Encounters with Omololu Olunloyo, By Bunmi Makinwa

Olunloyo liked to inform tales. When he was not on the highway or campaigning, it was a delight to take heed to him. Particularly when his get together leaders weren’t within the room, he would lambast each get together, together with his personal. He typically recounted tales of corrupt politicians, and the way Nigerians had been being disadvantaged of their rights, notably rights to financial growth.

It was throughout the latter a part of the Sixties – round 1968 or 1969. There was no cell phone, no social media. There was the ever present radio that offered information each day. In sure households, tv was additionally out there.

Regardless of the absence of social media, individuals had been well-informed about occasions and other people. For instance, we had been conscious that there was a younger commissioner within the authorities of Western State below Governor Adeyinka Adebayo. The younger man was recognized merely as Olunloyo.

He was stated to be a proficient mathematician. As commissioner of training, he would go to secondary faculties and assess their operations. He would reprimand college principals and lecturers who had been underperforming. He would give directions on what ought to be achieved to enhance the colleges. He would go away as shortly as he appeared. Generally, they stated, he would drive his car himself to occasions.

The rumours and tales had been many. We had been younger and glad to know that there was somebody on the high who was performing in another way from the same old politicians who went round in apparent luxurious. The politicians can be accompanied by lorry a great deal of supporters. The politicians would dance and make prolonged speeches. As soon as their visits ended they usually left, all their guarantees would disappear with them. More and more, the navy officers who had changed the politicians on the time had been trying and performing within the conventional mode of political leaders.

Though he was within the navy authorities, Olunloyo was stated to be completely different. He was radical. He was impatient with the politics, convoy of automobiles, supporters, the dancing and speeches. Properly, this was the picture that many in my era had of Olunloyo within the Sixties.

Nearly 15 years later, I used to be face-to-face with Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo one early morning at his dwelling in Oke Ado, Ibadan.

“Which media organisation are you from?” he requested.

“Me, sir?”

“Sure. You.”

“I’m from NAN – Information Company of Nigeria.”

“You don’t should spell out NAN to me. You assume that I don’t know NAN? Ori e o daa (foolish individual).” And he laughed.

“I like your look…sensible…tie and good shirt.”

“Thanks, sir.” I felt good. NAN journalists had been required to take care of a wise and formal look, conduct themselves in an expert method, and by no means settle for any type of remuneration or kickbacks from any information supply, organisation or individual.

Olunloyo was the gubernatorial candidate of the Nationwide Social gathering of Nigeria (NPN) for Oyo State. I used to be assigned to cowl his and the get together’s marketing campaign that was to begin on the time.

The political panorama in 1983 was notably dynamic. Olunloyo was aiming to unseat the favored incumbent governor, Bola Ige, recognized for is eloquence, and who was a close-ally of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the chief of the Unity Social gathering of Nigeria, the main opposition get together.

At the moment the NPN was led by President Shehu Shagari, who held energy over federal establishments and safety forces, which had been deployed successfully for the marketing campaign. Conversely, Ige and UPN had a strong get together construction in Oyo State, and an extended custom of ruling the state. The state media was efficient and extremely succesful, and firmly below the management of the UPN.

Nearly daily, Olunloyo launched into political campaigns, accompanied by a retinue of automobiles carrying NPN leaders, notably Chief Adisa Akinloye, Chief Richard Akinjide, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, and get together cadres. They’d journey to cities, villages and small settlements in Oyo State to canvass for votes, go to native leaders and make guarantees. The reporter’s responsibility was to file information tales, write characteristic articles and customarily replicate again to the general public what occurred within the varied locations.

Olunloyo liked to inform tales. When he was not on the highway or campaigning, it was a delight to take heed to him. Particularly when his get together leaders weren’t within the room, he would lambast each get together, together with his personal. He typically recounted tales of corrupt politicians, and the way Nigerians had been being disadvantaged of their rights, notably rights to financial growth.

In the future, we, the media representatives, had been gathered as typical within the spacious dwelling space of Olunloyo’s residence. He was telling us tales about how individuals needed the NPN in energy. How NPN, his get together, would triumph in Oyo, Iwo, Iseyin, and many others., and the way Ibadan individuals would vote him as their son. A fellow reporter had his pocket book out and was scribbling away, capturing the revealing assertions and claims of Olunloyo.

Instantly, with none prior indication, Olunloyo bought up from his chair and seized the reporter’s pocket book. He tore it to items whereas saying: “Oniko kuko. O ti le ko ikokuko ju. O ri e o da. (You write every kind of nonsense. You write an excessive amount of nonsense. Foolish.)”

The he sat down and continued his story as if nothing had occurred. The reporter continued to cowl the NPN marketing campaign all through the interval with no additional incident. Olunloyo didn’t cease both to offer journalists with details about all the things that him, together with his calculations of how Nigeria may have a democratic authorities in the long term.

On one other day, I arrived early at Olunloyo’s home, forward of my colleagues. It was commonplace. He had simply completed breakfast and he supplied me tea.

“No, sir. I’ve already had breakfast.”

“You NAN individuals… all the time correct,” he joked.

“Thanks, sir.”

Then he requested me if I assumed that he can be the following governor of Oyo State. I used to be already acquainted with Olunloyo. He didn’t admire pretext or flattery. I gave it to him straight, and informed him what I heard round city and my very own perspective.

“I don’t see but how you’ll win this election, sir,” I concluded

“Actually?” he queried additional.

“That is how I see it,” I held on to my place.

He gazed at me longer than he usually did, after which he stated: “Bunmi, hear rigorously. There has by no means been a free and honest election in Nigeria. Go and examine the information, undergo historical past. Do the evaluation of campaigns, voting, returns and all the things concerned. This election won’t be completely different.”

I nodded respectfully. I didn’t fairly perceive what he meant on the time. In a few of our earlier conversations, Olunloyo would say issues that left me puzzled anyway.

On the finish of voting in that election, Olunloyo was victorious and assumed workplace as governor of Oyo State. He served from October 1983 to December 1983 when Common Muhammadu Buhari took over Nigeria in a navy coup.

When Olunloyo was declared governor, I used to be not in Ibadan to ask him the query – what made his calculations work as he had predicted?

Might his energetic, good and vibrant soul relaxation in peace.

Bunmi Makinwa is the CEO of AUNIQUEI Communication for Management.