National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) leaders have mourned the activist cleric, Rev. Adetunji Adebiyi, who died on Monday after a protracted illness. They described him as one of the unsung heroes of the pro-democracy struggles, advocate of restructuring and true federalism and apostle of good governance.
NADECO and human rights crusaders, including Admiral Ndubusi Kanu, Mr. Ayo Opadokun, Mr. Yinka Odumakin and Mr. Popoola Ajayi, who have paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family, said Adebiyi was committed to the struggle for the emancipation of the people.
Opadokun said: “He was very active during the NADECO’s struggle for the restoration of Moshood Abiola’s mandate as the winner of the historic 1993 presidential election on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP). He suffered the harassment, repression and intimidation in the hands of the military. The pro-democracy movement will miss is service to the down-trodden people of Nigeria.”
The late Adebiyi was until his death the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Southwest Integration. He had served under the administration as the Senior Special Assistant in Political and Legislative Matters. He was also an Executive Assistant to former Osun State Governor Bisi Akande. An Afenifere chieftain, he was the unsalaried Personal Assistant to the Afenifere Leader, the late Senator Abraham Adesanya.
In the Third Republic, Adebiyi was an ex-officio member of the National Executive Committee of the SDP. He carried out many assignments for the party, including supervising primaries for the Southeast chapter. He was forthright and meticulous. He was very fluent and charming. The late Abiola was fond of him, when they came in contact at a party function at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos. Adebiyi rendered the opening prayer at the occasion. After the prayer, Abiola shooked hands with him. He was one of the delegates who elected the businessman-turned politician as the presidential flag bearer at the Jos convention.
During the epic battle against the military rule, Adebiyi was one of the foot soldiers of the NADECO and Afenifere. He was one of the links between the Afenifere leader, the late Chief Michael Ajasin, and the Afenifere/NADECO chieftains in Lagos-Adesanya, Kanu, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Dr. Femi Okunrounmu, Senator Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor, and Chief Ganiyu Dawodu. The pro-democracy activist was bearing a letter from the Lagos group to Ajasin in Owo, Ondo State, when he was arrested by the police. As policemen were searching him, the letter dropped from his pocket and the police picked it, opened it and detected his mission. Adebiyi was arrested at Maryland, Ikeja and taken to the Ikeja police command. The officer-in-charge was excited when he sighted him. He jumped up, saying that his promotion had come. He was confident that the Abacha government would elevate him to the next rank because his command had arrested a NADECO spy.
However, Abiola’s wife, Kudirat, pressed some buttons to effect his release. She promised the police officer better prospects of promotion, should Abiola become the President. Adebiyi ran other errands critical to the operations of NADECO and Afenifere during the dark days of the military rule. He was doing it without expecting any reward. He was motivated by principle and commitment to a worthy cause.
Ironically, many confederates, lackeys and collaborators of the military took the central stage, following the restoration of the civil rule in 1999. Adebiyi was not a covetous politician. But, he thoughtb he had paid his dues. He sought for the senatorial ticket of his district in Osun State on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD). But, the elders prevailed on him to step down for Sunday Fajimi, who told the elders that Adebiyi should step down because he was junior to him in age. It was distressing to Adebiyi when the newly elected parliamentarians stormed the Jibowu, Lagos office of Afenifere and the elders asked him to vacate his seat for one of them to sit because they were now elected public office holders. But, he bore it with understanding and philosophical calmness. Many of those beneficiaries of elected offices later dumped Afenifere/AD for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the consternation of elders.
Adebiyi did not jump ship. he continued to labour in the vineyard of the progressives. After Akande lost power in controversial circumstances in Osun State, former Governor Bola Tinubu appointed him as a Senior Special Assistant. That was how Fashola, who was the Chief of Staff got to know him. Like Fashola, Adebiyi was very loyal, diligent and dependable. Thus, when he became the governor, he re-appointed him as a Senior Special Assistant.
Besides, Adebiyi was the National Vice Chairman (Southwest) of the AD under the chairmanship of Chief Michael Koleoso. Not tired of pursuing knowledge, he went to the University of Ibadan for further studies. Two years ago, he earned a masters degree.
It was distressing to Tinubu that the patriot took ill. According to a source, when he visited Bourdillon, Ikoyi residence of the former governor, Tinubu exclaimed: “What happened reverend? Is there any problem? Adebiyi replied that all would be well. It was the last meeting between him and his leader. Adebiyi was later hospitalised. He never recovered. A former commissioner had gone to visit him in the hospital. The activist-cleric was in a pitiful condition. he forwarded a text to Fashola and Tinubu. The former governor made arrangement for his transfer to St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos. Doctors tried to save his life. But, the hand of death was heavy on the priest. Last monday, he bade the world farewell.
Adebiyi will be remembered for his ideas. He did not abandon priesthood for politics. In both callings, he did not soiled his hand and his reputation was intact. He was an Awoist politician. He advocated for a new and restructured Nigeria, where more powers would be devolved to the component units. The NADECO priest subscribed to regionalism. He was passionate about the place of Yoruba nation in contemporary Nigeria. He spoke against corruption in high places. He decried opulence among the ruling elite.
Adebity was unrelenting in his call for a special status for Lagos State.
