Tag: ADELEKE

January 15, 2018 marked the post-humous sixty-third (63RD) birthday of a man, who many people still want to believe is very much around, bubbling with life, making them happy as was characteristic of him during his lifetime.  It is no other, than the amiable, irrepressible, dignified and humane personality, that late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Alanni  Adeleke – the First Executive Governor of Osun State (January 1992-November 1993), The First Asiwaju of Edeland, The First Chancellor, Adeleke University was. The man with many Firsts.

Most colorful and charistimatic politician and statesman and  a towering individual, that Osun State has so far produced. During his lifetime he gave all he had without discrimination, to make his fellow human beings live a worthy life.

When on January 15, 2017, he decided and unusually too, to mark his 62nd birthday modestly at his Ikeja residence in Lagos state, little did we know, that it would be the last of such celebration that we would share with him. The usual practice was for him, to assemble his teeming well-wishers and associates at his Ede Country Home and fraternize heartily with all and sundry – low and mighty. Today, the story is entirely different. We are celebrating him, as we have promised to do, so as to sustain his sweet memory and memorable achievements, as he post-humously turned 63 at the other divide. It is the belief of all those, whose lives he impacted positively, to regard his sudden death, though very painful, as a celebration of a lifetime, so as to make his legacies endure.

We have accepted his glorious transition as the supreme will of the Almighty God, who we cannot query but thank, as  the author and finisher of our fates, for his exemplary and fulfilled mission on earth, which he traversed like a colossus & a political icon. Isiaka Adeleke was a Phenomeneon, a legend, a rare gem, amiable personality and the undisputable  apostle of politics without bitterness. We shall continue to accord his memory the fullest honour and respect, that it richly deserves. Your Excellency Sir, the whole world stood still at your transition to glory. The vacuum created by your death is too big to be readily filled. Tears continue to fill our eyes & flow freely. It is difficult to comprehend, that you are no more with us. Who will ever believe so.

Humanity at your death, came to terms with the stark reality, that your type comes into the universe, once in hundreds of years. You were in the mould of the likes of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Basorun M.K.O. Abiola Chief Gani Fewehinmi, Zik of Africa, Nelson Mandela and few others. That certainly is the home truth. We are convinced, that your Creator took you away at the appointed time, A situation, no human being can influence or alter.

My big Boss-yesterday, today and forever, tears welled up in my eyes while writing this befitting tribute in your memory I have no choice, than to do so. I, like numerous people, shared quality times with you for over twenty-two years. You shared all you had with us. You gave everybody, who came your way the opportunity to enjoy life more abundant, within your limited resources and while doing so, you atimes got broke. But not for you is a dull moment. Your bedroom and Kitchen were opened to all. You never complained of intrusion into your privacy. You had a good and beautiful heart and a readily forgiving spirit. You did not harbour malice towards anybody throughout your lifetime. Your very few political foes even attested to this fact. It is an incontrovertible fact. You were a consummate politician and compassionate family man to the core. You lived a wonderfully beautiful life and served your God to the best of your ability.

You gave hope to the hopeless; voice to the voiceless and help to the helpless. That was you, big boss- Asiwaju Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. You were not materialistic. Rather you were urbane, classy, trendy  and elegant in your carriage, with your trademark customized glasses, which made you look so beautiful, not handsome.

A show-stopper that you were, your arrival at any political or social events, electrifies the atmosphere. You  instantly became the cynosure of all eyes and the usual shout of de guv, de guv rent the air. You always in return, gave your disarming and arresting gentle smile to the applause of all. You made life and living, liveable for thousands of people. We are pained to the marrows, that all these are gone, but we again glorify God Almighty, for your enviable lifestyle. You lived a life of a Messiah and died as such. Death, where is thy sting?

It was encomium galore, glowing tributes and pure-from-the-heart commentaries, that came your way at death. Nobody spoke ill of you and still do not. To Islamically immortalize you forever, a state-of-the-art-multi-million Naira Central Mosque, named after you and aesthetically finished, has been put in place by your loving family and same is been commissioned today for worshippers. We believe, that all invocations offered there, will be accruable benefits for you and open wider, the doors to Aljanat Fridaus for you. Don’t worry my boss, a glimpse at your imposing grave, assures me and others, that your ever radiant face is glowing with smile. You lived a thoroughly peaceful life, devoid of acrimony, vendatta and unnecessary controversies. You will never hurt a fly.

As it was during your lifetime, your associates of various callings are holding your flag, flying high – asiaa  Isiaka Adeleke, lele lo nfe, so shall it be forever. A Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Institute of Political Studies is also been contemplated by some of your think tank committee of intellectuals, where as an advocate of politics without bitterness, among your other sterling qualities, politicians, and political science students, would be able to tap into your cerebral works, some of which this writer is compiling for your proposed library. This will be in addition to an annual Isiaka Adeleke distinguished lecture, by God’s Grace. We shall not relent.

