Kwara Prominent Politician Cornelius Adebayo Dies At 84…Gov Abdulrazaq, Senator Mustapha, Unilorin VC Offer Condolences

 A prominent politician in Kwara State, Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, is dead.

The deceased politician, an indigene of Oke-Onigbin, Isin local government, Kwara State, at different times served as Commissioner for Education, Senator, governor of Kwara State, and Minister of Communications.

He passed away in Abuja on Wednesday morning.

Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq led tributes to late Chief C.O Adebayo on Wednesday calling him ‘an all-time patriot’

‘I received with sadness but submission to the will of God the report of the death of His Excellency, former governor Cornelius Adebayo. He was 84.

C.O. Adebayo, as he was fondly called, was an all-time patriot, statesman, and a progressive person, who represented great ideals and fought for good causes throughout his lifetime. 

With his carriage and roles at various levels of leadership, the former governor stood tall and earned the respect and admiration of all. He left a fine legacy as a democrat who stood up at critical moments of our history. 

On behalf of the people and government of our state, I extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and associates at this difficult moment. 

I beseech the Almighty to repose his gentle soul and give strength to all of us, especially family members, at this moment of transition’ he submitted.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has also commiserated with the Government and people of Kwara State over the demise of Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo. 

The university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun in a statement he issued in Ilorin and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com noted that the Vice-Chancellor described the death of the former governor as the end of a remarkable era in public service while recalling the several roles he played in national development, particularly in the nation’s education sector.

The late elder statesman, he added, was a lecturer at the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife; the former Kwara State College of Technology (now Kwara State Polytechnic), Ilorin, and later served as Commissioner for Education in Kwara State in the late 1970s.

   The Vice-Chancellor also recalled that the tenure of Chief Adebayo as Kwara State Commissioner for Education coincided with the period that the University of Ilorin was taking shape and the support enjoyed by the university from the government and people of Kwara State at that material time contributed to making the institution become what it is today.

Professor Egbewole, who described the late former governor as one of the friends and supporters of the University of Ilorin, noted that it is unfortunate that he has died while the institution is preparing to mark its Golden Jubilee anniversary.

The Vice-Chancellor, who is the Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), commiserated with the president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and the governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on the death of the frontline leader.

He also sympathized with Chief Adebayo’s immediate family and the entire people of Kwara State over the loss of ‘a great son’ while asking God to rest the soul of the departed elder statesman in eternal peace and give his family and colleagues the fortitude to bear the loss.

Senator Saliu Mustapha, who represents Kwara Central in the senate , has also mourned the death of the former member of the Nigerian Senate describing his passing as a great loss to Kwara State and Nigeria as a whole.

The senator in a statement made available to Team@orientactualmags.com by his media aide, Mr Nasif Sholagberu acknowledged Chief Cornelius Adebayo’s immense contributions to governance and national development, especially while serving as governor of Kwara State and Minister of Communications.

Senator Mustapha commiserated with the Adebayo family over the loss, especially his son, Engr. Oluwasegun Adebayo, the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) while also extending his condolences to the people of Isin LGA and the entire Kwara South Senatorial District.

The federal lawmaker prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the departed elder statesman and asked God to grant his loved ones the strength to bear the irreparable loss-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 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you