NOW THAT OLUNLOYO IS DEAD, WHAT NEXT KEMI?

The death of Victor Omololu Olunloyo, the once-prominent governor of Oyo State, marks the end of an era. A man of remarkable intellect, an academic of global repute, and a politician whose brief stint in office in 1983 left an indelible impression on Nigeria’s southwest. Yet, for all his public accolades, one of the most compelling stories left in the wake of his passing lies not in the chambers of government, but within the walls of his own home.

His daughter, Kemi Olunloyo, is no stranger to the public eye. A fiery journalist, controversial social media figure, and outspoken commentator, Kemi has carved out a niche that is as polarizing as it is bold. But perhaps one of the most recurring narratives in her public life has been the deeply fractured relationship she shared with her father.

For years, Kemi has made it known through interviews, tweets, and posts that her relationship with Dr. Olunloyo was anything but loving. She has accused him of abandonment, of choosing political ambition over parental responsibility, and of emotionally estranging her from the rest of the family. Whether these claims stem from painful truths or are products of personal perception, they paint a picture of a family dynamic marred by silence, distance, and unhealed wounds.

Now that Olunloyo is dead, the question arises: what next? For a woman whose father was never just a parent, but a public figure looming large in her life, his death presents a complicated closure. There will be no final conversations, no apologies, no healing moments captured behind closed doors. Death has sealed the chapter, whether or not it was ever truly written.

Public legacy and private pain often run on separate tracks. While Nigeria mourns a former governor and intellectual, Kemi must now reckon with a different kind of grief—the grief of unfinished business. In some ways, this grief is lonelier. It doesn’t come with state funerals or public eulogies. It lingers in unanswered questions and what-ifs.

Interestingly, none of Kemi Olunloyo’s recent posts suggest mourning. There have been no tributes, no emotional reflections—only a continued focus on her usual commentary.

Her response, or lack thereof, is her own, shaped by years of emotional isolation. She may never mourn like a “typical” daughter, but who is to say what mourning looks like in the face of complicated histories?

So, what next? For Kemi, perhaps it’s the continuation of a life already built in defiance of her past. Perhaps it’s a moment of quiet reflection, or perhaps it’s yet another chapter in a story she alone can write. For the rest of us, it’s a moment to remember that legacies are not just made in office, but in living rooms, dinner tables, and the bonds we either nurture or neglect.

Victor Omololu Olunloyo has passed on, but his legacy now lives not just in public memory, but in the silent, deeply human spaces where forgiveness meets finality.

What next? Only time will tell.