The news of the sudden death of Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye, the Ogun State spokesperson for the APC was the first message I received in the morning, Saturday April 5, 2025 from one of the foremost radical leaders in the revolutionary left struggle in Nigeria and a leader in Human Rights/ Anti-Corruption group, Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA). I felt the instinct to call Oladunjoye’s phone number to confirm but I later saw other messages on the WhatsApp group of Imobi Descendants Union under Ijebu East Local Government in Ogun State, where we both belong.
A painful news indeed but just like the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun wrote: ” We acknowledge the sovereignty of Almighty God, who has called him home at this time”.
The fact that he died while seeking medical treatment abroad, just like few other Nigerians is confirming the reality that there is still a big gap to be covered in Nigerian healthcare system.
Tunde Oladunjoye was indeed as described by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“A forthright, consummate politician who stood firmly by his convictions”.
Moreso “frank, down-to-earth, focused, gallant, highly resourceful, uncommonly cerebral, and hard-working who never believed in half measures”.
I traveled with him once and all these attributes fully captured in the hours spent together. We had very serious and radical engagement and learnt a lot from each other, though a leader in struggle. Some of the lessons I gained still useful till date.
He actually approached Comrade Ade Ikuesan, the then Lagos State Chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, and requested for an activist that can be trusted for a mission, investigative journalism, he was about to carry out and my name, Buna Olaitan Isiak was recommended. That was soon after his removal from office as the Executive Chairman of Ibeju East Local Government at a period his rift with Gbenga Daniel, the then governor of Ogun State was high.
Oladunjoye took me on an assignment to investigate a very serious crime allegedly committed by someone in power as at that time and it was done successfully.
Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye, a former National Publicity Secretary for the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights was indeed a radical activist through which he gathered some of those qualities as described by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Though he was a core radical, he decided to later adopt liberalism and moved into partisan politics.
He was among those who believed that we cannot forever jettison the political space completely for the bourgeois capitalist ideologues to control and be placing the nation’s resources in the hands of few, while many are in pains and agony. He moved into the Nigerian political space with the likes of Bamidele Opeyemi; Kayode Opeifa; Lawyer Kunle Adegoke SAN (K-Rad); late Gani Fawehinmi; Otunba Gbenga Soloki among others.
Oladunjoye unfortunately moved into the Nigerian political arena with his complete sincerity, uprightness and radicalism without any readiness to compromise the truth and this brought him to a logger head with his governor, Gbenga Daniel who afterwards used his political muscle to remove him from the elected office of Executive Chairman of Ogun State East Local Government. Beyond that, he was placed in the Daniel influenced state “Black List”. But this never affected his general progress as subsequent government appreciate and worked very closely with him until he death.
The death of Alhaji Abdulraheem Olatunde Ayinde Oladunjoye has once again reminded me not to have complete trust in this life, but rather work more in service to my Creator and as well selflessly for the service of humanity, especially the poor and oppressed members of our society.
Life must have promised Oladunjoye many things, including possibility to emerge as Ogun State governor in nearest future.
Tunde Oladunjoye was the media assistant to former president Olusegun Obasanjo and also earned the Chieftaincy title of Onigegewura (One with the golden pen) of Ijebuland. A title conferred on him by the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
Both the two, Olusegun Obasanjo and HRM Sikiru Adetona have spent close to a century on earth and are like fathers to Tunde Oladunjoye. Am sure they would be mourning at present.
This simply shows their limitations among others of their status as just mortals who cannot influence anything, except as designed by the Almighty Creator.
Sometimes I even wonder the qualification of this Angel of death who has no reasoning nor discretion when given the assignment to end someone’s life.
The question was actually raised as per how could a Awujale of Ijebu Land, Dr. Sikiru Adetona or Olusegun Obasanjo both close to a century on earth could have allowed the death’s messenger to take away their beloved and dedicated son, Tunde Oladunjoye at his prime. But my response was “Blame Not the duo, as they are simply helpless mortals, awaiting their similarly unknown time. Just like the writer and all readers.
On the sudden death of Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye, both the left and the right wings mourn.
