Frontline All Progressives Congress (APC) politician and long serving chairman of Ikorodu local government, Alhaji Adisa Sherif Anipole, knowingly or unknowingly chose to die on the nations’s Presidential Election day, Saturday February 23, 2018, at the age of seventy (70) as seventy three (73) gladiators vied for the countries highest political office.
News of his death spread round the polling booths, political parties and political stakeholders around the division like wild fire as INEC officials, politicians and the electorate filed out into the various polling units to elect a president and national assembly legislators, hence, it formed part of the discussion at the polling centers.
Oriwu Sun gathered that Alhaji Anipole died at about 7a.m on that Election Day after a long period of sickness without saying goodbye to his political associates and friends. He was buried same day at about 4:00pm by his family members and members of Anwar-ul Islam to which he was a strong member.
Friends, political associates and sympathizers started trooping to his Ikorodu residence at No. 26, Kokoro Abu street, immediately after the voting exercise ended to pay their last respects and to empathize with the family of the deceased.
Floods of politicians stormed the area to eulogize their compatriot who some said died on an appropriate day of elections.
Sympathisers were happy to hear that the ex-chairman was given a befitting burial by members of his Islamic group while the politicians and electorate slugged it out on the election battle fields.
At the deceased’s residence, well-wishers continued to pacify the wife of the late chairman and his children. It was consolation galore on behalf of a peaceful politician who in his lifetime was nonviolent and non-controversial.
Family sources told Oriwu Sun that Anipole marked his 70th birthday on January 12 this year albeit modestly amidst his health challenge.
He left behind his wife, Alhaja Sherifat Anipole, a business woman and five children, one of who is a medical doctor, while the rest are all well-educated.
One of his sons, Kunle, told Oriwu Sun in an interview that his father’s death, no doubt, was a great loss to the family, political community, his friends and society.
According to him, it is a sad moment for his family though, he admitted that the consolation of the Anipoles is that their father lived a fulfilled life.
Kunle described his father as a good and kind hearted man who was very passionate about his family and his community.
When Oriwu Sun visited the family on Monday February 25, 2019, these reporters met about thirty (30) members of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), who for about one hour consoled the Anipole’s family with prayers and messages.
The Amiral of Ansarul Islam had given a brief lecture/sermon on life and death to remind everyone present about the inevitability of death and why everyone should live a good life.
It was later announced that the final burial will take place on Friday March 1, 2019 at Ikorodu Town Hall.
The late Anipole will be remembered mostly as the non-controversial politician whom God buttered his bread when he was handed over Ikorodu local government as chairman when some other gladiators could not reach an election compromise.
Alhaji Adisa Anipole was chosen as a better alternative to the fending parties.
He chaired the local government for nearly six (6) years in relative peace.