TM Aluko dies at 91
By AKEEM LASISI, Published: Sunday, 2 May 2010



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TM Aluko


THE author of popular satirical novels like One Man One Machete and One Man One Wife died in the early hours of Saturday at the age of 91.



Although the Ilesa, Osun State-born Aluko studied Civil Engineering and Town Planning at the University of London, his books enjoy wide acclaim and are among the most widely studied in Nigerian schools.



In 1963, he bagged the Officer Order of the British Empire award and the Order of the Niger the following year.



The 50th anniversary of his writing was celebrated last year when he also surprised the literary community as he published another novel, Our Born Again President.



In a tribute, celebrated columnist, Dr. Reuben Abati, said, ”T. M. Aluko‘s novels present a certain thematic consistency in terms of the author‘s pre-occupation with issues of conflict between tradition and modernity, identity, religion and the individual in society, corruption and value systems.



”His societies are transitional societies but his bias is on the side of change and modernity, although ironically even when his females appear strong and influential, they are nevertheless victims of unreconstructed traditional chauvinism.”



Aluko studied at the Government College, Ibadan; Higher College, Yaba, in Lagos before his academic sojourn to London.



He held a number of administrative posts, including the Director of Public Works in Western Nigeria.



He left the civil service in 1966 and until his retirement in 1978, he pursued a career as an academic, earning a doctorate in municipal engineering in 1976.



His other works include Chief the Honourable Minister (1970) and His Worshipful Majesty (1973), My Years of Service and The Story of my Life.

Anybody read anything by him?

yes i have read chief, the honourable minister. Though it was quite long ago like say 10 or 13 years. Can't really remember.