General Adetunji Idowu Ishola Olurin (3 December 1944 – 21 August 2021) was a distinguished Nigerian soldier and public administrator whose career bridged the nation’s military and political spheres. Rising to the rank of Major General, he played pivotal roles in state governance and regional peacekeeping during key moments of West African history.
Early Life and Military Career
Born in Ilaro, Ogun State, Olurin attended primary and secondary schools in the old Western Region before entering the Nigerian Defence Academy in Kaduna. Commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1967, he served in various command and staff positions, earning a reputation for discipline and strategic insight.
His professional training included courses at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, equipping him for both military operations and administrative leadership.
Military Governor of Oyo State (1985–1988)
During the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, Olurin was appointed Military Governor of Oyo State. His tenure focused on maintaining security and supporting development projects typical of military governance of the era, while navigating the political sensitivities of mid-1980s Nigeria.
Leadership in West African Peacekeeping
Olurin’s most internationally recognised assignment came in 1992–1993, when he served as Field Commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) during the First Liberian Civil War. At a time of intense conflict, he coordinated multinational forces to stabilise Monrovia and enforce a fragile ceasefire. His leadership won him respect across the region and highlighted Nigeria’s central role in West African peacekeeping.
Civil Administration and Politics
After retiring from active military service, Olurin was appointed Sole Administrator of Ekiti State in 2006 during a political crisis. His mandate was to restore order and ensure a smooth return to civilian governance.
In 2011 he entered partisan politics, contesting the Ogun State gubernatorial election as the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), though he was not elected.
Death and Legacy
Major General Olurin died on 21 August 2021 in Lagos after a brief illness. Tributes from political leaders, military colleagues and community figures celebrated his dual legacy as a soldier-statesman and a key architect of Nigeria’s contributions to regional security.
His career exemplified a generation of Nigerian officers whose service extended beyond the barracks—shaping both national politics and West African peace efforts.
Sources:
“Major General Adetunji Olurin Passes Away at 76,” Premium Times, 21 Aug. 2021.
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