Former governor of Oyo State, Alao-Akala dies at 71

A former Governor of Oyo State, Christopher Alao-Akala, is dead. The Nigerians Stateman died in the early hours of Wednesday in Igbomoso at the age of 71.

The reason for his death, his unknown as at the time of filing the report, But the Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Dr Olatunde Abdluazeez, confirmed the report of his death to PUNCH Newspaper. 

He said, “The news of his death is out. He did his best for the state. May his soul rest in peace.”

Alao-Akala was a former police officer and a former Deputy Governor to Chief Rashidi Ladoja. He became governor when Ladoja was impeached, He served for 11 months until the impeachment was overturned in December 2006 by the Supreme Court, and Rashidi Ladoja was reinstated.

He however contested and won the gubernatorial election in 2007 as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and became the executive governor of Oyo state, serving a full term till May 2011.

He was a candidate of the ADP in the 2019 governorship election in Oyo State before defecting to the APC.

However, the present Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has said late former governor, Christopher Alao-Akala, will be remembered for his contributions to the development of the state.

Makinde, in a statement, said the deceased took infrastructural development to other zones of the state outside Ibadan, the capital. To honour Alao-Akala, Makinde said he had ordered flags to fly at half-mast.

He said, “I join the good people of Oyo State to mourn the passing of a former governor of our dear state, Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala, which sad event took place today. May his soul rest in peace and may God grant his family the fortitude to bear this great loss.

“I have directed that flags fly at half-mast in honour of Governor Alao-Akala, our brother, friend and illustrious son of Oyo State.

“His Excellency will be remembered for his contributions to the development of Oyo State as Governor, especially for taking infrastructural development to other zones of the state outside Ibadan.”