A former Secretary to the Government of Oyo State (SSG), Chief Michael Koleosho is dead.
Koleosho, popularly called Babalaje of Sakiland, died on Monday after brief illness at 86.
Until his death, Chief Koleosho was an elder statesman from Oke-Ogun geopolitical zone in Oyo State.
Koleoso, who served as Secretary to the state Government under late Lam Adesina’s government, was also 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, where he was from 1957 to 1961.
He later attended the School of Hygiene, Eleyele, Ibadan for his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and in 1965, proceeded to do his Advanced Certificate (RSII), today’s equivalent of an HND, in 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 dabbling into business.
His first establishment was Esmak Nigeria Limited, which exists today, and focuses on commodity distribution, transportation, real estate and hospitality.
He was elected unopposed as Councillor in Ifedapo Local Government Area of the Old Oyo state in 1976.
In 1979, he got elected into the Oyo 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 Ige, first executive Governor of Oyo State, as Commissioner.
A family source 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 as a whole.
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”.
