Passing of the Imam grievens the Turaki of Ilorin, Senator Saliu Mustapha

In the darkest cloak of monumental loss, Senator Saliu Mustapha (the Turaki of Ilorin), Ilorin Emirate and the vast population of Nigeria’s Muslim ummah have been plunged into an abyss of grief and despondency, occasioned by the gentle departure from this mortal realm of Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Bashir Soliu, OON, the revered Chief Imam of Ilorin. This luminous beacon of faith gracefully ascended to the eternal gardens on Monday, 19th of January, 2026, having adorned the earth with his wisdom for 75 blessed years.

In the early hours of Monday, within the serene precincts of Abuja, the illustrious Islamic luminary and devoted guardian of souls, Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Bashir Soliu, OON, gently surrendered to the divine call following a fleeting affliction, thus drawing the curtain on a resplendent epoch that bloomed across more than four decades of unrelenting devotion to the noble cause of Islam and the upliftment of humankind.

Enthroned as the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin Emirate on October 15 in the year 1983, this paragon of piety graced the exalted minbar for 42 years—the longest stewardship in the annals of that sacred office—illuminating hearts with his unequalled erudition. As Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Ulama, he ardently nurtured the flourishing gardens of Islamic knowledge, wove harmonious threads between faiths, and sowed the enduring seeds of communal tranquility, leaving an indelible legacy of grace and unity.

In profound and exalted eulogium to his matchless and enduring legacies, his biography entitled “Shaykh (Dr.) Moh’d Bashir Imam Solih OON: The Spiritual Orator”—a majestic tome spanning 369 pages, elegantly penned by none other than Arowona Abdulazeez—was unveiled with grandeur on Thursday, the 27th of November, 2025, within the opulent confines of the Banquet Hall in the historic city of Ilorin.

This sublime gathering, a testament to his boundless reverence and influence, attracted luminaries of the highest esteem, including His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto, the ebullient Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and the venerable former Senate President Bukola Saraki.

In this shadowed veil of sorrow, Senator Saliu Mustapha, bearer of the noble title Turaki of Ilorin and devoted sentinel of the Kwara Central Senatorial District, has eloquently lamented the Chief Imam’s parting as a heart-rending occurrence —a towering monument of grief cast upon the entirety of Ilorin Emirate, the verdant heart of Kwara State, and the vast expanse of the global Muslim Ummah.

The affable but charismatic senator was badly hit by the sudden passage of the Imam. Though a man of few words, he was explicitly expressive as he continued to lament over the spiritual titan’s exit; bemoaning how badly he’s going to miss him as a father. As I stood quietly beside him, I could read his mind, wishing for a reawakening of the Imam. Alas! The creator has taken His creation.

In a poignant message steeped in doleful condolence, Senator Mustapha poured forth his deepest anguish with the submission to the divine decree of Allah, declaring: “It is with shock, but in profound submission to the will of Allah, that I received the news of the passing of the distinguished Islamic scholar. He lived for Islam and humanity.” The senator further eulogized the late Chief Imam as a father figure, mentor, and moral compass whose wisdom, scholarship and counsel profoundly shaped countless lives across generations.” His demise has caused us in Ilorin Emirate great sadness of no particular measure. We reflect on his lifetime as a man of great honour and integrity,” he added.

Senator Mustapha highlighted Sheikh Soliu’s unwavering commitment to scholarship, sacrifice, and religious tolerance, noting that his legacy of principled leadership, humility, and devotion to faith would inspire future generations. He extended condolences to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, CFR; the immediate family of the deceased; the Kwara State Government; and the entire Muslim community, praying for strength to bear this irreplaceable void.

Cascades of heartfelt tributes and amazing accolades have poured in from the length and breadth of Nigeria, including from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who described the departed sage as a “devoted servant of Allah, a bridge builder, and a voice of moderation.” Likewise, the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the distinguished former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and a constellation of other eminent luminaries have enveloped his memory in sorrowful homage, extolling his transcendent legacy in weaving the sacred threads of unity and upholding the exalted mantle of moral authority.

It was a lamentably melancholic morning of Tuesday, 20th of January in the year 2026 –the serene forecourt of the Emir’s Palace in Ilorin bloomed with a vast sea of mourners gathered in solemn reverence to bid farewell through the sacred Janazah prayer for Sheikh (Dr.) Muhammad Bashir Soliu. In accordance with the timeless rites of Islam, his earthly remains were then gently committed to the soil, drawing a poignant veil of closure over an altruistic life wholly devoted to selfless service, spiritual enlightenment, and the noble pursuit of divine wisdom.

As the ancient city of Ilorin mildly and meekly releases one of its most luminous spiritual beacons into the eternal embrace, the hearts of the faithful linger upon the sacred charge of safeguarding his radiant legacy—a drapery woven with threads of profound peace, boundless knowledge, and unshakable piety. May Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) enshroud his human frailties in forgiveness, gather his noble deeds as fragrant blossoms in His divine garden, and bestow upon him the highest paradise, Al-Jannatul Firdaus, where rivers of milk and honey flow eternally. Ameen.

Abdullateef Ishowo is the Director of Media and Strategic Communication to Senator Saliu Mustapha