Former Oyo governor, Ishola, dies at 77

Posted by admin Governors, Headlines, Oyo, State News Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Former Oyo State Governor, Kolapo Ishola, died on Tuesday morning in his house in Ibadan, the state capital three days after arriving home from a three-week trip abroad.

Ishola, who marked his 77th birthday in June, family members said, did not show any sign of illness before going to bed on Monday.

According to the immediate past Chairman of Akinyele Local Government, Mr. Segun Olayiwola, the deceased died around 6am after reading his Bible.

Ishola ruled the state between 1992 and 1993.

A senior staff number of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, who preferred anonymity, claimed Ishola was already dead at 8:30am when he was brought to the hospital.

Olayiwola said, “At 5am, a relative called the late chief on the telephone to inform him of the death of one of his close associates called Alhaji Agba at Moniya in Ibadan.

“He thereafter demanded for his Bible and read Psalm 101. Later, he said he would want to have some rest.”

A close family member, who preferred to be anonymous, said the wife of the deceased, Grace, raised the alarm at about 6pm to alert the household to the incident.

Friends and political associates of the late politician have been sending condolences to his family.

Among the dignitaries that visited the home of the departed at Ikolaba area of Ibadan were the immediate past governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala; his wife, Chief Kemi Alao-Akala; former Oyo State governor, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu; former Chief of Staff to the immediate past governor, Dr. Saka Balogun; and the state Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dejo Alabi.

Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who expressed his shock at Ishola’s death regretted that he left the scene when his contributions were most needed.

Ajimobi said, “Chief Ishola was a man who promoted politics of peace and development and who left legacies in the state that marked him out as a leader who should be ranked in the pantheon of great men.”

Alao-Akala, who said he received the news with shock, described him as a political icon that the state would miss for his wise counsel.

He said, “I don’t know how we will cope with his exit. He always has an answer for any problem.”

He urged the children of the deceased to continue to maintain the legacy left behind by their father.

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide,condoled with the people of Oyo over Ishola’s death.

Akinjide, who is from the state, described him as an astute politician and a seasoned administrator.

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, has expressed his shock at Ishola’s death.

Babatope, a former Minister of Transport, described Ishola as a politician that loved Nigeria dearly.

A former minister, Wole Oyelese, said the news of Ishola’s death was least expected at a time the state and Nigeria needed his wise counsel.

-Punchwp_posts