Makinde mourns Oyo ex-SSG Koleoso From Rotimi Agboluaje, Ibadan

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Tuesday, described the death of a former Secretary to the Oyo State Government and former National Chairman of the defunct Alliance for Democracy (AD) Chief Michael Koleoso, as the end of an era.

The governor said Oyo State and Nigeria have lost a great patriot and a political icon, who played outstanding roles in national development.

Makinde, in a statement on Tuesday, noted that Koleoso, who until his death was the Babalaje of Saki, was one of the last men standing from a generation of great men and women who gave their best to serving Oyo State and Nigeria.

He expressed his condolences to the immediate and political families of the deceased leader, the people of Saki and all residents of Oyo State, praying to God to grant everyone the fortitude to bear the loss.

He said: “I received the news of the death of Baba Michael Koleoso, the Babalaje of Saki with shock and sadness.

“Oyo State and Nigeria have lost a great patriot and selfless leader, one of the last men standing in the batch of leaders who gave their all to make Nigeria a better place.

“People who know me know that I had a special bond with Babalaje; I held him as a father and had the utmost regard for him, as he was a courageous and upright leader who spoke truth to power.

“We’ve relied on his guidance and wealth of experience in guiding our great state to greatness, and Babalaje did love this state till his dying days.

“I express my condolences to the Koleoso family of Saki, his political family spread across the state and Nigeria as well as the people of Saki and Oyo State.

“It is the end of a glorious era and we can only pray to God to grant repose to the soul of our Baba.”

Koleosho, popularly called Babalaje of Sakiland, died on Monday during a brief illness aged 86.
 
Until his death, Chief Koleosho was an elder statesman from the Oke-Ogun geo-political zone in Oyo State.

A family source, who announced the demise, said: “With heartfelt gratitude and total submission to the will of God, we announce the passing on to Glory of Pa Chief Michael Koleosho (Babalaje of Saki land) who slept in the Lord today September 2, 2024. What a great loss to saki, Oke-ogun, Oyo State, and Nigeria.
 
“May the good Lord repose his soul and grant the entire family and all of us that he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
 
Koleoso was the SSG under the late Lam Adesina’s government. He also served as the National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
 
Born into the family of Emi-Abata of Saki on April 30, 1938, Koleoso had his primary education at Baptist Primary School, Ajegunle, Saki, and later proceeded to the famous Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo Town, where he was from 1957 to 1961.

He later attended the School of Hygiene, Eleyele, Ibadan for his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and had his Advanced Certificate (RSII) between 1965 and 1966.
 
Koleoso joined the civil service of the Western Region with the position of Head of the Health Department of the old Saki District Council.
 
He spent years in the service before venturing into business.
 
His first establishment was Esmak Nigeria Limited, which exists today, and it focuses on commodity distribution, transportation, real estate, and hospitality.

His entrepreneurial ability became legendary, just as his lifestyle of order, balance, discipline, and self-restraint.
 
Coming into politics, Koleosho was elected unopposed as a Councillor in the Ifedapo Local Government Area of the Old Oyo state in 1976.

In 1979, he was elected into the Oyo State House of Assembly as the representative of Ifedapo Constituency on the platform of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo-led Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).

He was later appointed by Chief Bola Ige, the first executive governor of Oyo State, as Commissioner.