Tributes and encomiums have continued to pour in for passing of Victor Omololu Olunloyo, the second democratically-elected governor of Oyo State (1st October to 31st December, 1983).
Olunloyo, according to the statement issued by his family, entitled, “Olunloyo Goes Home”, the former governor died some days to his 90-year birthday which supposed to hold on April 14th, 2025.
Speaking on Olunloyo’s demise, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State described the death of the former governor of Oyo State as the exit of one Oyo State’s and Nigeria’s most cerebral former administrators.
Governor Makinde, who ordered the flags to be flown at half mast for one week in Oyo State, noted that the death of the former governor was sad, saying: “On behalf of the Government and the good People of Oyo State, I express my heartfelt condolences to the family of Dr Omololu Olunloyo, the people of Ibadanland and Oyo State on the demise of the former governor.
“In Dr Olunloyo, we have lost another icon. This time, we lost a highly cerebral and patriotic leader, who served our great State at its early stages.”
Read also: Omololu Olunloyo, former gov of Oyo state passes away at 89
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State described the death of Victor Omololu Olunloyo, former governor of Oyo State, mathematician and engineer, and renowned technocrat, a few days before his 90th birthday, as a great loss to Nigeria and intellectuals around the world.
The Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, who expressed the Southern Governors Forum’s condolences with the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, the Government and people of Oyo State, in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Sunday, described Olunloyo as a titan who left legacies that every Nigerian should be proud of.
Also, Sharafadèen Alli, an All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator, representing Oyo South Senatorial District, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former Governor of Oyo State, describing his death as the end of a golden era of wisdom, scholarship, and statesmanship in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by Akeem Abas, his Special Adviser on Media, which was made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan. Alli said Olunloyo was a towering intellectual and one of the brightest minds to ever serve in public office in Nigeria.
He noted that the late elder statesman was not only a former governor but also a respected mathematician, engineer, and renowned technocrat whose legacy would continue to inspire generations.
Olunloyo, the Balogun of Oyo and Otun Bobasewa of Ife, was first Rector, Ibadan Polytechnic and first Rector, Kwara State Polytechnic, among other notable appointments.
Olunloyo one of the best mathematical brains ever produced by Africa was born in Ibadan on 14 April 1935. His father, Horatio Olunloyo was Christian and his late mother, Bintu Tejumola Abebi Olunloyo, an Alhaja who died October 2013 at 102-year-old was Muslim. His father died in December 1948 when Victor Olunloyo was 13-year old.
