Augustus Akinloye

Augustus Meredith Adisa Akinloye, popularly known as A.M.A, (August 191916 – September 18, 2007) was a Nigerian lawyer, politician, and the Seriki of Ibadanland (a traditional high chief).cite news |first=Bolade |last=Omonijo |coauthors= Dapo Akinrefon|title=Ibadan Politics: Akinloye, last of the titans, bows out |url= http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/politics/september07/21092007/p221092007.html|work=Vanguard |publisher=Vanguard Media |date=2007-09-21 |accessdate=2007-09-22 ]

Early life & Legal career

Born to Babarinde Akanbi Akinloye & Madame Adepele Akinloye, his family were one of the richest cocoa farmers in west Africa. The family house was built more than a century ago still stands firm on its locoation till date. Akinloye read law at the London School of Economics between 1946 and 1948. Akinloye became the third Ibadan Lawyer to be called to the Bar after Chief A.M.F Agbaje & Victor Owolabi Esan. He would go on to establish his own chambers which he named Modupe Chambers. After his appointment as minister in the old western region he went into partnership with Chief Odumosu and he rechristened his chambers Akinloye & Odumosu & co(Solicitors & Advocates)

First Republic

Akinloye was instrumental to the formation of the first ever political party in Ibadan called Ibadan Peoples Party (IPP) which he served as its president, with Adegoke Adelabu as his deputy. His IPP party later merged with the Action Group, led by Obafemi Awolowo, to form the first government in the Western Region of Nigeria, in which Akinloye was appointed the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources. During the second half of 1950s he was elected Chairman of Ibadan City Council.

During the Western Region crisis in the early 1960s, he left the Action Group for Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola's newly formed Nigerian National Democratic Party and served in the cabinet led by the then Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. (The government was overthrown in a military coup on 15 January 1966.)

econd Republic

Akinloye was the Chairman of the then largest political party in Africa, the National Party of Nigeria, which ruled the country between 1979 and 1983 while Shehu Shagari was President. Akinloye went into exile in London,England during Nigeria's coup d'état of 1983 when his party was overthrown by the military junta headed by General Muhammadu Buhari& Tunde Idiagbon. Akinloye returned to Nigeria after ten years in exile & spent three months in incarceration on orders of General Sani Abacha who was then Military head of state. Akinloye was detained alongside other political prisoners such as Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola & Olusegun Obasanjo who after his release would go on to become Nigeria's 12 president. On his release from incarceration he withdrew from active politics & adopted the role of elder statesman. He played a vital role in the emergence of Obasanjo as the flagbearer of the People's Democratic Party (Nigeria) in the 1999 elections. Till his death Akinloye was on the PDP board of trustees.

Personal life

Akinloye was married three times, with the last wife being Carol Akinloye of Ibo extraction and had multiple children. Most notable, Honorable Olusegun Akinloye who currently represents Ibadan North-East Federal constituency,Oyo State in House of Representatives of Nigeria. Akinkumi Akinloye & Akinlagun Akinloye who both attended Hill House School.cite news |first=Tope |last=Abiola |title= Anxiety over Akinloye’s health - He’s responding to treatment - Daughter |url= http://www.tribune.com.ng/29082007/news/news12.html|work=Nigerian Tribune |publisher=African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc |date=2007-08-29 |accessdate=2007-09-22 ] He died at aged 91 shortly after being admitted to University College Hospital, Ibadan on September 18, 2007 of chronic liver failure.. His burial lasted for seven days as scores of former associates,well wishers and political heavyweights thronged to the ancient city of Ibadan.

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