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Daughter, FATIMA FORONBI-FANIKE
For the outside world, he was Baba Alado, the feared omo onile, the Mushin strongman whose name shook land buyers and transport workers. But for Fatima Faronbi Fanike ,his second daughter and Bells University,Ota graduate, Alado was simply an Angel.
In an exclusive interview with City People’s WOLE ALAKIJA, at the family’s Alado Bus Stop residence in Isheri-Osun during the 3-day Fidau prayer for late Chief Taoreed Faronbi, Fatima, despite her grief, spoke with an uncommon boldness about the father she adored.
“Everyone will tell you Baba Alado was dreaded. I will tell you my father was an Angel,” she said, her eyes welling up. “An Angel that God gave to us for 84 years.Yes my father was firm,very firm but people didn’t see the other side. The side that would pay school fees for children who are not his own. The side that would call you at night and say, ‘Fatima, are you okay?’ The side that would take responsibility when his worker loses his mother. That was the real Baba Alado. That was my Angel.”
Fatima said her father had a personal philosophy, “Be loved by your family and your people.” And that, she said, he lived till his last breath on September 26.
Your late Dad was nice to people ,so we heard, despite some contrary view of him by some…”Nice ke?…nice are for petit souls.Alhaji was an Angel in human form.If Alhaji should take up your matter sometimes, you’d ask yourself what kind of a spiritual soap did you shower with today?
He would take your matter up and finds a solution to it in no time.You see those multitudes outside,it is a testimony to the kind of a man he was, they have all come to show their love for him even in death.Although my father was tough ,with a no nonesense mien,he is also nice to a fault,people like that are rare Alado’s is an Angel”, Fatima remarked,
Some still argue he was exceedingly tough,she was asked…”Yes nah! ,with the way the world is now,one has to be.He has been tough for over 50 years while doing this job.”
How did you learn of his death?
“I was on my way to a program in Ado along Lekki/Ajah when I was called .I quickly headed back to his house.It wasn’t until I got home here in Isheri that the reality dawned on me that he was gone.I have still not gotten over it. People can have their opinion,my father was an icon, it is really hard to find an adjective to qualify him ,he was just simply one of a kind”.
Unlike many who distanced themselves from his father’s line of business, Fatima proudly embraced her father’s Real Estate empire and he taught her everything.
“My father taught me the Real Estate business from the scratch,” she revealed. “He didn’t just give me money,he taught me the rudiments and he showed me that my integrity is my Cof O.
That is why his name lasted for over 50 years.
Today, Fatima Faronbi Fanike is doing well in her field. A property consultant and developer based in Lagos, she manages several properties and land in the Lekki/Ajah area of Lagos state where she calls the shot as CEO of Horizon Homes & Property.
“I am doing so well in my field not because I am Baba Alado’s daughter, but because I was trained by Baba Alado,he taught me the rudiments”, she said with pride.
“But I will not cry too much because an Angel doesn’t die, he goes back to heaven. My father has gone back. My job now is to protect his name and make him proud in the Real Estate world.”
Fatima ended the interview with a prayer and a promise: “May Allah grant my Angel Al-Jannatul Firdaus. And by his training, I will ensure the Alado name remains a name of trust”.
Wole Alakija
08055001823
