Dr. Olusegun Osoba, a former Head of Department of History at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University was 90 on Thursday, January 10, 2025.
He was joined by academic colleagues, political associates and former students to mark the birthday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.
President Bola Tinubu also sent congratulatory message describing him (Osoba) as one of Nigeria’s finest minds.
After many years of activism and scholarship, Dr Osoba retired from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, as a history lecturer in 1991.
A radical and well known socialist intellectual, Osoba attained national prominence when he and Dr Bala Usman submitted a minority report and drafted alternative Socialist Constitution in 1976.
But the report was rejected by the Obasanjo-led Military Government.
The 90th birthday of Dr Osoba was held in Ijebu Ode, and it was attended by his colleagues from ASUU, including Prof Toye Olorede, Attahiru Mohamed Bala Usman,one of the Sons of Late Dr Bala Usman.
Also in attendance were his former students and close members of his immediate family, including his son, Dr Oluleke Osoba, a medical practitioner based in the UK his wife and Grandchildren.
Presidential Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said
President Tinubu lauds Osoba’s efforts in advancing the frontiers of knowledge, promoting scholarship, and inspiring generations of Nigerians.
The President also commends the eminent historian, a staunch advocate of social justice and good governance, for contributing to Nigeria’s constitutional development.
He recalls his membership in the committee that drafted the 1979 Constitution, which laid the foundation for the Second Republic.
Notably, Osoba and Dr Yusuf Bala Usman produced a minority report recommending no immunity clauses for Presidents and governors and a minimum age of 30 to be eligible to run for office. The military government rejected the entire report at the time.
President Tinubu thanks Dr Osoba for his intense patriotism in serving the nation and prays to God Almighty to grant him many more years in good health.
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