A former Governor of Kwara State and ex-Minister of Communications, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, is dead.
He was 84.
The elder statesman died in the early hours of Wednesday in Abuja, it was learnt.
Born on February 24, 1941, in Igbaja, present-day Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, the former governor was said to have been sick lately due to age related issues.
His son, Mr Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo, who is the Executive Secretary of NALDA, busied his line when Daily Trust called on Wednesday.
However, a domestic staff in his Ilọrin home who has spent 20 working for him, Mr Isa Ajia, confirmed the development to our reporter.
“He died in Abuja, we were informed today”, he said.
According to him, the deceased was a compassionate and jovial man who assisted a lot of people.
“He was a community man and lived a life of service to humanity. That he declined efforts by his children to rebuild his GRA home I’m order to modernize it will give you a glimpse of his personality”, he added.
Chief Adebayo was elected Senator in 1979 on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN).
In 1983, he became the Governor of Kwara State. He also served as a minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Reacting to his death, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described him as a patriot and statesman.
According to the governor, Adebayo was an all-time progressive who fought for noble causes.
“His roles at various levels of leadership earned him respect and admiration. He stood up at critical moments of our history,” the governor added.
He extended condolences to the family and associates and prayed for strength and comfort during this moment of transition.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, for his part, described Adebayo as an administrator per excellence and a respected elder.
The monarch noted that Adebayo made contributions to the state’s development during his short time as governor before the military took over in 1983.
He prayed for the repose of his soul and strength for his family, widow,
Leave a Reply