By Ruth Adebayo
The government and people of Kwara State have mourned the death of a former governor of the State Chief (Senator) Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo (CON) who passed away in the early hours of Wednesday at the age of 84.
In an official statement issued on Wednesday, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the demise of Adebayo, an ex-Minister of Communications, as a sad occurrence and eulogized the deceased.
“I received with sadness but submission to the will of God the report of the death of His Excellency former Governor Cornelius Adebayo. He was 84.
“C.O. Adebayo, as he was fondly called, was an all-time patriot, statesman, and progressive who represented great ideals and fought for good causes throughout his lifetime.
“With his carriage and roles at various levels of leadership, the former Governor stood tall and earned the respect and admiration of all. He left a fine legacy as a democrat who stood up at critical moments of our history.
“On behalf of the people and government of our state, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and associates at this difficult moment.
“I beseech the Almighty to repose his gentle soul and give strength to all of us, especially family members, at this moment of transition,” the Governor added.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu described the deceased as a progressive leader who clearly demonstrated rare attributes of courage, integrity and perseverance in the face of challenges.
The President expressed profound sadness at the demise of the former governor vide a statement made public on Wednesday by his Special Adviser (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga.
“I received the news of the passing of Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, a former academic and former governor of Kwara State, with profound sadness.
“During his extraordinary lifetime of 84 years, which was marked by an unyielding commitment to public service and progressive politics, C.O., as political associates fondly called him, was a strong voice and a leading light in Nigeria’s political firmament.
“As a senator in the Second Republic, he held aloft the banner of the Unity Party of Nigeria, led by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“In the 1983 general election, his pedigree as a progressive politician shone brightly when he caused an electoral upset to win the governorship election in the old Kwara State as the second elected civilian governor.
“During the dark days of military dictatorship that followed the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola, Chief Adebayo was one of our leaders who cast aside every comfort and stood firmly in defence of democracy and the ideals of justice, fairness and equity.
“He spent several years in exile in Canada, a period that tested his resilience and commitment to his beliefs. Later, he returned to the country to join the politics of the Fourth Republic.”
Tinubu recalled working closely with Adebayo during their years in exile, adding that “Within the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere, he was a voice of reason and a stabilising influence.”
He commiserated with the immediate family, political associates, and the government and people of Kwara State.
Also on Wednesday, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, joined Governor AbdulRazaq to commiserate with the immediate family and people of Kwara State over Adebayo’s departure.
His Press Secretary, Dr Abdulazeez Arowona, informed in a statement that the Emir noted the late Adebayo’s pedigree as an excellent administrator and elder statesman.
“The deceased contributed his quotas to the development of the state within his short period tenure in office as the Kwara State governor before the military took over power in 1983.
“The Emir, however, condoled the immediate and extended family members of the late governor, government and people of Kwara State, his friends and political associates over the incident.
“The emir therefore prayed to God to repose his soul and give the families, widow, children, grand and great-grandchildren the faith to bear the irreplaceable loss,” the Emir concluded.
Late Chief (Senator) Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo was born in Kwara State on February 24, 1941.
He was elected as Senator in 1979 under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) before becoming governor of Kwara State under the umbrella of the same political party in 1983.
