By Kola Ojebisi
It’s no longer news that renowned business mogul and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote’s Great Uncle, Alhassan Aminu Dangote has died at the ripe of 94.
What many Nigerians, however, may not know is that two and a half years before he eventually breathed his last, the late philanthropist wished for death, claiming that life had lost his allure and savour for him.
Expressing his frustration with living into his dotage Alhassan Dantata revealed that he no longer enjoyed life and hoped to depart this world in good faith.
The businessman stated this while receiving Kashim Shettima, then Vice-presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano on the eve of the 2023 general elections.
“Honestly, as I am right now, I am just waiting for my time. I no longer enjoy life anymore. I hope I depart this world in good faith.
“I hope I did not offend anyone in life. If I offended anyone, I hope they find it in their hearts to forgive me. If anybody has offended me, I have forgiven them.”
The businessman’s wish may sound curious to many, who might think he had been writhing in pains due to a chronic disease defying medical recourse or rendered vegetable with the toll of old age thereby desperately seeking an end to his corporeal existence.
No! Nothing of such prompted that statement, at least no reports that the billionaire entrepreneur was battling with any terminal or chronic disease in the public space.
Then at 91, Dantata attributed his frustration with life to the loneliness foisted on him by death having stripped him of friendship built with his contemporaries across the country and beyond.
“I am now the only one left in my family living with grandchildren.” he said.
Therefore, his death announced on Saturday at the age 94, in a manner of speaking, is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Aminu Dantata was born on May 19 1931 with a silver spoon in his mouth by the virtue of being a scion of the influential Dantata family and son of Alhaji Alhassan Dantata, one of West Africa’s wealthiest merchants in the early 20th century.
He inherited the shrewdness and business acumen running in his lineage and founded Express Petroleum & Gas Company Ltd among other business interests.
The late philanthropist at a stage in his life juggled running his vast business empires with holding several key public and private sector roles.
A patriot to the hilt, Dantata brought his versatility to bear on significant government decisions in Kano State and Nigeria as a whole.
He served in the Kano State Government and was a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee that prepared Nigeria’s 1979 Constitution.
Meanwhile, tributes have continued to pour in from eminent Nigerians, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki among others.
Tinubu in his tribute described Dantata as a “complete patriot” while Atiku said his death is a “monumental loss”.
