Tributes for late General Adebayo at state funeral

Tributes for late General Adebayo at state funeral

Tributes from notable personalities were offered for the late former military governor of the old Western Region, Adeyinka Adebayo, as he was buried on Friday in his home town.

The dignitaries filed in at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti to pay their last respects.

A 21-gun salute by local hunters in Ekiti State added colors and novelty to the lying-in-state hosted by the Ekiti State Government.

Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, in his remarks, described the former general as a true face of Yoruba nation and Nigeria, who genuinely fought for the unity of the country during the civil war fought between 1967 and 1970.

“We are celebrating General Adebayo today because he had paid his dues. He had done Ekiti and Nigeria proud as a disciplined military man,” he said.

“Baba in his lifetime did his best. He was a symbol of hope for the present generation, the coming one and the one yet unborn.

“My person in particular, I benefited from his counsels which had helped in the governance of this state. He was a dedicated and hardworking man, who saw Ekiti as a project that must succeed.

“The works of a man speak for him after death. General Adebayo truly never wanted civil war and he fought on the side of the country for Nigeria to sustain the unity of our dear nation.”

Mr. Fayose called on Ekiti people to pray for the family for the needed unity that would sustain the legacies he left behind.

The secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Kunle Olajide, said “General Adebayo didn’t make it so easily because he was not born great. He acquired greatness through hardwork and divine guidance, so we must salute his courage.”

In his brief sermon, the Special Assistant to the governor on Religious Matters, Seyi Olusola, urged the people to learn from Adebayo’s death.

“Everybody will die at the appointed time no matter how great, connected or influential you are, so you must be good to humanity,” he said.

Quoting from the Books of Hebrew and Ecclesiastes Chapter 6 Verse 3, the Pastor said, “You should change that your bad attitude because if you die today what will the people say about you, good or bad?

“And immediately you die, you will face judgment. If you have problem in court, you can hire good lawyers and wriggle your way, but in heaven, such is impossible.”

Former governor of Ekiti State and son of the late general, Niyi Adebayo, led the family members to the venue of the funeral.

The event was well attended with the venue filled to capacity, as many people attended the funeral with attires adorning the portrait of the departed.

Other dignitaries who were present at the ceremony were former governor of the old Ondo State, Bamidele Olumilua; former military governors of Ogun State, Commodore Olofinmoyin; former military governor of Ekiti States, Atanda Yusuf; Catholic Bishop of Ekiti, Most Reverend Felix Ajakaye; founder of Afe Babalola University, Afe Babalola; former Deputy Governors of Ekiti and Lagos States, Paul Alabi, Sikiru Lawal among others.

(Source: Premium Times)