Govs, Atiku, monarch, others extol virtues
From Wole Balogun, Ado-Ekiti and Chinelo Obogo
Former military governor of Western Region, General Adeyinka Adebayo, is dead. He died on the eve of his 89th birthday.
Family members told Daily Sun, at his residence in Iyin-Ekiti, in Irepodun/Ifeodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, that preparations were already in top gear for his 89th birthday.
Mr. Alaba Adeyemi-Adebayo, who is late Adebayo’s nephew, said first civilian governor of Ekiti State, Niyi, confirmed the death to the family and instructed him to break the news to the public.
“Otunba Adebayo confirmed to us that the patriarch of Adebayo’s family died in Listers Hospital, on Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja, Lagos. We have broken the news to Oba Ademola Ajakaiye of Iyin Ekiti and others. The monarch was shocked to learn of his death. The family is also shocked and it is not as if we don’t know that he was aged but, we are unhappy that he died now.
“Adebayo died at about 10.00am today (yesterday). He was a father, indeed, and in need.”
Daily Sun gathered that Adebayo was in his home town to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Iyemote Comprehensive High School, Iyin-Ekiti, as one of the founding fathers of the school.
He was reportedly hale and hearty and stayed till the end of the event.
Meanwhile, Oba Ajakaiye, extolled late Adebayo’s virtues and described him as “a patriot, nationalist and great Nigerian who was one of the oldest surviving generals of the Nigerian Army. The monarch recounted how Adebayo’s tenure as military governor of old Western Region was instrumental to the rapid development of his state and the region. “He divided Ekiti into four divisions in Ekiti; south, central, north and west, with Ado as the capital. Because of this, Ekiti was able to develop rapidly on all rounds rather than merely developing as a division. Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida was his aide-de-camp. President Muhammadu Buhari also worked with him, so did General Theophilus Danjuma. He was leader of Yoruba Council of Elders. He was not a tribalist and believed in the Nigerian Project. He was a father figure to all governors in Ekiti.”
A visit to his Iyin Lodge, at No. 77 Ibikunle Avenue, Old Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday revealed that the deceased, few days ago, told one of his grandchildren, Temitope Detola-Adebayo, to call him by noon, yesterday, to congratulate him on his 89th birthday.
The call never happened.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the late Adebayo as “a courageous and fine officer who spent the most active part of his liofe in the service and defence of the Fatherland.”
Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, in a condolence message in Ado-Ekiti, said Ekiti people would never forget the late general for his love for them and for epitomising the great virtues of an Ekiti person.
“General Adebayo was truly an Ekiti man. He was not a bigot and never allowed political considerations to becloud his sense of fairness, honesty, and boldness in the face of daunting obstacles.
“Despite the political differences between me and his son, Niyi, he was forthright in commending our efforts at developing the state, even though we are among the least financially buoyant. He would not allow sentiments to sway his sense of judgment and was a true father to all.”
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said Adebayo’s demise was a great loss to the nation, especially the South West region.
“General Adebayo was a great patriot and one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists who never shied away from expressing his love for his country and his people. He was a brilliant administrator who was known for his dedication and zeal to serve his fatherland.
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State described the death of General Adebayo as a great loss to the nation and added that, “although he died at a ripe old age, his experience and fatherly advice will be sorely missed. The late general will be fondly remembered for his unifying roles and effort across Nigeria and particularly in the South-West geo-political zone. He was a rallying point and one of the voices of reasoning in the Yoruba nation and, indeed, across the length and breadth of Nigeria,” Amosun said.
On his part, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar remembered the late Adebayo as “a proficient administrator as well as an outstanding soldier who fought to keep our country together.
“The late Adebayo was a remarkable statesman who belonged to the last vestiges of Nigeria’s pioneering heroes.
“Much later in his lifetime, he championed the cause of the Yoruba nation in an inclusive Nigerian project, so enviably that historians will eminently have a record of him as a pan-Nigeria advocate,” says Atiku.
Amosun’s predecessor, Gbenga Daniel, in his condolence message to the family of the late Chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), said Adebayo’s death came “at a time the Yoruba people are in dire need of political identity and guidance.
“General Adebayo was a man of peace, who though he was trained as a military man, advocated peace and dialogue in settling the Nigeria Civil war as opposed to arms conflict, a position which later earned him the chairmanship of the Committee on Reconciliation and Integration after the war.”
Former Transport minister, Ebenezer Babatope, described Adebayo as “a great man and, indeed, a great Yoruba man and Nigerian. As governor of the old Western Region, he did for the survival of Nigeria.
“Although, we don’t belong to the same political party, he was a man I so much respected. His death is a great loss to Nigeria, Yorubaland and to the coutry as a whole.”
