By Bukola Hameed & Yusuf Adua
The entirety of Oyo land was put into gloom when the news of the death of legendary businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Abdulwahab Alao Yusuf popularly called BNL broke in the early hours of yesterday.
The foremost administrator was reportedly born in 1928 and died yesterday, Friday 16th July 2021 at the age of 94. News Live Nigeria understands that Baba BNL might be older than the acclaimed age before his passing as there were no records of birthdays when the “Asiwaju of Oyo” was born.
Retrospecting on his life, One of the sons of the deceased and the Secretary to the family, Alhaji Lukman Adetunji Yusuf revealed that the former chairman of the defunct Oyo local government got married to his first wife in 1950.
Alhaji Lukman Yusuf recalled that his father and leader to the old and young generation of Oyo was a steadfast man and pious fellow who had been paying homage to the religious ground (Hajj and Umrah) even before 1958.
On the personality of Alhaji BNL, Mr. Lukman referred to him as a courageous spirited worker whose relentless effort was noticed even by the paramount ruler of the town, HRM Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III with the title of Asiwaju of Oyo though not officially coronated.
He said Baba BNL imbibed the spirit of unity, oneness, and togetherness in all his children and relations, hence, his spirit of kindness and esteemed generosity which he showed till the point of death will be sorely missed.
Read Also: EACOED provost, Adefabi elected national Secretary of Nigeria committee of Provosts
Alhaji Lukman Adetunji Yusuf described his father, Alhaji Yusuf BNL as a non-partisan social worker who played his part in the development, engineering and evolvement of New Oyo town.
News Live Nigeria joins Oyo people home and abroad to pray for the repose of Baba BNL’s soul and that God should grant the family, friends, associates, and every indigene of Oyo the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Baba BNL has since been buried in Oyo according to Islamic rites.
