Tribune Publisher, Oluwole Awolowo, dies in London at 70

Mr. Awolowo reportedly died in a foreign hospital on Wednesday evening.
The publisher and vice chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN)  Oluwole Awolowo, is dead. He was 70.
The deceased is a son of the late sage and premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo.
Oluwole Awolowo died aged 70 on Wednesday evening.
According to a statement published on its website, Tribune says Mr. Awolowo died at  7.40 p.m. Nigerian time, on Wednesday, at Wellington Hospital, St Johnswood, London, following complications arising from a car crash that occurred on September 30, 2006.
"He had been in and out of hospital, home and abroad, since he was involved in the ghastly accident seven years ago on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway," the statement said.
The paper said despite his health challenges following the accident, Mr. Awolowo devoted his life to the service of God and was deeply involved in evangelical activities.
In the past four years, he authored a christian column, OBA'S LECTERN, in the Sunday Tribune, the statement further said, adding, "He fought a good fight and has gone to rest with his Maker.
"We ask for prayers at this most trying time for the Awolowo family and for the ANN Plc."
Already, a Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has mourned the death of Mr. Awolowo.
"The entire Afenifere family mourns the passing away of the scion of our illustrious leader's family, Chief Oluwole Awolowo.
"His death is a big pain and loss to all of us who are followers of the sage. We pray that the Almighty will strengthen our Mama and the entire family in this difficult moment. May his amiable soul rest in perfect peace," the group said in a statement by its spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin.
Mr. Awolowo was born in Ibadan on December 3, 1942 as a third child and second son  of Papa Obafemi Awolowo and Mama Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo.  He attended Ibadan Grammar School, Leighton Park School, Reading, England and Leeds College of Commerce where he graduated in Business Studies in the early sixties.
After living in England for a while, he returned to Nigeria at a time his father was being persecuted by the federal government over alleged treasonable offences. He was to later work with the Nigerian Tobacco Company, Ibadan, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and the Nigerian Television Service, Lagos.  Mr. Awolowo then launched into private business, investing in transportation, petroleum products dealership and estate management.
He was a politician as well. He joined the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) and was said to have participated in the successful election of TOS Benson as an UPGA in 1964.
In 1966, after the military incursion in Nigerian politics, Mr. Oluwole veered away completely from politics and continued to grow his business. He was to become a director of Dideolu Stores Limited, Sopolu Investment Ltd, amongst others.
In the mid 1975s, the tribune publisher returned to politics winning election as councillor representing Apapa in the then Lagos City Council.  He was also elected to the Lagos House of Assembly in 1979 and was reelected in 1983. Until the military takeover of  1983, he headed several legislative Committees on environment, education and health.
In 1984, three years before his father died, the Board of the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc appointed him Publisher/Vice Chairman of the Tribune titles, a position he held until his death.