The Curtain Falls on the ‘Peoples’ General’
Olawale Olaleye, in this report, pays tribute to General Adeyinka Adebayo, former military governor of the Western Region, who died last Wednesday
For a man of his status and name recognition, General Adeyinka Robert Adebayo comes across differently to different people. But there is always a consensus: that he was a man of profound leadership acumen. From his days in the military, where he served in different capacities to his involvement in the politics and development of the Yoruba race as well as his roles in nation-building, the late General Adebayo refused to compromise integrity. And till he breathed his last four days ago, he was one officer of the Nigerian Army, who wore his uniform and title with honour, respect and decency.
It is therefore assumed to be correct to infer that General Adebayo died a fulfilled man. As a former governor, he saw his son, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, rule Ekiti State in his lifetime. His family produced a first lady, who would later become the mother of a governor, many years after. Another son of his, Adesola Adebayo was the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Ekiti State under Dr. Kayode Fayemi from 2010 to 2014. Also, Adedayo Adebayo, another son of his, played rugby for Bath and for the England National team, winning six international caps between 1996 and 1999.
There is also Leke Adebayo, an actor, writer and producer in London, who has appeared in and scripted various productions. These feats aren’t cheap to come-by. Apart from grace, which is significant, such opportunity also comes with unblemished reputation long carved as a family.
Born on March 9, 1928, Adebayo was himself the son of a Public Works employee from Iyin Ekiti. He was educated at All Saints School, Iyin-Ekiti, and later attended Eko Boys High School and Christ’s School Ado Ekiti. He joined the West African Frontier Force in 1948 as a regiment signaler and later completed the Officer Cadet Training Course in Teshie, Ghana from 1950 to 1952.
After passing the War Office Examination for Commonwealth cadets in 1952 as well as the West African qualifying examination in 1953, he 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 after completing the War Office Cadet Training in Eaton Hall, England. He moved on to attend the Staff College course in Camberley (Surrey) in 1960 and the prestigious Imperial Defence College, London in the late 1965, where he was the only African officer.
With a stellar career in the military, General Adebayo became an officer in 1953 and soon as Platoon Commander from 1954 to 1955. He was regimental signal officer from 1955 to 1957 and between 1957 and 1958, became an aide-de-camp to the last British Governor-general of Nigeria, Sir James Robertson.
After this experience, he became Company and Detachment Commander, Ikoyi, from 1958 to 1960; First Nigerian general staff officer, Grade 2 (Intelligence) at the United Nations Headquarters in 1961; First national general staff officer, Grade 2 Nigerian Army Headquarters from 1961 to 1962; First Nigerian to be appointed general staff officer Grade 1, from 1962 to 1963 and Commander, Nigerian contingent in the Congo in 1963.
Moving on, he served as staff officer in the United Nations peacekeeping force during the Congo crisis between 1961 and 1963; Chief of staff, Nigerian Army Headquarters, from February 1964 to November 1965. He was the first indigenous chief of staff of the Nigerian Army.
He was Chairman, Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Defence Planning Committee from 1963 to 1965; Head of Nigerian delegation to the OAU Summit in Ethiopia, November 1966; military governor, Western Nigeria, 1966 to 1971; Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy, 1971 to 1972; he held ceremonial military duties from 1972 to1975 and retired from the Nigerian Army with the rank of major-general in July of 1975.
As one of the founders and vice chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) between 1979 and 1983, Adebayo played critical roles, often times from the background as one of the bulwarks of the region in the stability of the Yoruba leadership. As at 2011, he was the chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders. As a military governor of the Western region, he promoted agricultural extension services, in particular the establishment of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.
Another positive acclaim that went down with his name was his role in the Biafran crisis. He was recorded as having advised against the use of force in resolving the Biafran crisis. In one of his thoughtful quotes during the war, he said, “I need not tell you what horror, what devastation and what extreme human suffering will attend the use of force. When it is all over and the smoke and dust have lifted, and the dead are buried, we shall find, as other people have found, that it has all been futile, entirely futile, in solving the problems we set out to solve.”
It was for this reason he was believed to have ordered all the bridges into the West demolished in order to prevent the Biafran rebels from reaching Lagos, the capital of Nigeria via his state.
The rebels went as far as Ore in present day Ondo State, about 100 kilometres from Lagos. But immediately after the war, he was appointed by then head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, as the chairman of the committee on the reconciliation and integration of the Igbos back into the Nigerian fold.
Something also stood him out in his days as governor. It was during the infamous farmers’ “Agbekoya” revolt over taxation. The revolt was potentially harmful to his leadership and had created tension in the entire region, but with an uncommon maturity and management capacity, he resolved the protest peacefully.
It was no surprising therefore the torrents of praises that have since poured in since the news of his demise. From the high and mighty of the society including the not-so-important, institutions and political parties, Adebayo is definitely transiting to another realm with a life worthy of emulation. He no doubt played his part and left the stage for the living to continue with the struggle of nation-building and national development with critical roles assigned the region. Adieu, the peoples’ general!
From his days in the military, where he served in different capacities to his involvement in the politics and development of the Yoruba race as well as his roles in nation-building, the late General Adebayo refused to compromise integrity. And till he breathed his last four days ago, he was one officer of the Nigerian Army, who wore his uniform and title with honour, respect and decency