A former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Victor Olunloyo, is dead. He would have been 90 years old on next week Monday.
Contesting the Oyo State governorship election in 1983 on the National Party of Nigeria, Olunloyo defeated Chief Bola Ige, who sought a second term in office.
Sworned in on 1 October 1983, the Mathematician however ruled for three month as the military halted the Second Republic through a coup on 31 December 1983.
In a statement on Sunday, Oladapo Ogunwusi, wrote on behalf of the family: ‘With a heavy heart but gratitude to the Almighty, we announce the passing into glory of Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of Oyo State, mathematician and engineer and renowned technocrat, a few days before his 90th birthday.
‘The Balogun of Oyo and Otun Bobasewa of Ife, Dr. Olunloyo was first Rector, Ibadan polytechnic and first Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic among other notable appointments.
‘His long record of service to the nation and humanity is a source of pride to his family and associates even as we come to grip with this devastating event.
‘The Olunloyo family will appreciate the understanding of the press and the public as they commence efforts to give him a befitting burial.
‘Even from everlasting to everlasting, He is God’.
About a year ago in April 2024, the rumour of the death of the elder statesman was reported by some news platforms.
But he declared at his Molete residence in Ibadan, the state capital: ‘I’m still here, not yet gone’.
He also expressed worry over the rumour and asked who would live forever, stressing, ‘Those breaking death news and the person presumed dead will all die one day.
‘I’ve been lucky. My father died at 42, while my mother died at 102. I’m 89. I’ve crossed the expected life age’.
The elder statesman also illustrated how the rumour of his death hit several news platforms on 7 June 2022.
