Toluwani Eniola
A former military governor of the defunct Western Region of Nigeria, Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, died on Wednesday, the eve of his 89th birthday.
One of his children, a former governor of Ekiti State, Adeniyi Adebayo, announced that the late General passed on in the early hours of Wednesday.
“General Adebayo passed on this morning, Wednesday, March 8, the eve of his 89th birthday. He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His burial arrangement will be announced later,” former governor Adebayo said while addressing journalists at their Ikeja GRA residence.
Eminent Nigerians thronged the Lagos residence of the late General on Wednesday to commiserate with the family.
Among the early callers was a former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba.
While eulogising the late Adebayo, Osoba noted that the journey to liberate Nigeria from military oppression, through the National Democratic Coalition, began in the house of Gen. Adebayo.
He said, “I thank God that he saw democracy in his time. It was in this house that the late June 12 hero, MKO Abiola, and I came to address a group which Gen. Adebayo was part of; the conference for unity and understanding.
“It was a group of eminent Nigerians from Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups. The group was part of the machinery that produced Abiola as the President-elect of Nigeria on June 12, 1993.
“It was in this house that we formed NADECO. Abiola was not part of NADECO which was formed principally to get the military out of power. It was in this house that Abiola declared to join NADECO after he returned from the inauguration of the late Nelson Mandela as the President of South Africa. General Adebayo’s house is a reference point, a democratic shrine, where major events that led to democratic governance that we are enjoying took place.”
The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who also visited the family on Wednesday, said Nigerians would miss the late General.
Fashola described the late Adebayo as an epitome of service to the country.
The minister said, “He served the country until his last moments. Every death that occurs is a matter of sadness. When you talk about people who inspired you and you now begin to talk about them in the past, it’s a very humbling experience.
“It reminds us how transient our roles are in this world and how it is important to dedicate the time we have here to what is good. Papa General Adebayo did a lot of good. He did it in public service and even after he left public service.”
The Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Chief Idowu Sofola, said the demise of Adebayo was shocking.
Sofola said his death came at a time he was pursuing peace and unity for the country.
“At the last meeting we held, where he was present, he was given a special assignment. It was him alone we knew was in the best position to handle the task, we will miss him badly, “ Sofola said.
Other callers at his Ikeja home was a spokesman for former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Akin Osuntokun, who described the late General as “ a man of peace and a bridge builder.”
While mourning the late General in a statement on Wednesday, a Yoruba socio-cultural association, Afenifere, described the late Adebayo as a worthy elder of the Yoruba nation.
The statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the group, Yinka Odumakin, noted that the late Adebayo lived a good and worthy life of impact which makes his memory unforgettable.
“He left when Yoruba leaders are pulling together to advance our civilisation. Those of us left behind will continue the task of realising the dreams we shared when he chaired a great assembly of Yoruba last year,” the statement partly read.
The late Adebayo, who was born on March 9, 1928, became a governor after Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi’s death in the 1966 coup d’état.
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