings and no matter
what we do, the kind of names we coin for
ourselves point to who we are. I lived with a
philosopher and a man of wisdom and the
opportunity to watch him closely reflected on
the way I perceive life today. My exposure in
the course of studying abroad also helped my
understanding. Part of his lesson to us is that
when good things come our way, we should
learn to thank God and share with others.
When something unpleasant happens also, we
should learn to run to God and find happiness
in such a situation.
Did your father influence the courses his
children chose to study?
My father allows all his children to choose the
path they want but he will advise on what one
chooses because he has wide knowledge
about life. Politics is one area he does not
wish that any of his children should go into.
He understands it very well having been
around for a long time.
But things are changing now because
someone like me has chosen to participate in
politics. When I was in the Caribbean, I was
involved in many charity works and poverty
alleviation schemes. It built my passion to
help others and move closer to people at the
grass roots. My father understands that I
have some skills in that area but he did not
tell me to join any particular political party. It
happened so quickly and my career in politics
took off soon after my return to Nigeria. He
realises also that I have an interest in being
part of the people uplifting our generation and
he respects me for that. I later met him and
he gave his blessings to my desire.
Considering the number of children in the
family and the busy schedule of your father,
how much time does he spend with his
children?
Like I said, his life has been this way before
we were born. The door to the house is
always open to the public. We still see little of
him but we get anything we want from him
and not just money. He does not give
preference to his children. We are treated like
anyone who comes to the house for help.
Did he ever beat you or any of his children?
When I was young, I entered his living room
while he was in the other room and the phone
rang. I picked it up and answered it. The
person told me a name which I knew well so I
called my dad and gave the phone to him. But
the man told him he was someone else so he
moved close to me and asked me again who
was on the line, I repeated the wrong name
the man told me. He was angry and he
slapped me hard. It was the man’s fault but
it also showed how intolerant my father is of
mistakes.
Were there events that brought the family
together?
At night, after he had attended to all his
visitors and shut the gate, we would all come
together and eat from one pot. It was usually
a large gathering and even our friends, who
came on a visit, would join in the feast. Then
during the month of Ramadan, he would sit
with his children at a table to break each
fast. The wives were not allowed to be part
of the gathering.
Aren’t there parts of his life that he shields
from you?
He has no secret. He shares his life
experience with us whenever he has the
opportunity to do so. We enter his room
regularly, even with my friends. He has lived
in the eyes of the public for so long so he can
hardly hide anything about his belief, wives,
children, business and other aspects of his
life.
My dad has no time to take his children for
shopping or to fun places especially in
Nigeria. In those days when he wanted to go
on holidays, he would buy flight tickets for
everyone. We stayed in London most of the
time so he could have time to visit great
places with us. He spent quality time with us
outside Nigeria but at home, we did not enjoy
such opportunities.
When was the first time he took you on such
trips?
I can’t remember the year but I remember
that there were more than 40 people who
travelled with him to London, including my
cousins. It was during the opening of our
house in London. It was a memorable period
for the children. We have travelled together
each year since then.
What surprises you about him?
I could not believe that my father could cook
very well until one day in London when he
was alone with my younger siblings. We just
arrived in London a few days earlier so we
were going out when he opted out. Some
children also stayed back but by the time we
returned later in the day, he had prepared
pounded yam and some nice vegetable soup.
His wives doubted him, thinking he bought it
but he told them that his mother taught him
everything in life, so cooking food was not
something he could not do. He said as a
Yoruba man, he knew how to take care of
himself regardless of the situation he found
himself. But in Nigeria, like I said, he has
restrictions because of the little time he has
to himself.
Which food does he like most?
He is an Ibadan man, so like many of his
kinsmen, he likes amala and bean soup
( gbegiri) with ewedu. He can eat it in the
morning, afternoon and night except when we
force him to eat something else.
How does he relate with his staff?
To him, they are like his children and friends
of his children. We are of Muslim background
and my father is an influential figure among
Muslims in Yoruba land. He is the Aare
Musulumi of Yoruba Land. But we have many
Christians on the staff list. He has sponsored
all the Muslims to Mecca and the Christians
to Jerusalem. He does it every year. His only
cook for 40 years is a Christian named
Simeon. He is the only one that cooks for
him.
How does he keep fit?
Let me tell you a story. He was walking in the
garden one day when a young lady came in
through the gate that was close to him. She
greeted him and told him that she came to
see Arisekola-Alao, my father. My father told
her to go in and have her seat but she did not
know that she had already seen the person
she was looking for. About 30 minutes later,
my father went to see her after changing his
clothes. She was surprised to know that she
was actually talking to my father 30 minutes
earlier.
Many people expect to meet a big man with
huge belly and flowing rob when they hear his
name but they are often disappointed that the
man they seek is one with lean figure and
simple dress sense.
He does not jog or go to the gym but he is
not idle. All he does is talk, to people, solve
problems daily and take a rest at a fixed
time. He sits at 7am and goes in after 10pm.
The routine suits his body and that is why he
has maintained the figure. He does not see
himself the way people see him.
What does he do before going to bed at
10pm?
He does not sleep at 10pm but after 12am.
When he retires to his room, he prepares
traditional herbs to drink after dinner. He is
knowledgeable about traditional herbs. Then
he reads the Holy Quran, prays and attends to
mails, and a few other things before going to
bed. One thing about him is that his mind is
active always.
Who among his children is he mentoring to
take over from him?
I am not sure he has such a plan because he
allows everyone to reason independently. He
encourages us to be the best we can be.
Who is his barber?
He shaves by himself. I learned that from him
too, so I have no barber.
What other traits have you imbibed from
him?
From him, I have learnt that life is what you
make of it. No matter who you are, be humble
always. We are not flamboyant, we live
modestly and we tolerate the next person.
Accommodating people is a quality my father
preaches always.
Is there a burden you carry as the son of a
billionaire?
We were raised like other children so unless I
tell you who I am, my dressing, car or the
way I live will not betray me. I carry no
burden as a billionaire’s son. You don’t hear
or read about us in the media and we try to
maintain the good name of the family. This
interview would not have taken place if I had
not become a commissioner in the state. In
fact, I thought of calling it off but I respect
my words to people. I am fortunate to be
what I am but I do not abuse the grace.
Does your father keep relics of his past?
He does not have a space to keep that in his
house. His first car was given out to someone
and some other properties have been given
out to people. When Datsun was in vogue, he
was a dealer and I remember that he told us
that he gave out many cars to people who
did not have money to buy.
Is the family bringing back Lister Oil?
It is a family business and I have other
siblings who are in the oil and gas business.
A decision can only be made when we all sit
down and discuss it.