Late Victor Olaiya, CP Victor Olaiya
By Our Reporter
Unkmown to many, the late highlife king, Dr. Victor Abimbola Olaiya OON, has a son who has risen to the peak of his career as a police officer. He is the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State who is known as Victor Olaiya Mobolaji.
The late Olaiya was born on The December 31, 1930 and died on 12th of February 2020 after living a fulfilled 90 years.
The late Victor Olaiya, was a trumpeter who played in the highlife style.
His style of music was famous in the 1950s and early 1960s, and was tagged The Evil Genius of Highlife” by Alhaji Alade Odunewu, the then Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Times .
His son, Olaiya Victor Mobolaji has been giving a superlative account of himself since he was appointed as the
Kwara CP.
He recently told newsmen that though he was surrounded by musicians in his family, he only managed to avoid becoming a musician by providence.
CP Olaiya was speaking at a get-together at the police officers’ mess in Ilorin, he said he would have been in the profession if he had not developed an interest in other things while growing up.
“I am from a family of musicians. I only managed to escape from being one. I was part of the school band in primary and secondary schools but as I was growing up, I developed other interests. Today, I am surrounded by musicians.
After baba’s (my father’s) death, my siblings formed a band. You know that we are many, so, my siblings formed a band comprising instrumentalists and others just like a football team.
“My wife has also produced some gospel songs; that is why I said I managed to escape from being a musician.”
“My father lived on Dr Victor Olaiya Avenue, off Aiyetoro, Aguda, but he was always at the Stadium Hotel. You know you cannot own a hotel and not have your chalet or office.
“So, he was always there; he also visited the musical instruments shop at the family house at Tinubu Square daily. He visited Lagos Island every day.
“You know that in those days, people were of a considered opinion that only the stubborn ones would join the police and so, there was the usual question: why the police?”
While disclosing that he would have also been a lecturer in a tertiary institution if he had not joined the police, Olaiya, recalled how he drove from Damaturu, Yobe State, to Abuja at night to attend a promotion interview a few years ago.
He said, “I can drive for 48 hours nonstop. I love driving. But if I had not joined the Force, I would have been a lecturer in a tertiary institution.”
