General Tunji Olurin died a statesman – Oladele

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes, who represented Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency in the Eighth Assembly, Hon. Kayode Oladele, has reacted to the death of General Adetunji Idowu Olurin.

Oladele’s reaction to the death of Olurin on Friday was contained in a statement he personally signed on Monday.

He described the late General as “a complete gentleman, brave soldier, a great statesman and respected political leader who truly accomplished a lot for Nigeria and West Africa having served at various times as the military Governor of Oyo State, Administrator of Ekiti Statae and Field Commander of  ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia  during the First Liberian Civil War. He had an impressive military career with unalloyed allegiance to Nigeria devoid of any dishonor and had an impeccable record as a public servant. Above all, Gen. Olurin did not die as a flipflop partisan politician, but rather, as a statesman with great wisdom, a patriot who had fought a good fight in the country’s best interest, finished the race as much as his energy could take him and kept the faith in his unassailable quest for a truly liberated Nigeria founded on the principles of equality, social and economic justice.

“On a personal note, my family would not also forget the role he played during the burial of my late mother some years ago. His words of encouragement and prayers as well as his physical presence during the funeral service was like a balm of Gilead which provided healing and strength in times of mourning.”

While reminding the Federal Government that General Olurin risked it all as the Field Commander of ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia to have peace in Liberia and the West African subregion during the dark days of the first Liberian civil war as well as his sterling performances as a public servant, Hon. Oladele urged the Federal and States Governments, where he hailed from and served as military governor and administrator to ensure that he did not die as an unsung hero.