Elder Statesman Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo Dies At 89

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

A day to his next birthday, one of Nigeria’s oldest retired military officer, General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo has died.

The Iyin-Ekiti-born former governor of Nigeria’s defunct Western region died Wednesday in his sleep, according to family sources.

He was aged 89.

Gen. Adebayo was born on 9 March 1928. He was a son of a Public Works Department employee.

He was educated at All Saints School, Iyin-Ekiti, and later attended Eko Boys High School and Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti. He joined the West African Frontier Force in 1948 as a regiment signaler and later completed the Officer Cadet Training Course in Teshie, Ghana from 1950 to 1952.

After passing the War Office Examination for Commonwealth cadets in 1952 as well as the West African qualifying examination in 1953, he was commissioned as an officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force as the 23rd West African military officer with number WA23 and 7th Nigerian military officer with number N7 after completing the War Office Cadet Training in Eaton Hall, England. He later attended the Staff College course in Camberley (Surrey) in 1960 and the prestigious Imperial Defence College, London in late 1965 where he was the only African officer.

As governor of the Western region, Gen. Adebayo promoted agricultural extension services in particular the establishment of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

He was also the governor during the infamous farmers’ :Agbekoya” revolt over taxation which was eventually resolved peacefully and harmoniously.

Adebayo retired from the Nigeria Army as a major general in 1975.

As of 2011 Adebayo is the chairman of the Yoruba Council of Elders.

He devout Christian and family man.

His eldest son Otunba Niyi Adebayo was a governor of Ekiti State from 1999 to 2003, while another of his son, Adesola Adebayo was the Commissioner for Works and Transport, also in Ekiti State under Dr Kayode Fayemi-led administration from 2010 to 2014.

Another of his son, Adedayo Adebayo, played Rugby for Bath and for the England National team winning six international caps between 1996 and 1999.

He also have one of his children, Leke Adebayo, who is an actor, writer and producer in London, appeared in and scripted various productions in the UK.