Two years after the death of the former National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleoso, OFR, his contributions to politics, governance and community development continue to attract commendation, with the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for Saki West, Saki East and Atisbo Federal Constituency, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi, describing his legacy as indelible.
Koleoso, the Babalaje of Sakiland, died in 2024 at the age of 86. In a statement commemorating the second anniversary of his transition, Adebisi described the late politician as a statesman, visionary and builder of men whose influence transcended partisan politics.
According to him, Koleoso was a committed disciple of the progressive political ideals of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Bola Ige, dedicating his public life to the development of the Yoruba nation, Oke-Ogun, Oyo State and Nigeria.
Adebisi recalled that Koleoso’s career in public service included his service as Commissioner for Works and Commissioner for Establishment and Training in Oyo State, before he became Secretary to the Oyo State Government during the administration of the late Governor Lam Adesina.
He said Koleoso later played a prominent role in national politics as National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, particularly in the political development of the South-West.
Adebisi specifically recalled the 1999 Lagos State governorship primary election conducted under Koleoso’s leadership, which produced Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the party’s candidate.
He noted that Tinubu has since risen to become President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, describing the development as one of the notable chapters in Koleoso’s political journey and leadership legacy.
The APM candidate said the late elder statesman was a man of courage and conviction who was never afraid to speak truth to power, adding that his commitment to mentoring younger politicians created a generation of leaders who benefited from his counsel and experience.
Beyond their political relationship, Adebisi described Koleoso as a father figure and trusted mentor who played a significant role in his own journey into public service.
According to him, it was Koleoso who nominated him for his first appointment as a Commissioner in Oyo State under the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde.
“Baba believed in me when others doubted. He mentored me with patience, guided me with wisdom and challenged me to be a leader of integrity and impact,” Adebisi said.
He added that the opportunity provided by Koleoso significantly influenced his career and deepened his understanding of leadership and public service.
Adebisi maintained that Koleoso’s greatest legacy could not be measured solely by the political positions he occupied, but by the lives he touched, leaders he mentored and developmental initiatives he championed.
He cited the Michael Adeniyi Koleoso GRA as one of the enduring symbols of the late politician’s vision for urban development in Oke-Ogun.
He further noted that institutions associated with Koleoso’s contributions continue to serve the people, while the leaders he mentored are still carrying forward his ideals of integrity, courage, purposeful governance and selfless service.
Adebisi also offered prayers for Koleoso’s family and children, urging them to draw strength from the values and principles their father left behind.
He prayed that God would continue to protect and strengthen the family, bless their endeavours and grant them the wisdom and courage to preserve the legacy of their late patriarch.
“Two years on, we do not mourn as those without hope. We celebrate a life well-lived, a race well-run and a legacy well-established. We honour a man who gave his all for his people, his community and his nation,” he said.
Adebisi, who issued the tribute on behalf of the Babalaje Political Dynasty, said Koleoso’s memory would remain a blessing, while his lessons in leadership and service would continue to inspire present and future generations.
Chief Michael Adeniyi Koleoso, OFR (1938–2024), was the Babalaje of Sakiland and a prominent figure in Oyo State and South-West Nigerian politics.
