Buhari Mourns Prof. Ayo Olukotun's Death

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday condoled with the academia and the media over the passing of revered Professor of Political Science, Ayo Olukotun, whose works testify to his loyalty, patriotism and charity.

The announcement of the death of Professor Olukotun was made by Bukola Adeyemi Oyeniyi on the social media.

Oyeniyi wrote: “This is not the way to start a new year, but we accept fate.

“Professor Ayo Olukotun, the renowned political scientist, media scholar, and the Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance, Political Science Department, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, died on Wednesday at the age of 69.

Buhari said the scholar’s investment of ideas in nation-building, teaching students and counselling leaders should be preserved for posterity.

The President said Olukotun’s departure will be ‘greatly missed,’ particularly now that the country is approaching general elections, where his views had remained salient for many years.

He has lectured at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, University of Lagos and Lagos State University and was  a visiting professor of International Relations at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He was also a distinguished professor and head, Department of Political Science and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences at the Lead City University.

“As a journalist, he was the Chair of the Editorial Board of Daily Times; and through his weekly penetrative columns that have appeared in Daily Times, Guardian, Compass and Punch and several other frontline newspapers, Professor Olukotun evoked deep ideas to challenge issues of bad governance in the country, while copiously recommending alternative pathways to national redemption.

“May his soul rest in peace.”