Your death has changed the political equation in Osun state in its entirety. The centre  can no longer hold. You remained the reference point and central issue in Osun politics. But to the glory of God, your political legacy of service to mankind, is being nurtured by all those who believe in your cause. Dr. Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, your brother, through the grace of God, fantastic display of loyalty to your memory by Osun West electorate, emerged as your successor in the red chamber, after a protracted play against concerted forces of fate. Your spirit also rose from the grave to fight the cause.  We wish Senator Ademola Adeleke a successful tenure of office. He is giving a good account of himself at committee works and plenary session. He is learning the political rope very fast and the sky is his limit.

The bill on whistle-blowing, which you presented and championed during your lifetime, promptly scaled through all readings in the Senate and became a law, that has so far attracted, billions of Naira of looted funds to the federal  government since its implementation started Kudos to your distinguished colleagues in the senate, who ensured, that the bill did not gather dust like the PIB. This surely, is another landmark achievements by you, and for which generations yet unborn will appreciate.

Senator Isiaka Adeleke, you are a study in complete humility, perseverance and patience. Your philanthropic gestures- open and hidden, shone brightly at your death, through numerous testimonies from people. The world marveled at your unparalleled kindness to the peasants, who cried themselves silly and uncontrollably, that their benefactor is gone, as there could not be a ready replacement for you, that will relate to them in the simple and unrestricted manner that you used to handle them.

But the Adeleke family  under the divine guidance and leadership of Dr. Deji Adeleke, ably assisted by the Amazon- Chief (Mrs) Dupe Adeleke- Sanni is not leaving any store unturned in maintaining your philanthropic gestures across the thirty local government areas in Osun State. Hundreds of scholarship were awarded on October 8th, 2017, to deserving but indigent students from across Osun West District. Thousands of bags of rice are on monthly basis finding their ways to all the nooks and crannies of Osun State, without consideration for political affliation, religion, tribe or creed. Your death set free, some awaiting-trail-inmates of Ilesa and Ife prisons, whose various  option of fines were paid, at the instance of Springtime Development Foundation, where your twin- brother, Dr Deji Adeleke is the Chairman. Not only were some of the prison inmates set free, those left behind were availed 700 mattresses,  700 pillow at each of the Ilesa and Ife prisons, in addition to skill acquisition equipment. That is you, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, still impacting the lives of those who would have remained in the prison yards for, who knows how long. You are just unforgettable. As a gallant political solder that you were, today is Armed Forces Remembrance Day. May your gentle soul and those of several gallant solders who died at war fronts at various times rest in peace.

As you post humously mark your 63rd birthday  in Aljana Fridaus and we are also celebrating you at this divide, it is only pertinent, to wish the nuclear and extended families and indeed all of us you left behind, the grace of God to trudge on and the comfort from the Almighty to soothe the pains attendant on us from your death – a situation we cannot reverse. We submit to the will of the Almighty, who knows best.

Happy 63rd birthday, the man of the people, a goal-getter, a friend of the masses, that you Isiaka Adeleke was. You live forever in our hearts. The beat continues my great boss, friend and benefactor.

Ede, the country home of late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, the first executive governor of Osun State, on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 came alive in no small measure. It once again, as it will be forever, the political hot spot for Osun State. Leading politicians and party faithful of People’s Democratic Party extraction, came in their thousands to partake of Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke 2017 Two Hundred and Fifty Million Naira (N250,000,000.00) Scholarship Award Programme for his constituents.

The likes of Chief Layi Ogunriande, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi, Dr. Olu Alabi, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, Chief Soji Adagunodo, Dr. Bayo Faforijin, Her Excellency, Erelu Olusola Obada, Rt. Hon. Adejare Bello, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, Hon. Adekunle Alao (Lele), Alhaji Jeleel Adesiyan (Jallo). Top traditional rulers led by the Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal as well as notable Islamic and Christian clerics were also in attendance.

The ‘Golden Boy’ of Osun politics and the rave of the moment, Senator Ademola Adeleke was at hand, accompanied by his admirers, to receive guests-low and mighty, very warmly. He accorded everybody due recognition. A situation, that made them felt a sense of belonging and completely at home. It was indeed, a pay back day for Senator Isiaka Adeleke, even in death. A re-union par excellence of his political associates from the 30 local government areas of Osun State. Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke in the last three years, became the first Senator from Osun State, after Senator Isiaka Adeleke to embark on massive empowerment programme, major among which was the award of 65 scholarships worth two hundred and fifty million naira (N250,000,000.00) to carefully chosen indigent students from the ten local government areas in Osun West Senatorial District. It was a measure of appreciation and fulfillment of one of his campaign promises made during the build-up to the July 8, 2017 Senatorial bye-election in Osun West District.

