From: WOLE BALOGUN, Ado-Ekiti
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has expressed sadness over the passing of former Military Governor of Western Region, a nationalist and elder statesman, the late Gen. Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, saying the nation has lost a disciplined leader whose counsel will be missed as Nigeria braces to tackle the economic challenges plaguing the nation.
Adebayo, 89, died on Wednesday, in Lagos, a few weeks after his last appearance at his country home, Iyin-Ekiti, when his first son and first elected Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, was installed the Baba Ijo of the All Saints Anglican Church, Iyin-Ekiti.
In a statement in Ado-Ekiti by the Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party said the death of the late military General and Chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders is a great loss to Nigeria, the Yoruba race and his native Ekiti State.
“Nigeria will greatly miss this detribalised and disciplined military officer,nationalist and statesman, who spent his productive years in the service of his nation at critical moments when the peace, stability and unity of the country were at stake.
“Citing horror, devastation and extreme human suffering that would attend a full-blown war in the resolution of Biafra agitation, it will go down in history that the late General Adebayo’s voice resonated against the push for a full-blown war to resolve the crisis, which later made Nigeria to slide to a bitter civil war that claimed the lives of millions of Nigerians.
“This singular disposition as a man of peace propelled the Federal Military Government led by General Yakubu Gowon to appoint the late General Adebayo as the Chairman of the Integration and Reconciliation Committee that brought the Easterners back to a united Nigeria,” he explained.
Olatunbosun added that in pursuit of peace among the humanity, he also as the governor peacefully resolved the farmers’ revolt popularly called ‘Agbekoya’ over taxation in the old Western Region.
He added: “To his credit, the late General Adebayo as the Military Governor of the old Western Region, promoted agricultural extension services with the establishment of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.”
Olatubosun also described the late General Adebayo as a disciplined family man, a committed Christian and community leader, noting that he combined his disciplined military career background with the community service to build a strong family that is today a reference point a standard in raising a family.
Regretting that the late Adebayo’s passing has left a huge leadership vacuum, particularly in crisis management mechanism, the party commiserated with the Federal Government, government and people Ekiti State and family of the deceased for the loss, saying that even though the late Adebayo is gone, the consolation is that he left an indelible footprints that will serve as a memento to a worthy life of a patriot and military gentleman who stood for peace and progress of his people.