The sun set yesterday for Alhaji Saka Aleshinloye, a prominent journalist who served the administration of the then General Olusgeun Obasanjo, and his predecessor, Murtala Muhammed, and later became the Baba Isale of Ilorin, Kwara State.

He was one of the six kingmakers of the ancient city.

Aleshinloye, 74, died in the early hours of yesterday on his way to the hospital shortly after he had complained of having difficulties with his breathing.

He was said to have watched a soccer match on Sunday night before retiring to bed at about 9.00pm.

He was Chief Press Secretary to the late General Muhammed and continued with the regime of General Obasanjo.

He also served the administration of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello as a reporter and was also the State House Correspondent during the administration of General Yakubu Gowon.

Based on his experience, he wrote a book, "Serving the Nation: Journalist’s experience with four Heads of State".

Hewas also Director, News and Current Affairs of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), a Director with the defunct Daily Times board and a two-time chairman of the state- owned Kwara Printing and Publishing Corporation, (KPPC), publishers of Herald Newspaper.

At home, Aleshinloye was part of the kingmakers who engaged the incumbent Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari in a long drawn disagreement. On September 23, 2005, Gambari announced the deposition of Aleshinloye and two other surviving kingmakers in the same camp.

They too immediately also announced the Emir’s dethronement, setting the stage for a bloody protest.

At least, two people were killed and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.