First Kwara SSG And HOS, Joseph Aderibigbe, Dies At 104…What You Need To Know About Him…Gov Abdulrazaq Offers Condolences

A prominent indigene of Kwara State, Chief Joseph Adeniyi Aderibigbe, is dead.

Apart from being a long-lived person, a centenarian, Chief Joseph Adeniyi Aderibigbe also had under his belt, a unique achievement-he was the first person to serve as Head of Service in Kwara State ditto Secretary to the State Government.

He died in Ilorin on Wednesday morning at the ripe old age of 104.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq led tributes to late Chief Aderigbe on Wednesday praising his patriotism, and dedication to public service.

The governor in a statement issued in Ilorin and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Rafiu Ajakaye sent his heartfelt condolences to family, friends, and associates of the top and experienced civil servant.

The governor submitted that the death of Pa Aderibigbe marked the end of a great era which was marked by patriotism, dedication to public service, and a zeal to make the then young Kwara State a positive reference point in the comity of states. 

The former SSG, he added, will be remembered for his legacy of excellent record of public service and his leadership over the years. 

‘Governor AbdulRazaq prays for the repose of his soul and asks God to comfort the family and the entire Erin-Ile community’ the statement added.

Chief Joseph Adeniyi Aderibigbe was one of the most influential Kwarans during the military administration headed by retired General Yakubu Gowon .

He took on two roles at the same time, he was the Head of Service and Secretary to the State Government in West Central State which later became Kwara State from 1967 to 1975.

The then Military Governor was late General Femi David Lasisi Bamigboye, who died in 2018 at the age of 78.

Actions and opinions of Chief Aderibigbe and a few others had strongly influenced the course of events during the formative stage of Kwara State.

Years back, BOAR was a household name in the Kwara State social circle and it was the name of a club in the then newly built Jewel of Savannah, the Kwara Hotel.

Kwara Hotel was inaugurated on January 25, 1975, and the contractor who handled the project was the late Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuade, who was then a prince, and N500,000 was the project cost.

Care to know what BOAR represented? BOAR represented the names of the then four most powerful and influential men in the old Kwara State.
‘B’ stands for late General David Bamigboye, the military governor, ‘O’ for Oyinloye a powerbroker, ‘A’ for Aderibigbe and ‘R’ for Rotimi, who was then a senior official of the Ministry of Works.

The club, BOAR later went into extinction while clubbing activities got resuscitated there in 2005 having metamorphosed into a new name the Enigma Nite Club.

Enigma also eased its way to a natural death a few years ago following the decision of its handler, Roy Adeshingbin to relocate to London. The club again, got resuscitated from its death status like 7 years ago and renamed Deluxe Arena by the new owner, George Yemi.

With the hospitality outfit undergoing major renovation, it is not known yet if Deluxe Arena will still remain in existence or not-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you