PRESS RELEASE
_PROFESSOR TUNDE ADENIRAN, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (SDP) WRITES ON -_
*EVANGELIST ISHOLA BAMIDELE OLUMILUA: TRIBUTE TO AN ICON OF GENUINE SOCIAL DEMOCRACY*
I write on behalf of myself, the national leadership and the entire Social Democratic Party (SDP) family in Nigeria to express our heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Ekiti and Ondo States on the passing away of *His Excellency, Evangelist Ishola Bamidele Olumilua* who served the old Ondo State (now present Ondo and Ekiti States) as civilian Governor under the auspices of our great party, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), between January 1992 and November 1993.
The exit of Evangelist Olumilua from the stage of life is a further depletion of our national human resource. It is sad that death has drawn the curtain on the life of this great patriot at a most critical time that the country needs to continue to draw from his wealth of experience.
Arguably, he could be considered as one of the finest public servants and politicians of his time in the country’s political landscape. By his death, the nation has been robbed of an eminent political figure and iconic social democrat who possessed uncommon admirable and dignifying virtues of personal integrity, nobility of character, fecundity and elevation of mind as well as a deep commitment to public good and national development.
On account of having the privilege of close engagements with him, I can always aver that, but for the military that cut short his administration, he would have achieved monumental legacies as Governor considering his passion for development, the richness of his mind and the people-oriented manifesto of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) which he had begun to implement.
In the noticeably short time that he spent, the telling signs were already everywhere of the social transformation he was set to deliver to the people of the old Ondo State (now Ekiti & Ondo States). The Social Democratic Party (SDP) remains proud, and will continue to be, of his record of meritorious and unimpeachable public life, especially as a Governor and Flagbearer of SDP. His contributions to the party as one of the founding leaders and leading lights of that era remain indelible. His good name will always occupy a pride of place in the history of the SDP and in the politics of Nigeria in general.
This is wishing the entire Olumilua family and the good people of Ekiti and Ondo States the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of Evangelist Ishola Bamidele Olumilua, an illustrious son and a great Nigerian patriot.
Prof. Tunde Adeniran, OFR,
*National Chairman,*
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
