…says he’s a committed Awoist and great son.
By Chris Onuoha
The pan-Nigerian sociocultural group, Afenifere, has expressed with deep and profound loss of one of Nigeria’s illustrious son, committed Awoist and multidisciplinary icon, Chief Cornelius Adebayo who’s demise occured on Wednesday, June 25 after a brief illness.
In a statement to the press, signed by Afenifere leader, HRM. Oba Oladipo Olaitan and the Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye stated: “Afenifere, with a profound sense of loss and appreciation of a life totally devoted to the services of humanity, announce the passing away of our Leader and true comrade of the Obafemi Awolowo political family, Chief Cornelius Adebayo.”
Expressing his exemplary life and many impacts as one who touched lives traversing from academics to politics and as a huge voice on national issues, Afenifere mentioned: “Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo was a multidisciplinary icon as a University lecturer, a statesman, politician as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governor of the old Kwara State, Minister of Communications, and a leading advocate of the unity of the Yoruba ethnic nationality and the diverse nationalities of the Middle Belt region of Nigeria.
“He is a great Awoist who never wavered in his commitment to the restructuring of Nigeria for true federalism which he advocated through membership of great national platforms like the Afenifere, NADECO, Middle Belt Forum and the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum all of which he served at their apex leadership. He was indeed the chairman of the Political Committee of Afenifere,” it stated.
Afenifere in its farewell words, expressed mixed feelings of sadness and joy over his purposeful life and comradeship, “we also join the rest of the world to celebrate his glorious departure,” it added.
