Nigerians on Wednesday offered condolences and expressed their feelings over the death of elder statesman and former Military Governor of the defunct Western Region, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo.
He died on Wednesday morning in Lagos, on the eve of his 89th birthday, having been born on March 9, 1928.
A family source said he suddenly took ill at his GRA Ikeja, Lagos home and was taken to the hospital where he died.
Alhaji Balarabe Musa, former Governor of old Kaduna State, in a telephone, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigeria had lost one of its oldest retired military officers.
He said Adebayo was a fine gentle man and knowledgeable leader.
Balarabe described him as a noble elder statesman, who worked for the unity of the nation.
“ He was a good and hardworking officer who worked for the unity of this nation and one of the leaders needed to make adequate corrections in this country.
“Today, I offer condolences to Adebayo’s family, and my sympathy and prayers to the people of Ekiti, Nigeria and the continent as they mourn the passing away of a man of the people, old fine military officer.
Balarabe described him as a world leader, who played a significant role in his days as a military man and upon retirement, influenced the direction of various affairs and welfare of the nation.
Chief Mrs Remia Adiku Bakare, a society woman and politician, described the death as a great loss and sad time for the country.
She said Adebayo portrayed gentleness and having served as the governor of the defunct Western Region, left a worthy legacy.
“Although he had served as a governor for a very long time, he was almost the best governor the axis ever produced.
“His sincerity, selflessness and commitment will forever be remembered; may God rest his soul and give the family and the nation the fortitude to bear the loss,’’ she said.
Adebayo became governor after Col. Francis Adekunle Fajuyi’s death in the 1966 coup, ruling from Aug. 4, 1966 to April 1971.
Mr Gboyega Aribisogan, a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, described his death as a pain to the continent, describing him as a man who, through determination, replicated good governance at the old Western Region.
He said Adebayo, as an elder statesman, lived exemplary life in the service to humanity and would continue to live in the mind of every Nigerian.
“As a closure in the life of men, Adebayo will always be remembered for his legacy, mostly the importance of education and civilisation.
“As an Ekiti man, he was a leader who gave back to the people what they truly deserved; Adebayo was an ICON whose beats will continue to reverberate through the length and breadth of the continent; may his soul rest in peace,’’ he said.
Adebayo was born in 1928 in the present Ekiti State and joined the West African Frontier Force in 1948 as a regiment signaler.
He later completed the Officer Cadet Training Course in Teshie, Ghana, from 1950 to 1952 and later passed the War Office Examination for Commonwealth Cadets in 1952 and the West African qualifying examination in 1953.
Adebayo was commissioned as an officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) as the 23rd West African military officer with number WA23 and 7th Nigerian military officer with number N7.
He later attended the Staff College course in Kimberley (Surrey) in 1960 and the prestigious Imperial Defence College, London in late 1965, where he was the only African officer.
He was constantly commended for promoting agricultural extension services and for establishing the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, as governor of the western region.
He was also known to have rejected the use of force in resolving the Biafran crisis.
Adebayo later became the Chairman of the Committee on the Reconciliation and Integration of the Igbos (Biafrans) back into the Nigerian fold.
Before his death, he was Chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders.
His eldest son, Niyi Adebayo, was a Governor of Ekiti State from 1999 to 2003.
