By Adeyinka Adeniran
Dignitaries from all walks of life including, Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo, Professor Wole Soyinka, Dr Lasisi Olagunju and other notable individuals on Wednesday lauded the contribution of the late former governor of Oyo state, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo to the traditional institution, political landscape and the socio-economic growth of the country.
The stakeholders, in their separate presentations at an event tagged “A Requiem Symposium, Dr. Victor Omololu Olunloyo, A legacy of uncommon brilliance”, organized by the Initiative for Information, Arts and Culture Development in Ibadan said the impact of Olunloyo cut across various disciplines of human endeavour.
Olunloyo, according to them, stood tall among his contemporaries as his contributions as genius would outlive him.
Obasanjo, in his presentation, said the contribution of Olunloyo, then as the Commissioner in the old Western region to the enthronement of the Late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, would go down the memory lane.
He added that Olunloyo’s ingenuity in administration was brought to fore when the kingmakers selected Oba Adeyemi as successor to his father who was sent on exile.
Obasanjo stated that onus of approval of Oba Adeyemi as successor to the throne of Alaafin of Oyo rested upon the shoulders of Olunloyo, then as the Commissioner in the old Western region.
According to him, “There was a time Olunloyo came to my office as an Area Commander in charge of security to inform me of the decision of Oyomesi to install Oba Lamidi Adeyemi as the next Alaafin of Oyo.
“He (Olunloyo) came to my office that morning, sat down and took a piece of paper and said you know I have a problem and I said Victor, I never known you to have a problem. The problem is that the kingmakers have selected the son of Alaafin that Chief Awolowo sent on exile.
“I said, why don’t you go to Ooni of Ife to inform him of your problem. This is a problem that Kabiyesi can help you to solve. Whatever he said will be the way you will go.
“He went to see Baba as advised. Baba advised that they should enthrone that children of the lineage that had ruled in the past. These are the people that will not mess up the throne.
“I asked what he could make out of the advice, he said that is why he is back. I told him to go and meet Chief Adegbenro. That is how the matter was resolved.
On his academic competence, Obasanjo said, “Olunloyo is more than a scholar, brilliant man, and author of many books but a genius.
“Olunloyo’s exceptional intelligence is beyond ordinary. With Omololu, anything he touched, he did with ease almost too easily. He studied engineering and ended up excelling as a mathematician. It all came naturally to him like play.
“You cannot talk about Omololu without mentioning a part of his life that some referred to as political rascality or seeming unseriousness.
“I used to enjoy that part of him. Because every time we met and we met many times he always appeared unserious at first. But what would eventually come out of him was deep, profound, and very serious. Every time we were together, I learned something new about him.
“Of course, our paths crossed more deeply in 1965 when I came here, and we served in the same government of the old Western Region under my senior, General Adebayo. Our cabinet was evenly split—twelve members: six from Awolowo’s side, six from Akintola’s.
“The head of government was neutral, and I believe I was neutral too. But there was one man in that group whose allegiance you couldn’t pin down was he with Awolowo or with Akintola? That man was Omololu Olunloyo. I think, in truth, he was on both sides.
“Whether he was discussing policy, joking, or just in casual conversation, Omololu was different. He was a very, very serious man wrapped in layers of brilliance, wit, and intellect that only few could truly understand.
In his remark, Prof. Wole Soyinka described Olunloyo as a mathematical genius while alive, whose legacy will never be forgotten.
He said impact of Olunloyo in academics and politics can not be overemphasized.
While speaking on Olunloyo”s Mathematical Journalism, a multiple award winning columnist and Editor of Saturday Tribune, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju lauded Olunloyo”s Mathematical analysis of Nigeria s problem.
According to him, Olunloyo Mathematical’s analysis of the nation”s political problems is still relevant today.
Also, the Global President, Government College, Ibadan (GCI) Old Boys Association, Dr. Wale Babalakin, where Olunloyo was an alumnus said Olunloyo was a genius among genius, saying the school is proud of him as one of it’s alumni.
“There is no other schools in Nigeria that has produced genius the schools has produced which make it the best secondary school in Nigeria.”
Dignitaries at the event include; the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, Central Council of Ibadan Indegiens (CCII) President General, Barr. Niyi Ajewole, Sen. Kola Balogun, and former Chief of Staff to governor Seyi Makinde, Chief Bisi Ilaka among others.
