Renowned Marxist scholar, historian and political activist, Prof. Samuel Olusegun Osoba, has passed away at the age of 92.
Osoba, a respected member of the 1977 Constituent Assembly and an indigene of Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, reportedly died peacefully at his residence in the early hours of Thursday, May 14, 2026.
His death was announced in a statement issued by the Yusufu Bala Usman Institute in Zaria, Kaduna State, and signed by the institute’s Director, Norma Perchonock.
The institute described the late academic as a rare intellectual whose life was devoted to scholarship, social justice and the liberation of Nigeria from exploitation and oppression.
“With heavy hearts but with gratitude for a life lived in the service of scholarship and humanity, the Yusufu Bala Usman Institute announces the death of our Chairman, Dr. Olusegun Osoba, who passed away peacefully today at his residence in Ijebu Ode,” the statement read.
According to the institute, Osoba dedicated his academic career to exposing the realities of capitalism and neo-colonialism in Nigeria, while advocating for a more equitable society.
The statement noted that his groundbreaking works in economic history significantly contributed to understanding the structural challenges hindering Nigeria’s development.
Beyond scholarly books and academic papers, Osoba was also known for writing newspaper articles and opinion columns that reached a broad audience across the country.
One of his most notable contributions to Nigeria’s political discourse was co-authoring The Minority Report and Draft Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1976 alongside his close associate and fellow intellectual, Yusufu Bala Usman.
The institute described the document as one that has continued to shape national conversations on governance, democracy and the future of Nigeria.
“Segun is gone but he has left an enduring legacy and a shining example for patriotic Nigerians to emulate,” the statement added.
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
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