Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has described late First Republic opposition leader, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu, popularly known as “Penkelemi” as his political role model.
Obasanjo spoke yesterday when children of the late former Minister of Natural Resources and Social Services visited him at his Hilltop private residence in Abeokuta in preparation for Adegoke’s posthumous centenary birthday and foundation.
Speaking to the guests including grandchildren of the late politician, Obasanjo pointed out that Adelabu was not just a historic figure, but a reality who was uniquely Yoruba, uniquely Nigerian, uniquely African and uniquely a member of the human race.
The former president expressed admiration for the late frontline politician, saying: “I share Adelabu’s philosophy of a united Nigeria and beliefs, I share Adelabu’s view of politics beyond ethnicity, beyond tribe, beyond region and I believe that in our national life, we should extol the virtues like the one we saw in Adelabu, a man of the people, down to earth, absolutely down to earth and yet, a man who believed that politics must be above ethnicity, must be above tribe, must be to unite the country while of course, uplifting his own people”, Obasanjo said.
“Today, we are still struggling to reach the pinnacle Adelabu reached in politics, of not being swayed by linguistic, ethnic, tribal, regional or sectional considerations but by what is best for Nigeria. He was years ahead of his contemporary politicians. In his lifetime, he was talking of the United States of West Africa, ECOWAS came up years after his demise. In his lifetime, he belonged to a political party that had its base outside the western region where he came from, he was not a tribal baron, he was a national politician’’, he added.
Responding to the family’s request for a significant role in the proposed centenary birthday celebration, Obasanjo said there was no option for him than to serve as the grand patron of the event scheduled for September.
“What you are proposing to do, I believe Adelabu deserved it in every facet. So, when you asked me to be the patron of the posthumous centenary birthday celebration, I had no reason to say no. I had no reason to say no because, I share what Adelabu stood for, I share Adelabu’s philosophy of a united Nigeria and belief”.
“On behalf of the family who asked me to accept this and having accepted this, I will do my utmost best to contribute to making that day you have chosen a success and also to use it to remind those who may like to forget that there was, even before independence, men and Nigerians like Adelabu who believed in the unity of this country, who lived for it and indeed died for it”, Obasanjo added.
Earlier, an Ibadan traditional ruler, High Chief Lekan Alabi who led the family on the visit, declared the desire for the celebration of late political leader who would have been 100 years this year if he were still alive.
Alabi recalled Adelabu’s political performances, adding that he deserves to be celebrated even in death.
Adelabu Adegoke died in auto crash on March 25, 1958 along Ibadan- Ode-Remo road at the age of 43 while on a business trip. He was the first indigenous manager of the West Africa branch of the UAC at age 21