The National Chairman, PDP Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, led a powerful delegation of the National Working Committee of the party to the occasion, who immediately on arrival, were led by Senator Ademola Adeleke to the marble vault of late Senator Isiaka Adeleke to pay their respect and offer prayers for the repose of his soul in Aljanat Fridaus. An episode, that once again, made tears to flow freely from the eyes of all and sundry. Senator Isiaka Adeleke, you live forever in our hearts.

In his welcome address, Mr. Banji Adesuyi, Vice Chairman, Springtime Development Foundation, under whose umbrella, the Scholarship Award was organised, said the scheme is a full five-year programme for the beneficiaries, spanning different courses at Adeleke University. He said the Foundation, through a committee, was able to select the best and brightest 65 out of the over 200 applicants, who were considered to be of impeccable character and good moral compartment, that will not taint the good name of Adeleke University, noted for character, excellence and learning. Mr. Banji Adesuyi appealed to the beneficiaries to make the best use of the opportunity offered them so as to justify the confidence reposed in them by Senator Ademola Adeleke, the promoter of the scheme.

The Vice Chancellor, Adeleke University, Ede, Professor Samuel Ekundayo Alao, welcomed the new students very warmly and advised them, to make the best of the opportunity offered them through the Scholarship Awards. He told them, that Adeleke University is a citadel of progressive learning, where discipline and high moral rectitude are the order of the day.

Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa I, counseled students generally, to shun vices, that are capable of giving them bad names. The awardees, he said should be good ambassadors of Adeleke University at all times.

In his own address, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke emphasised, that the occasion was principally to give education a boost, through the sustenance of the scheme instituted in 2007 by late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. Ademola Adeleke thanked the organizers of the Scholarship Scheme, for coming up with an acceptable list of beneficiaries, and advised the lucky awardees, to live up to expectation by exhibiting good character traits and to always remember the children of whom they are Education, Senator Ademola Adeleke said, is the key to real economic development of all nations and urged, that good part of the national resources, should be dedicated to paying teachers better salary, to enable them in turn, give good account of themselves through qualitative teaching to their students.

The Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Senator Ademola Adeleke, said in furtherance of huge and consistent investment in education by all stakeholders, the government at all levels should evolve comprehensive and workable programmes, that will guarantee and support our march with confidence to a better future, which is what the prestigious Adeleke University stands for. The Senator stated and I quote: “Everytime a child is forced into avoidable failure, due to lack of proper investment in education, or dropped out of school and fall prey to societal vices, our collective future is diminished.”

Senator Ademola Adeleke informed the audience, that before the October 11, 2017 event, he has embarked on other equally meaningful empowerment programme, among which was the donation and installation of a gigantic MIKANO Generator to the cow meat sellers at Odo-Ori in Iwo, to provide them an alternative source of power generation to refrigerate their meat, whenever there is the usual “NO NEPA.” This he said, was aside the distribution of thousands of bags of rice to all the nooks and crannies of the thirty local government areas in Osun State without political consideration, tribe, creed, sex or religion. An exercise, he noted is a continuous exercise.

Senator Ademola Adeleke, promised to do his best to use his various Senate Committees to benefit his constituents, as much as he could, with a view to attracting far-reaching projects to the ten local government areas in Osun West District. Skill acquisition centres, Senator Ademola  Adeleke reiterated, would be established in some areas of the district, as a means of reducing the problems of the under-privileged, the helpless and vulnerable people and also bring down youth restiveness in the communities. He threw a big challenge to well-meaning members of PDP in Osun State, to close ranks and work as a united family, with a view to presenting a credible and sellable candidate for the 2018 Governorship Race.

The National Chairman of PDP Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, who was visibly happy with the massive turn out of PDP faithful at the ceremony, said, Senator Ademola Adeleke, true to his Islamic name – Nurudeen, has indeed brought illumination to the dimming light of PDP in Osun State before he joined it. Makarfi pointed out, that what God used Senator Ademola Adeleke to achieve in Osun PDP, was a “ninth wonder” of our time, asserting very strongly, that the Senator has brought unity, cohesion better understanding and love among members in Osun State.

The National Chairman opined, that with the landside victory recorded by Senator Ademola Adeleke at the July 8, 2017 Osun West bye-election, the governorship seat is up for grabs by the PDP in Osun State, if its members will build on the feat recorded and do not fritter away the tremendous goodwill already extended to the party by the electorate. Ahmed Makarfi called on party leaders to bury their differences and forge ahead with the sole aim of building a stronger, virile and cohesive PDP in Osun State. The National Chairman, was of the opinion, that it is only through the spirit of give and take, that the PDP family in Osun State would be able to wax stronger, stressing that no individual or group of individuals, is bigger than the collective will of the party members. Goodwill messages were also delivered by some of the guests, all of who eulogised the giant stride recorded by Senator Ademola Adeleke, in so short a time he joined partisan politics. The National Association of Nigerian Student (NANs) was adequately represented at the occasion.

• Lawal, is a Media Adviser to Senator Ademola Adeleke.