Kogiflame
Former Military Governor of Kwara State, Group Captain Salaudeen Adebola Latinwo (Rtd) is dead.
He reportedly died on Saturday in the United Kingdom (UK) after battling a protracted illness. He was 80 Years.
Latinwo, a retired Group Captain in the Nigerian Air Force, served as Military Governor of Kwara State from January 1984 to August 1985 under the Military Government of Major General Muhammadu Buhari.
Born in Offa, Latinwo was part of the pioneering sets of officer cadets recruited into the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in 1963, under the First Chief of Air Staff of the Nigerian Airforce, Colonel Gerhard Kahtz, who was on secondment as head of the German Air Force Assistance Group (GAFAG). The Nigerian Air Force.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has commiserated with the people of the state, especially Offa community, over the death of a former military administrator of the state, retired Group Captain Salaudeen Adebola Latinwo.
Latinwo, one of the pioneering elite officer cadets recruited into the Nigerian Air Force in 1963, was born in Offa. He rose through the ranks, and would later become the military administrator of Kwara State in the Muhammadu Buhari years.
In a statement issued and signed by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye and made available to newsmen on Saturday, Governor AbdulRazaq called the death a sad occurrence and a big void in the crop of great statesmen whose well of wisdom and experience is invaluable.
“On behalf of the AbdulRazaqs, the government and people of Kwara State, the Governor sends his heartfelt condolences to the family of the late military administrator, the Offa community, and the military establishment on this development,”
“The Governor prays to Allaah to repose the soul of the former leader in Al-jannah and uphold his family and the community he left behind.”
Also, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, has described the demise of a former military governor of the state, Group Captain Salaudeen Olatinwo (rtd) as a great loss to the state and nation at large .
Alhaji Sulu-Gambari, who said the tenure of the deceased coincided with his own installation as the Ciroma of Ilorin in 1984 by the late 9th Emir of Ilorin, Shehu Zulqarnaini Muhammadu Gambari further confirmed that late Salaudeen was a gallant Air Force officer who governed the state of harmony diligently.
This is contained in a condolence message issued by the Emir’s spokesman, Mallam Abdulazeez Arowona, on Saturday. The Emir further described late Olatinwo as an advocate of War Against Indiscipline and Corruption which was the hallmark of the Buhari/Idiagbon-led military government in the country.
Similarly, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari also expressed sadness over the demise of the Ambassador of Nigeria to France, Amb. Kayode Laro, who died on Friday.
While commiserating with the families of the duo of the ex-military warlord and the Nigerian envoy, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari on behalf of the entire members of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council condoled with the entire people of the anciety city of Offa, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Muhammad Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II, the people of Ilorin Emirate, government and people of Kwara State over the demise of the two prominent Kwarans.
“These are unfortunate incidences that have befell us in Kwara State. They are indeed great losses to the entire state, nation and humanity in general”, Alhaji Sulu-Gambari added.
He prayed Allah to grant them absolute forgiveness, accept their good deeds and admit them into Al-janatul firdaos.
