As the former Governor of Kwara State Senator Cornelius Adebayo is being laid to rest, Mark Longyen writes of the life and time of the eminent politician and Afenifere chieftain who joined the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) to fight for the actualisation of June 12 mandate won by the late Chief Moshood Abiola.
Reactions have continued to trail the death of former Governor of Kwara, Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, who died at the age of 84.
Fondly called ‘C.O.’ by admirers, the late elder statesman was not only a politician of repute but also a scholar, teacher, and democrat who devoted his life to public service and the pursuit of justice.
Born on February 24, 1941, in Igbaja, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara, Adebayo was the second of four children of Pa Joel Adebayo of Oke Onigbin and Mama Rebecca Diyun Adebayo (née Owolabi of Igbesi).
From an early age, his brilliance and discipline stood out.
He began his education at All Saints Anglican School, Oke-Onigbin, between 1948 and 1955, and proceeded to Provincial Secondary School, Ilorin, where he obtained his Cambridge O-Level Certificate in 1961.
His academic excellence earned him admission into Government College, Zaria (now Barewa College), for his A-Levels, which he completed in 1963.
His strong academic record later secured him a place at the Nigerian College of Arts and Science, affiliated with the University of London (now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), where he earned a B.A. (Hons) in English in 1967.
During his teaching practice at the Ilorin Teachers College, he met his future wife, Chief (Mrs.) Elizabeth Funmilayo Adebayo.
Driven by an insatiable quest for knowledge, he proceeded to the University of Legon, Ghana, where he obtained a master’s degree in English in 1969.
Upon his return to Nigeria, Adebayo taught briefly at St. Paul’s College, Zaria, before joining the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) as a lecturer.
When the Kwara Government established the College of Technology in 1973, he returned home as one of its pioneer lecturers and later became Head of the English Department.
His integrity and competence soon drew attention, leading to his appointment as Commissioner for Education by the then Military Governor of Kwara State, late Col. Ibrahim Taiwo.
He later served as Commissioner for Information, Economic Development, and Acting Commissioner for Youth and Sports, where he supervised the construction of the Kwara State Stadium Complex.
Although he resigned from the cabinet in 1978 to pursue a Ph.D., fate redirected his path.
With the return to civilian rule in 1979, Igbomina leaders persuaded him to contest the Kwara South Senatorial seat under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
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Initially hesitant, he later accepted, viewing politics as another avenue for service.
He won the election and represented his constituency with distinction until 1983.
When the 1983 elections approached, Adebayo was encouraged to contest for the governorship of Kwara State.
He emerged as the UPN candidate after a keenly contested primary and defeated the incumbent, Gov. Adamu Attah of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
His tenure as governor was brief; barely three months before the military coup of December 31, 1983; but impactful.
He focused on educational reforms, establishing Government Day Secondary Schools and abolishing the unpopular shift system in public schools, in line with the UPN’s free education policy.
Following his death, tributes have continued to pour in for the late elder statesman.
It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu mourned the passing of Adebayo, describing him as a true patriot whose life embodied integrity, courage and devotion to public service.
In a statement, the President expressed sadness over the death of the 84-year-old, noting that “C.O., as he was fondly called, was a strong voice and a leading light in Nigeria’s political firmament”.
Tinubu praised Adebayo’s steadfastness in the face of military dictatorship, saying he was among the few who “cast aside every comfort and stood firmly in defence of democracy and the ideals of justice, fairness and equity.
“Chief Adebayo spent several years in exile in Canada, a period that tested his resilience and commitment to his beliefs. I worked closely with him during our years in exile.
“He demonstrated rare courage, integrity, and perseverance during these difficult times”, the President said.
Also, Prof. Hassan Salihu, President of the Nigerian Political Science Association, described Adebayo as “a good governor that Kwara State was denied as a result of the 1983 coup which aborted his administration”.
He noted his meticulousness and passion for the state’s development.
Similarly, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, a former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, said, “His three months as governor were so impactful.
“He created all the Government Day Secondary Schools in the state, a legacy that still stands today”.
Following the coup, Adebayo remained steadfast in his democratic ideals.
When the June 12, 1993 presidential election was annulled, he became one of the founding members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which fought for the restoration of democracy.
His integrity was again tested under Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime when he declined a ministerial offer.
Persecuted for his stance, he was detained in Calabar in 1995 and narrowly escaped re-arrest in 1996, leading to a three-year exile across Africa before he found refuge in Canada.
He documented his ordeal in his autobiography, ‘Running for Dear Life’.
Upon his return after Gen. Abacha’s death in 1998, Adebayo resumed his advocacy for good governance.
In 2003, under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, he was appointed Minister of Communications.
There, he spearheaded reforms that liberalised the telecommunications sector, privatised NITEL, and expanded GSM networks; paving the way for Nigeria’s communication revolution.
Kwara Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the late Adebayo as “a patriot, statesman, and progressive who devoted his life to good causes”.
In a statement, the Governor said the former governor’s leadership and democratic ideals earned him national admiration, adding that he left behind a legacy of integrity and service.
Similarly, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, described him as “an administrator par excellence,” commending his contributions to state development during his brief but memorable tenure.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), also paid tribute, recalling Adebayo’s service as a lecturer at the University of Ife, the Kwara State College of Technology, and as Commissioner for Education in the 1970s.
He noted that Adebayo’s support for the University of Ilorin in its early years helped strengthen the institution’s foundation.
Alhaji Mustapha Ishowo, the State Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), remembered him as “a kind-hearted teacher and grammarian who believed in communal harmony”.
Also, Prof. Wale Sulaiman, APC chieftain and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun, lauded his “selfless progressive spirit” and called him “a rare statesman who saw politics as a call to serve.”
Adebayo’s devotion to family and faith was equally profound.
He was married to Chief (Mrs.) Elizabeth Funmilayo Adebayo, who stood firmly by him through every stage of his life.
Their marriage was blessed with six children and 14 grandchildren.
A devout Anglican, he served as Life Patron of the Ilorin First ECWA Choir and was active in Christian fellowship from his youth.
Beyond politics and public service, Adebayo loved sports.
As a young man, he played hockey and football and served as Head Boy at Provincial Secondary School, Ilorin, in 1961.
Adebayo’s life was defined by integrity, courage, and conviction.
From the classroom to the Senate, from the governor’s office to exile, and finally to the federal cabinet, he remained a model of selfless leadership.
As tributes continue to pour in, one truth endures; Chief Adebayo lived and led with purpose.
As Adebayo’s remains are committed to mother earth this weekend, his life stands as a lasting testament to the power of principle, education, and service to humanity.
