President Muhammadu Buhari has described the late former Governor of the defunct Western Region, Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, as a true patriot.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, on Wednesday night, the President said this in a telephone call from London to the son of the late general and former Governor of Ekiti State, Niyi Adebayo.
Adesina said the President, who is currently on medical vacation in London, lamented that Nigeria would surely miss the uncommon patriotism and nationalism which Adebayo typified.
The statement read, “The President also commiserated with the people of Ekiti State and the entire Yoruba race, noting that the late octogenarian, while standing firmly for the unity of the country, also fought for the interest of his people as the President of the Yoruba Council of Elders.
“President Buhari prayed that the Almighty God will console the Adebayo family and grant the soul of the departed elder statesman eternal rest.”
The presidential spokesman quoted the deceased’s son as thanking Buhari for the call and commiseration while also wishing the President good health.
Adebayo, one of the finest officers we learnt from in the army – Obasanjo
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday described the late former military Governor of the defunct Western Region, Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, as one of the finest officers that he and his mates looked up to in the Nigerian Army.
Obasanjo, who spoke at 8:25pm during his visit to the Lagos residence of the deceased, also said they learnt a lot from Adebayo’s contemporaries.
He said, “He was my boss and, in the military, when we were in active military, we put in proper devotion. He was probably the last of the officers that we looked up to in the army just before the attainment of independence.
“We had a lot to learn from them. And as I said that after him or among the old officers, we will be talking about someone like David Ejoor.
So, the old order has been largely turned over and a new order is coming up. And the way things are going, maybe in another five or 10 years, there will not be many of the officers that were commissioned before independence.
“The officers have done their best and they have yielded the stage to those that are coming behind and I hope that they will do their best and yield the ground to those that will come behind them.”
Obasanjo also held a brief prayer session with the family members and friends of the late soldier.
Earlier, eminent Nigerians in politics, industry and the military converged on the Lagos residence of the deceased to eulogise his ideals.
Business moguls, Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, and a former Governor of Edo, Adams Oshimhole, were also at the Ikeja residence of Adebayo.
Our oldest colleague is gone – Gowon
Another former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, described the deceased as someone who worked tirelessly to ensure that Nigeria remained a united nation.
“I am talking as a soldier. Our oldest colleague is gone and he has left the baton to us the younger ones. He was great in every respect and we will always remember him as a fine soldier and someone who worked to ensure that Nigeria continue to remain as a nation,” he said.
Also, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Earnest Shonekan, said the late Adebayo deserved a state burial.
“He was a complete gentleman. He served the nation very well and I think he deserves a decent and elaborate burial to signify how he contributed to the unity of Nigeria. I hope the country, especially the Nigerian Army can produce more of General Adebayo,” he said.
Adebayo, a trustworthy patriot, says Jakande
The first civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, has described the late Maj. Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo as a patriotic and dependable elder statesman.
