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On What They Will Miss About Their Father
He is the last born. The baby of the house. And for Ganiu Faronbi, the death of his father, late Chief Taoreed Faronbi aka Baba Alado, has left a promise unfulfilled. Ganiu, an SS1 student of the 84-year-old Alado spoke to City People in an emotion-laden interview during his father’s 3-day Fidau prayer at Alado Bus Stop, Isheri-Osun.
While his older siblings spoke of legacy and mentorship, Ganiu spoke of a House. “My biggest regret is the fact that I was not able to fulfill my wish of building my father a house I promised when I grow up”.
According to Ganiu, the promise was made years ago when he was still in primary school. “I told him, ‘Daddy, when I grow up, I will build you a bigger house than your own”, Ganiu recalled, smiling sadly. That childhood promise became Ganiu’s driving force.
“I was reading my book, I was thinking, I will make money, I will build my Daddy a house. I wanted to surprise him. I wanted him to be proud of his last born. “He died before I could grow up. I am only in SS1. I have not built the house. That is my biggest regret,” he said.
For Ganiu, Baba Alado was everything. “He was my everything, my peacemaker and provider,” says the SS1 student. “And he was my provider because he gave me everything. He paid my school fees, he bought my uniform and gave me pocket money”.
Now, with the 3-day prayers over and the family preparing for another 8-day Fidau at the Almaroof Events place in Isheri/Isolo road on Saturday 3rd, October,2026,Ganiu said he will keep the promise in a different way.
Kabirat Faronbi, an SS3 student and one of the last daughters of late Chief Taoreed Faronbi, popularly known as Baba Alado, spoke about her father’s demise during the family’s 3-day Fidau prayers recently in Isheri.
“My Daddy gave us everything and he was a loving man,” she said softly.
While the world outside Alado Bus Stop knew Baba Alado as firm and powerful, Kabirat said at home, he was soft, caring and present.
“He was a loving man. very, very loving,” she said.
“Even though he was busy settling land matters he always had time for us his children. He would ask about my school, my exams”.
The SS3 student said her father never made her feel like she was one of many children. He made her feel like the only one.
“He gave the children everything. Everything we needed. School books, school fees, clothes, food, money. If I tell him I need something for school today, before tomorrow morning, he has bought it. He never said no to us,” she revealed.
“He told me, ‘Kabirat, read your books, don’t make trouble and don’t keep bad friends. I will give you everything you need to become somebody in life.’ That was his promise to me.”
Asked how she felt since her father’s death, the young girl struggled to find words,”he was a good father,we don’t live with him here in his house, we live just a stone throw away but still feels like we live together.He provided our monthly allowance on time and we never lacked a thing”,she said
Despite her grief, Kabirat said she will make her father proud by focusing on her education, a dream Baba Alado held for all his children.
“My Daddy wanted me to go to University. He was a loving man and he wanted the best for us. I will read my books and make him proud where he is”.
Wole Alakija
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