A former governor of Oyo state, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, is currently rumored to be dead, according to news reports by various news outlets.
However, his family has refuted the claims, stating that he is currently at the Intensive Care Unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and called for prayers amid concerns over his health.
According to a statement issued on Saturday, July 9, on Tribune Online, the family said, “We appreciate the public for the interest shown in the wellbeing of our father, Chief Dr. Victor Omololu Sowemimo Olunloyo (aka VOSO).
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“In the tradition of the Olunloyo family of Ibadanland, and based on the principles of integrity, inclusion, and openness upon which our revered father VOSO has always stood, we would like to inform the Nigerian public that we would greatly appreciate your prayers for our father who is presently in the ICU at UCH Ibadan.
“As a public figure, we believe that his condition should not be hidden from the Nigerian public who have a right to know about their leaders. Please accept our most sincere thanks for your all concern and goodwill. May God Almighty bless you all and our dear country Nigeria.”
That being said, Skabash.com brings you 10 facts you probably didn’t know about the former governor of Oyo state:
- Olunloyo was born in Ibadan on April 14, 1935, to a Christian father (Horatio Olunloyo) and a Muslim mother (Alhaja Bintu Tejumola Abebi Olunloyo)
- He holds a Ph.D. from St. Andrews University in Fife, Scotland, and his thesis was on the Numerical Determination of the Solutions of Eigenvalue Problems of the Sturm–Liouville Type. He also published numerous papers on number theory and applied mathematics.
- In 1962, Olunloyo was appointed as Commissioner for Economic Development for the Western Region at the age of 27 as part of Dr. Moses Majekodunmi’s cabinet.
- He got reappointed when Colonel Adeyinka took over as military governor of the Western State.
- Olunloyo has held numerous other positions, such as Commissioner for Education (twice), Development, Special Duties and Local Government positions.
- Olunloyo has crowned two of Nigeria’s monarchs, the Soun of Ogbomosho, King Oyewunmi; and the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.
- Olunloyo contested for the governorship of the Old Oyo state under the umbrella of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), and defeated the incumbent governor, Bola Ige.
- He assumed office in October 1983, but his term lasted just three months as General Muhammadu Buhari seized power in December that same year and dismissed his election as governor.
- Olunloyo announced his intention to rerun for governor of Oyo State in the 2003 elections, but Rasheed Ladoja was eventually chosen as PDP’s candidate.
- He was elected as the PDP Planning and Strategy Committee chairman for Ibadanland to prepare for the 2011 general elections, and chairman of the party’s Media and Publicity Committee in Oyo state.
- He defected from PDP to ACN in 2012.
- And last but not least, HE IS NOT DEAD!!!
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