FORMER administrator of the old Western Region and foremost medical practitioner in Nigeria, Dr Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi is dead. He died on Wednesday afternoon at the age of 96.Also, a former deputy governor of the old Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo died on Tuesday. He was 81.Majekodunmi, a titled Lagos and Abeokuta chief and chairman of St Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, during the Nigerian First Republic, was a senator and later Federal Minister of State, Army and then Minister of Health (1961-1966). He is also known for assuming the duty of administrator of the Western Region in 1962 after a state of emergency was proclaimed.He was personal physician to the late Prime Minister Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Majekodunmi was born to Chief James B. Majekodumi. He attended Abeokuta Grammar School, St Gregory's College, Lagos and then went to University of Dublin, where he bagged a 2nd Class Honours in Anatomy and Physiology in 1936, and later in 1938 and 1940, a 1st Class Honours in Bacteriology and Clinical Medicine.While in Dublin, he worked as a house physician at the National Children's Hospital in 1941 and the Rotunda Hospital (1941-1942). He returned to the country in 1943 and became a medical officer in the Nigerian medical service. From 1949 to 1960, he worked with the Nigerian and Federal Medical Services as a gynaecologist and obstetrician and was also a consulting doctor with Massey Street Maternity Hospital, Lagos, General Hospital, Lagos and Creek Hospital, also in Lagos.In the 1960s, he was a member of the Nigerian Senate and later held board membership with Westminster Dredging Company and Union Bank.He founded St Nicholas Hospital and once served as secretary of the Nigerian branch of the British Medical Association. He was also chairman of the Egba Maternity Clinic.Also, former deputy governor of old Ondo State, Chief Akin Omoboriowo, has died at the age of 81.Chief Akinwole Michael Omoboriowo, a native of Ijero, in Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, according to his son, Mr Akin Omoboriowo (Jnr), died on Tuesday.Omoboriowo, the deputy to the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin, who was governor of the old Ondo State from 1979 to 1983, was said to have died at Akin Omoboriowo (Jnr's) residence at Ikeja, Lagos State.Omoboriowo became more popular when he parted ways with his boss, Chief Ajasin and contested the governorship election in 1983 after his defection to the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) from the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).He was declared winner of the hotly contested election by the then Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), a declaration which sparked violence across the old Ondo State at that time.The Supreme Court, however, upturned his victory and declared Ajasin, who was the candidate of UPN as the winner of the election.In appreciation of his role in the politics of old Ondo State and Ekiti politics, former Governor Ayodele Fayose appointed him as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the then University of Ado Ekiti now (Ekiti State University) in 2003.Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in his condolence message, described the death of Chief Omoboriowo as 'a big loss to the state, the Yoruba race and the nation at large,' adding that he was a 'consummate nationalist, respected statesman and a great defender of Ekiti interests.'Fayemi said 'on behalf of my family, government and the good people of Ekiti State, please accept our heartfelt condolences. Papa was a consummate nationalist, respected statesman and great defender of Ekiti interests who would be sorely missed by us all. May the Good Lord endow the family with the fortitude to bear this loss.'The national vice chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Segun Oni, in his reaction, said the death was 'painful.'Oni, according to a statement by his media aide, Lere Olayinka, said 'the death is a huge loss to Ekiti State in particular and Nigeria in general.'He implored the family members to take solace in the fact that 'Baba lived a fulfilled life and pray that God will console them.'The Immediate past chairman of the PDP in Ekiti State, Chief Bola Olu-Ojo, in his reaction to the death, said Omobiri-owo was a courageous person with his decision to break from the norm when he did, saying the people of Ekiti and Nigerians would miss him.The Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, condoled with the people of Ekiti State and family of Chief Omoboriowo, describing the death as shocking.Mimiko, reacting to Omoboriowo's death through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Eni Akinsola, said the death was a huge loss to his home state in particular and Nigeria in general.He noted that the death was especially shocking, because the deceased was not reported to be sick.The governor saluted the late politician's contributions to the development of the old Ondo State when, in the Second Republic, he served as deputy governor to the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin.'The contributions he made at that time to the development of Ondo State are still green in our minds,' Mimiko added.'Chief Omoboriowo is dead, but we are comforted that he lived a fulfilled life and wrote his name in the sands of time. I pray God to grant the family and the people of Ekiti the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,' he said.A former governor of the old Oyo State, who served in the administration of Dr Majekodunmi when he was the Administrator of the Western Region, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, described the late Majekodunmi as a wonderful boss, who gave him free hand on sensitive issues, especially on the controversial census figures at that time.Olunloyo, while condoling with the family of the deceased, said the late Majekodunmi lived a fulfilled and eventful life both as a professional and political office holder, praying that his soul rest in peace.
Click here to read full news..
