A former minister of finance, Onaolapo Soleye, is dead.

Soleye died on Wednesday at a private hospital in Abeokuta, the capital of his home Ogun state. He was aged 90.

He was the finance minister under the military regime of Muhammadu Buhari from 1984 to 1985.

He had earlier served as commissioner for works in Ogun State.

Soleye’s family, in a statement on Wednesday, said he passed away four days after celebrating his 90th birthday on Saturday.

‘With heavy hearts but with gratitude to God Almighty for a long, impactful and positively eventful life, the family announces the passing of Pa Onaolapo Soleye, the father of our late brother, Maj Gen OO Soleye (retd.). He turned 90 years only last Saturday’, the statement reads.

“Papa served the country and humanity in various capacities rising to the position of an Associate Professor in the University of Ibadan, Commissioner for Works in Ogun State and Minister of Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, among others’.

“He was a true lover of God and humanity and this translated into his unwavering commitment to church activities as well as ready support and assistance to all who came across him, in any way that he could’, the family said.

“The loss of Soleye is surely not that of the Soleye family alone. It’s our father that has just passed and we must all prepare to be part of his rites of passage.

“Burial details will be announced by the family in due course. Until then, please pray for the repose of Papa’s soul and God’s comfort upon his family and other loved ones.”

PT