Tunji Olurin

Major General Adetunji Idowu Ishola Olurin (rtd.) is a People's Democratic Party (PDP) politician in Nigeria. He was governor of Ekiti State from October 8, 2006 until April 27, 2007.

Early life

Olurin was educated at St. Paul’s School, Odo-Ona, Ibadan, Egbado College (now Yewa College), and Technical College, Ibadan (Ibadan Polytechnic), which he briefly attended before becoming a trainee at the Times Press in Apapa, Lagos.

Military and Political Career

Major General Olurin entered the Nigerian Army in 1967 as an officer cadet of the 3rd Regular Course where he obtained his NDACE (Nigerian Defence Academic of Education). He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army in March 1970 as a Regular Combatant Infantry Officer.

He became the Brigade Battalion in Kainji in 1973 and was the Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General of the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

After rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Olurin was deployed as part of the United Nations peacekeeping operations in Lebanon. Promoted to Major General, he became the Commander of the Nigerian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Major Gen. Olurin was also Colonel Staff at the Nigerian School (NASI), Jaji, where he served as Deputy Commandant. He later became Brigadier Commander of the 14th Mechanised Brigade of the Nigerian Army before he was appointed the Military Governor of Oyo State in 1985. During his three years in the post, he was made a member of the National Council of States. He was also served as a Field Commander in the ECOMOG Peacekeeping Force in Liberia.

Olurin was appointed by President Olusegun Obasanjo as Administrator in Ekiti State on October 8, 2006. He was selected for a six-month transitional term following the impeachment of Governor Ayodele Fayose by state lawmakers. While his claim to the governorship was contested by Chief Friday Aderemi (former Speaker), Fayose, and Fayose's former Deputy Chief Abiodun Olujinmi, Olurin remained governor until he was replaced by Tope Ademiluyi in April 2007.

Personal life

Olurin has lectured on peacekeeping at the International Peace Academy, the National War College, and United Nations seminars in Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. In 2006, he was appointed the Chancellor of the First University of Education in Nigeria, TASUED by Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State.

Olurin has been the recipient of many honours including the United Nations Peace Medal and the Knight Commander of the Liberian Humane Order of African Redemption (KCHOAR), Liberia’s highest national honour award. He is an honorary paramount chief of the Republic of Liberia.

In his free time, Olurin likes to play the piano. He is married and has two children named Babatunde Olurin and Olumide Adebiyi Olurin

References

*http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/Sunday%20M@ilbox/2007/mar/11/mailbox-11-03-2007-001.htm