Breaking: Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, Former Oyo Governor, Dies At 71

Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, has reportedly passed on at 71.

Details of his death are sketchy but according to Daily Trust, sources close to the politician confirmed the tragic incident on Tuesday.

Born on June 3, 1950, at Ogbomoso in the Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Alao-Akala had his elementary school at Osupa Baptist Day School, Ogbomoso before proceeding to Kamina Barracks Middle School, 5th Battalion of Infantry in Tamale, Ghana.

Then, in June 1974, Alao-Akala was enlisted as Cadet Inspector of Police at Nigeria Police College, Ikeja in Lagos.

He was recommended for overseas training at the Hendon Police College, in London and also attended Administrative Staff College, Topo, Badagry; the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos; Police Staff College, Jos; Command and Staff College, Jaji.

Otunba Alao-Akala participated as a Nigerian delegate at two INTERPOL conferences in Nice, France and in Málaga, Spain.

Following his successful career as a policeman, Alao-Akala started his political career as a member of New Dimension.

He participated in the zero-party local government election of 1996 and later co-founded the Unity Party of Nigeria (UNP) before its fusion with United Nigeria Congress (UNC) to form United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP).

Alao-Akala served as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State from May 2003 to January 2006. Following the impeachment of then incumbent Governor (Rashidi Ladoja), Alao-Akala was sworn into office in January 2006 and served for 11 months.

In December 2006, the impeachment was overturned by the Supreme Court and Rashidi Ladoja was reinstated.

Then in 2007, Alao-Akala contested and won the gubernatorial election under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and became the Executive Governor of Oyo state, serving a full term till May 2011.

As a polyglot, he spoke English, Yoruba, Hausa and Ghanaian languages (Twi, Fanti and Dagbani) fluently.

Alao-Akala is survived by wife, seven children and grandchildren.

May his soul rest in peace.