Governor Christopher Alao-Akala

Alao-Akala, JP, psc, the Executive Governor of Oyo State is a successful politician and Visionary leader. Above all, he is a God-fearing family man. Hans Christian Andersen in the preface to his seminal treatise, Works, said “Every man's life is a fairy-tale written by God's fingers.” The phenomenal rise to fame and fortune and the unqualified success story of the life of His Excellency, Otunba (Dr) Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala, JP, psc, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, could be rightly described as a script well crafted by the Almighty God.

Born on June 3, 1950 at Ogbomoso in the Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, young Adebayo Alao-Akala had his elementary school at Osupa Baptist Day School, Ogbomoso.  From there, he proceeded to the Kamina Barracks Middle School, 5th Battalion of Infantry Tamale, Ghana.

On leaving Kamina Barracks Middle School,  Adebayo Alao-Akala went to Government Technical College, Tamale, Ghana and Ogbomoso High School, Ogbomoso.  Still in search of more knowledge, Otunba (Dr) Alao-Akala capped it all with further studies at Nigeria's premier high institution, the University of Ibadan.

For his efforts, Dr Alao-Akala has in his kitty the First Leaving Certificate obtained in 1962, West African School Certificate (1972), ASCON Certificate (1985), Passed Staff College (Psc) 1990, Diploma in Business Administration (1998), Doctor of Civil Law (DCL) Honoris Causa, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso (2006), Doctor of Science (Political Science) Honoris Causa, Lead City University (2008).

His Excellency, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo Alao-Akala has been privileged to attend several career development courses.  He enlisted as Cadet Inspector of Police in June 1974 at the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja.  Following his brilliant performance, he was recommended for overseas training at the Metropolitan Police Training School, Peel Centre, Hendon, London.  He has also attended the Administrative Staff College, Topo, Badagry; the Nigeria Institute of International  Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos; Police Staff College, Jos;  Command and Staff College, Jaji. Otunba Alao-Akala has participated as a Nigerian delegate at two INTERPOL Conferences in Nice, France and Malaga, Spain.

Otunba (Dr) Alao-Akala today stands tall among his peers.  His astuteness and the uncanny ability to detect the genius in other people is one of the secret weapons of his soar away success as politician and administrator. According to Saint Augustine, “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night”. Obviously, the various positions of responsibility held by Otunba Alao-Akala and his rich work experience have helped to mould him into a well-rounded statesman and leader.

From the position of Station Officer in the Nigeria Police, he became Administrative Officer, Federal Operation, Federal Headquarters, Lagos and rose to the position of Operations Officer, FEDOPS, Lagos. The steady rise of Otunba Alao-Akala to fame and fortune reached its apogee when he became the Personal Assistant to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police and subsequently the ADC to the Inspector-General of Police.

From there onwards, Alao-Akala's star began to shine brilliantly as he held several prestigious command positions in the Police Force. He was O/C Advanced Training Wing, Police College, Ikeja; Divisional Police Officer, Bode Thomas, Lagos; Divisional Police Officer, Iponri Police Station, Lagos; Railway Divisional Police Officer, Nigeria Railways, Ebute Meta, Lagos; Area Commander, Western District, Nigeria Railway Police, Ibadan; CSP Admin. Gongola State Command, Yola; CSP Admin. Kwara State Command, Ilorin; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Agodi Area Command, Ibadan, Oyo State Police Command, Ibadan. In September 1995, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo retired from the Nigeria Police as Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Logistics and Supply, Oyo State Police Command, Eleiyele, Ibadan.  It was, indeed, a meritorious service to his fatherland. After retirement from the public service, Dr. Alao-Akala became the Chairman of ACALA Nigeria Limited, Private Eye Security Consultant and General Contractor.

In the political arena, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo Alao-Akala could be rightly described as a man with the midas touch.  He started his political career as a member of New Dimension, a political association of progressive young elements.  He participated in the zero-party local government election of 1996 and later co-founded the UNP before its fusion with UNC to form UNCP. In the 1997 local government elections, Otunba Alao-Akala sponsored the chairmanship candidate and seven councilors to victory on the ticket of the UNCP.  He participated in the Ogbomoso Federal Constituency (One) primary election of the UNCP in 1997. He contested and won the chairmanship seat of the Ogbomoso North Local Government along with seven councilors under the platform of APP in 1998. He was elected vice-chairman of ALGON, Oyo State Chapter between 1999 and 2002.  A versatile and visionary political leader, Alao-Akala founded the Ogbomoso Unity Forum, a political association which later joined the PDP. He was the Executive Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government from 1999 to 2002.

A man of Destiny, Otunba (Dr) Adebayo  popularly known as “Omo Iya Alaro” became the Deputy Governor of Oyo State from May 2003 to January 2006.  To crown his efforts in life, the Almighty God who directs the affairs of man took Otunba Alao-Akala to the pinnacle of his political career when he became the Executive Governor of Oyo State in January 2006, a position he still occupies till today.

His Excellency, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala is a polyglot.  He speaks English, Yoruba, Hausa, (Twi, Fanti and Dagbani) Ghanaian Languages fluently.  And he is a widely traveled man.

Alao-Akala is not only a distinguished police officer and astute politician, he is also an egg-headed, a prolific writer and author.  His publications include:

(i)    Training of police cadet Inspectors: Prospects and Problems (May 1985)

(ii)   Police and The Media: A Critical Approach (June 1990)

(iii)  Conflict Resolution and Crime in Local Governments (Sept. 2004).

Otunba Akala’s sterling leadership qualities have not gone unrewarded. He has received accolades, commendations, recognitions, awards and several honorary chieftaincy titles, among which are: Otunba Akinmorin , Bobajiro of Owu Kingdom, Basorun Atunluto of Akure, Asoludero of Iseyin, Mayegun of Okeho, Akogun of Ilua, Aare Asoludero of Ibarapa and Bobagunwa of Ogbomosoland.

His hobbies include traveling; he has visited all the 36 states of the country and Abuja; he has also visited over 10 countries in the world; he loves reading and meeting people. Otunba Alao-Akala is a member of many social clubs including Ikoyi Club 1938; he was President, Rotary Club of Ogbomoso 2005-2006; he is the current President, Ogbomoso Recreation Club.

He is happily married and blessed with beautiful, diligent and God-fearing children.