Niyi Adegbenro also said Adebayo’s death is a great loss to Yorubaland and Nigeria and added that he was “a man of honour who did his best when he was governor of defunct Western Region.”
Life and times of Adebayo
Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo (retd) was born on March 9, 1928, to a Public Works employee from Iyin-Ekiti, near Ado-Ekiti, in present day Ekiti State.
He was educated at All Saints School, Iyin-Ekiti, and later attended Eko Boys High School, Lagos, and Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti.
He joined the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF), in 1948 as a regiment signaller and later completed the Officer Cadet Training Course in Teshie, Ghana, from 1950 to 1952.
After passing the War Office Examination for Commonwealth cadets in 1952 as well as the West African qualifying examination in 1953, he was commissioned as an officer in the RWAFF as the 23rd West African military officer with number WA23 and 7th Nigerian Military Officer with number N7 after completing the War Office Cadet
He later attended the Staff College course in Camberley (Surrey) in 1960 and the prestigious Imperial Defence College, London, in late 1965 where he was the only African officer.
Adebayo became an officer in 1953. He held other regimental command positions including Platoon Commander, 1954-1955; Regimental signal officer, 1955-1957; aide-de-camp to the last British governor general of Nigeria, Sir James Robertson, 1957-58; Company and Detachment Commander, Ikoyi, 1958 to 1960; first Nigerian general staff officer, Grade 2 (Intelligence) at the United Nations Headquarters (1961) and first national general staff officer, Grade 2 Nigerian Army Headquarters (1961–1962).
He was also the first Nigerian to be appointed General Staff Officer Grade 1 (1962–1963) and commanded the Nigerian contingent in the Congo, 1963.
He served as staff officer in the United Nations peacekeeping force during the Congo crisis, 1961–1963.
He crowned his military career by becoming the first indigenous Chief of Staff, Nigerian Army Headquarters, February 1964 – November 1965. General Adebayo also served as chairman, Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Defence Planning Committee, 1963–1965 and head of Nigerian delegation to the OAU summit in Ethiopia, November 1966.
He was appointed military governor, Western Nigeria, in replacement of Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, who was killed in the July 1966 counter coup and ruled till 1971, after which he was appointed Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, 1971–1972. He retired from the Nigerian Army with the rank of major general in July 1975.
After retirement, he joined politics and was one of the the founders of and later, vice chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), 1979–1983.
His eldest son, Niyi, became a governor of Ekiti State from 1999 to 2003. Another son, Adesola was the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Ekiti State during Dr. Kayode Fayemi’s administration, from 2010 to 2014.
Yet, another son, Adedayo, played rugby for Bath and for the England National team, winning six international caps between 1996 and 1999. Another child, Leke, is an actor, writer and producer in London, and has appeared in and scripted various productions.
Lawmaker, Afenifere mourn
Senator Solomon Adeola, representing Lagos West senatorial district, has expressed sadness at General Adeyinka Adebayo’s death.
In a statement by his Media Adviser, Baaroyin Kayode Odunaro, Senator Adeola said the elder statesman played critical positive roles in the history and evolution of Nigerian as an independent nation. “General Adebayo was a father-figure in Yorubaland, with exemplary exhibition of the well brought up ‘omoluabi’ traits admired among Yoruba people.”
Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, also described Adebayo’s death as “a great loss to the Yourba nation and, to the country. Afenifere spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin said Adebayo was an asset to the South West.
“I was with him five days ago in his house and he was in high spirits. Indeed, an Iroko has fallen. He was one of the great elders of the Yoruba land and he contributed greatly to the progress of the region. His death has left a yearning gap and he is one of the few yoruba elders whose death would be felt by both the old and the young. We hope a new generation of leaders would rise and step into his shoes.”
Wife of one of late Adebayo’s sons, Bisola Detola-Adebayo told Daily Sun in Ibadan, Oyo State, that she was “listening to the radio and I heard Robert Adeyinka Adebayo. I thought he was coming to Ibadan for an event. But, the news said he was dead. I was shocked! Otunba Niyi called my husband to come to Lagos and he has travelled to meet them.
“Baba wanted to celebrate this year’s birthday on a low key. And, the one for next year, in a big way when he would have turned 90. We never thought he would die now…”
He was a good father-in-law to me.”
Some Yoruba leaders have commiserated with the family of the deceased. They include National Chairman of Alliance for Democracy, Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa; a former Secretary General of Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr. Kunle Olajide; and former Minister of Power and Steel, Elder Wole Oyelese.
In his tribute, Akinfenwa said he received the news of Adebayo’s death as a rude shock, saying: “He was a great general and lover of Nigeria and Yoruba in particular…”
Olajide said the deceased attended the meeting of YCE about two weeks ago and added further: “His death came to me as a rude shock. It is the end of an era. He was one of the oldest generals in the country.”
In the words of Oyelese, Adebayo was “a gentle old man.”