Tunji Olurin, ex-military governor of Oyo, is dead

Tunji Olurin, a former military governor of Oyo state, is dead.

Olurin, who hails from Ilaro in Ogun state, was said to have died on Saturday at the Lagos state University Teaching Hospital.

His death was confirmed by his brother, Funso Olurin, on Saturday in Abeokuta.

Olurin enrolled into the Nigerian army in 1967 as an officer cadet of the 3rd Regular Course where he obtained his NDACE (Nigerian Defence Academic of Education) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Nigerian army in March, 1970.

He was deputy defence adviser to the Nigerian high commission in India (1975–1978) with the rank of major.

After attending Staff College in 1978, he was deployed to the United Nations Peace Keeping Operation in Lebanon, where he commanded the Nigerian troops in the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

In 1990, Olurin became the general officer commanding the 3rd armoured division in Jos and a member of the armed forces ruling council.

Olurin was a field commander of ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia from 1992 to 1993 during the First Liberian Civil War, retired from service in 1993.

On October 19, 2006, Olurin was appointed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the sole administrator of Ekiti, to replace former governor Ayo Fayose, who was removed over alleged gross misconduct.

He was the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate in the 2011 general election in Ogun state.

Seyi Makinde, Oyo state governor, described Olurin as “one of the past administrators who shaped our great state”.

Taiwo Adisa, his chief press secretary, quoted the governor as saying: “I learnt of the death of former Military Administrator of Oyo State, General ‘Tunji Idowu Olurin.

“It is sunset for another great man and one of the first set of leaders that providence gave to Oyo State at its earliest stage.

“Through the efforts and contributions of Gen. Olurin and other leaders, the foundation for the shaping of the Pacesetter State, which has become a first among equals, was successfully laid.

“General Olurin’s death at this time when his wealth of experience in leadership can be of immense help to the current crop of leaders is painful.

“But since the Holy Bible reckons that man has been given 70 years and he lived beyond the granted three scores and ten, we can only celebrate the good life General Olurin lived and the great contributions he made to our dear State.

“I commiserate with the entire Olurin family of Ilaro and the government and people of Ogun State and pray to God to grant them the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”