Exit of Serubawon

The ancient town of Ede in Osun State is enveloped in sorrow. But, the sad news reverberated beyond the university town. Chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are united in grief. Traditional rulers and community elders are in despair. Muslim faithful are taken aback. There is confusion. A vacuum has been created by the sudden demise of the eminent politician, Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who bade his political family, associates and followers a sudden and shocking farewell yesterday.

Adeleke was the Third Republic governor of Osun State on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). In 2003, he became a PDP senator. He was re-elected into the Upper Chamber in 2015 on the platform of the APC. The strongman of Osun West politics was said to be eyeing governorship in 2018. He had begun  consultations with party leaders and other stakeholders on his ambition. He died as the undisputed leader of his district, held in high esteem by the party hierarchy.

The deceased senator was born on January 15, 1955 in Enugu State where he spent his childhood. He attended Christ Church School, Enugu. When his family moved to Ibadan, he was enrolled at Ogbomoso Grammar School, where he completed his secondary education in 1972. He attended Jacksonville State University, United States, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science in 1983. In 1985, he obtained his Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the institution.

The late Adeleke took the politics of Osun by storm in 1991. Nothing was known about him before he joined the fray. But, he descended from a virile political family. His illustrious father, Senator Ayoola Adeleke, a veteran nurse and old Action Grouper, was a highly respected associate of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Ahead of the defunct SDP primary, eyes were on the popular lawyer and politician, Ladosu Ladipo. However, the table turned against him, shortly before the shadow poll. Up came the youthful Adeleke during the run-off. He was bubbling with energy and charisma. After securing the ticket, he swung into action. It was an expensive enterprise, but Adeleke, a new breed, was up to the task. Reminiscent of the Awo days, he campaigned with a helicopter, making his campaigns much more interesting. His fans included the youth, members of the progressive bloc who had been with his father and ordinary folks.

As the first elected governor of the young state, much was expected of the late Adeleke. He was torn between political pressures by entrenched interests and the need to make a name through the implementation of his manifesto. Adeleke was a man in a hurry. He earned the nickname, Serubawon, when he became a bulldozer of sorts through sheer exuberance. All obstacles and impediments on the way of smooth administration must be removed. At the initial stage, he was not getting on well with many members of the House of Assembly. Fed up with his style, the legislature resolved to impeach him.

The late senator and his supporters went wild. As the House was sitting at Osogbo, the state capital, thugs invaded the chambers and disrupted the proceedings. The lawmakers took to their heels. The populace did not reprimand the governor because the legislators did not gauge public feelings before embarking on what the people described as a futile process. The late Adeleke survived the plot and later, a sort of reconciliation was brokered between the legislature and the executive.

The Third Republic was a bad experiment. Diarchy, which was foisted on the reluctant military class, collapsed like a pack of cards. Civilian governors had the constraint of frank democratic dialogue with Military President Ibrahim Babangida and his Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC). Osun was a poor state, despite having the highest number of towns in the country. Adeleke was just trying to learn the ropes. He lacked political experience to navigate the difficult waters. But, despite these constraints, his administration, which was short-lived, was eventful. The establishment of a polytechnic at Iree, a college of technology at Esa-Oke and the completion of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation were decisions associated with his administration.

In November 1993, the curtains were drawn on his administration, following the removal of the contraption — the Interim National Government (ING) – headed by Chief Ernest Shonekan and legitimate authorities at the state level. However, Adeleke did not go into oblivion. In 1999, when civil rule was restored, he pitched his tent with the PDP. Before his election into the Senate, he was the Chairman of the Governing Council, Nigerian Export promotion Council and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Calabar. He was also the Director of defunct Pacific Merchant Bank and Chairman of Tadel Investment Limited.

In 2007, he contested for the Osun West senatorial seat and won on the platform of the PDP. He defeated Mudashiru Hussein of the Action Congress (AC). In the Senate, he was the a member of the Committee on Upstream Petroleum Resources,, Integration and Cooperation, Housing and Air Force. He was also the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Committee.  In March 2009, he set up a scholarship scheme for indigent students from his district in tertiary institutions. In 2011, he lost to his defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) rival. Between 2011 and 2015, the senator had become the beautiful bride of Osun West. The ACN reckoned that he was indispensable and critical to its success in future polls. 2014 was the decisive year. He defected to the ACN and threw his weight behind Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election bid, to the consternation of the PDP.

Adeleke was marked for liquidation. He and former Police Affairs Minister Jelili Adesiyan challenged one another to a duel. The PDP knew his worth. Therefore, on the eve of the governorship election, there was a plot to demobilise him. Security agents invaded his expansive home at Ede to arrest him, but he miraculously escaped. Adeleke was not available during the election, but having given instructions to stakeholders in Osun West to vote for Aregbesola, the coast was clear for the ACN. Therefore, 2015 was pay back time for him. Once he indicated his interest to contest for a Senate seat, there was no dissenting voice in his district.

He was re-elected with a popular vote. Before his demise, he was working on a bill for the promotion of criminal justice in the country.

Adeleke’s death has led to bitterness in his district. There was a protest yesterday by constituents who insisted on an autopsy.

The senator was a great leader with a large heart. Therefore, his army of dependants are furious.

In Osun West APC, there is a leadership vacuum. After the funeral, the next assignment is filling the vacant seat the senator left. This will warrant a fresh primary and a senatorial bye-election, where the APC and the PDP will have to test their popularity, ahead of next year’s governorship poll. The PDP may fuel sentiment and division in the APC so that a way can be created through the cracks on the wall.

The late Adeleke was perceived as a governorship contender. It was believed that he would play a significant role in the succession battle in the APC. With his death, the calculation has been altered. The agitation for power shift to Osun West may still be sustained, but more aspirants with lesser weights may be struggling for relevance in the inevitable absence of the crowd puller. APC needs an arrowhead in Osun West in the mould of the deceased gladiator.