Ilorin Chief Imam, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu, Dies At 75

Ilorin, Kwara State– The Chief Imam of Ilorin Emirate in Kwara State, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu, is dead.

The revered Islamic scholar passed away in the early hours of Monday at a hospital in Abuja after a brief illness. He was 75 years old.

Sheikh Soliu, who served for over four decades on the Minbar (pulpit), was widely respected for his deep knowledge of Islam, humility, and commitment to peace and unity.

Until his death, he was also the Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Ulamas, a position through which he played a major role in shaping Islamic scholarship and religious harmony across the state.

Confirming the development, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, expressed profound sadness over the passing of the cleric, describing it as a monumental loss to the Ilorin Emirate, the Muslim Ummah, and humanity at large.

In a condolence message issued by his Press Secretary, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, the monarch said the Emirate received the news of the Imam’s death with total submission to the will of Almighty Allah.

“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. It is with total submission to the will of Almighty Allah that we received the news of the demise of the 12th Chief Imam of Ilorin, Shaykh Muhammad Bashir Imam Soliu Onida,” the statement read.

Sulu-Gambari described the late cleric as a man of exceptional character, noting that he was endowed with intelligence, honesty, loyalty, dedication, and tolerance.

“He was a cleric with unique features. 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 piety,” the Emir said.

The monarch further noted that the late Chief Imam was renowned for his wisdom and his unwavering efforts at uniting Muslim clerics, while also promoting peaceful coexistence and inter-religious harmony within Kwara State.

According to the statement, the Janazah (funeral prayer) for the late Islamic scholar was held on Monday at the Palace Square in Ilorin at about 4:00 pm, in line with Islamic rites.

The Emir prayed that Almighty Allah grant Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu absolute forgiveness, accept his good deeds, and admit him into Al-Jannatul Firdaus.

Also reacting to the death, the Senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha, described the late Chief Imam as a revered and beloved religious leader whose life was devoted to the service of Islam and humanity.

The senator enjoined Muslims and residents of the state to collectively pay their final respects to the departed cleric, while praying for Allah’s mercy upon his soul.

Born in 1950 in Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu rose through years of learning, teaching, and spiritual leadership to become one of the most influential Islamic figures in Kwara State.