By: Hassan Salihu
We have lost Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, a figure who played a significant role in shaping the history of Kwara State, serving as its Governor from October 1 to December 31, 1983.
His passing has left a void in the political landscape, particularly in opposition politics; all will deeply feel that. This week’s Wednesday (25/6/2025) was not particularly a good day for Kwarans, who woke to the reality of his passing at the age of 84 years. He was born in Igbaja, though he was from Oke-Onigbin in February 1941. His calm and composed demeanour, even in the face of political turbulence, was not just a testament to his resilience but a source of inspiration for many. His ability to remain composed and focused, even in the most challenging political situations, is a source of inspiration for many. His personal qualities of resilience and composure, even in the face of adversity, were not just political tools but a reflection of his character and values.
He was an ex-student of Ilorin Provincial School, later Government Secondary School, Ilorin, and served as the Head Boy of his set. He attended the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria and studied English language. Chief Adebayo later acquired the Master’s degree. He was a lecturer at the University of Ife but moved to Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, in 1969. He served the institution for many years before entering politics, which led to his election to the Senate in 1979. Before then, he had served as a commissioner in Kwara State under the administration of Colonel Ibrahim Taiwo. For most young Nigerians, however, his name might not ring a bell because he had made most of his contributions to nation-building before they were born.
He was a senator representing the Kwara South senatorial district under the banner of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) from 1979 to 1983. From there, he ascended to the throne of Kwara State as Governor, still under the banner of the UPN, in October 1983. He was in the trenches during the NADECO days when the Abacha regime was brutally suppressing opposition to its draconian rule.
Chief Adebayo, a pro-June 12 agitator, aligned with the NADECO and used its resources to pressure the Abacha regime to respect the democratic rights of Nigerians. His return to Nigeria after Abacha’s death in 1998 led to a strengthening of his commitment to both Afenifere and the Middle Belt Coalition. These alliances, particularly with Afenifere, brought him into conflict with Alhaji Adamu Attah, whom he eventually succeeded as the Governor of Kwara State in 1983.
Dr. Saraki senior, was generally opposed to Middle Belt politics and the Afenifere group, but he had to turn to the latter when it mattered most in his political career. This was evident during the 1983 gubernatorial election in Kwara State, where a conflict arose between Dr. Saraki and his political protégé, Alhaji Adamu Attah. The political polarisation of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in the state made it inevitable for the Saraki faction of the party to enter into a political alliance with another party, which turned out to be the UPN, Chief Adebayo’s political party. This alliance, facilitated by Dr. Saraki, significantly boosted Chief Adebayo’s political career and set the stage for his victory in the 1983 election.
As a very astute politician, Dr. Saraki did his calculations and considered several options, including making Senator Gani from Kwara North run against Alhaji Attah as the candidate of the NPN for the exalted office of Governor of Kwara State. He later realised that he could not face two wars simultaneously and win. He prioritised his stronghold (saving his political future, some would say) on Kwara politics over national visibility at the time. The reader is reminded that, at that moment, Dr. Saraki was no longer the darling of the national secretariat of his party, the NPN; the party leadership was displeased with him over some issues, including party control in the state.
One of the matters in contention was the issue of a second term in office for Alhaji Adamu Attah. Dr. Saraki remained adamant on the issue, despite all the entreaties made to him by the then President Shehu Shagari and the party leadership for the Governor to be allowed to run for a second term in office. After reflecting on the situation, Baba Saraki realised that Alhaji Attah would win the election if he did not act quickly with the support of the national leadership, who wanted him to return for a second term in office.
He then demonstrated two of his key elements: compromise and strategic political calculations, which modern politicians hardly do. His ability to make strategic political calculations—a skill often lacking in modern politics—was a key factor in his success. Ultimately, he switched his support to Chief Adebayo of the opposition Unity Party in Nigeria (UPN), contrary to his initial inclination to fall back on the Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP). Once the switch was made public by Dr. Saraki, Chief Adebayo was embraced, and he instantly became more popular in Ilorin, as well as in his native Kwara South Senatorial District, apparently due to the astute understanding reached with Baba Saraki, who provided him with the needed political support.
The name of C.O. Adebayo filled the air, dwarfing that of Alhaji Attah; everywhere one turned to in Ilorin, one was hearing his name. The excitement and anticipation of Chief Adebayo’s victory were palpable. Consequently, Chief Adebayo, with his special hairstyle, coasted home to victory as the elected Governor of Kwara State in 1983.
His victory in the 1983 election was not just a personal triumph but a significant moment in the political history of Kwara State. The emergence of Chief Adebayo as a candidate for the UPN was indeed dramatic, perhaps because he squared up against a more formidable opponent, a longstanding Awoist in the person of Chief Joshiah Olawoyin, for the party’s primaries. The unexpected outcome produced in the first ballot necessitated two more ballots. Chief Adebayo emerged victorious in the three instances. His victory was a testament to his popularity and the support he garnered from the people of the state, marking the beginning of a new era in Kwara State politics.
The understanding or agreement reached with Dr. Saraki served as the basis for constituting the government in 1983. Signs of stress in their relationship were nevertheless evident. Kwarans, however, were denied the opportunity to know the exact nature of the disagreement between them and how Kwara would have fared under Chief Adebayo due to the brief stay of his government in power. I must place it on record that he was always circumspect in discussing Baba Saraki in public. On some occasions, he showed respect to him when we conversed in his house by alluding to the support given to him by his party (UPN) when the NPN wanted to remove Baba Saraki as the senate leader after separating the office of the majority senate leader from that of the senate leader in getting back at Baba Saraki over some party’s issues.
Moreover, the Buhari military takeover of government on December 31, 1983, which replaced the Shagari administration that had run out of steam in providing good governance to the nation, was a destiny changer that deprived the state of the opportunity to experience his government’s handling of issues.
Meanwhile, the Shagari civilian government was plagued by contradictions, exemplified by the high level of corruption that took place under it. Chief Adebayo’s political activities were low-key afterwards until the transition programmes of Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abubakar Abdulsalami administrations took effect, and the latter government went an extra length in extending an olive branch to NADECO members to encourage their participation in the transition programme.
Chief C.O. Adebayo’s return to Nigeria in 1998 marked a new chapter in his political career. He dedicated his time to the Afenifere group and its political arm, Advance for Democracy (AD). As a respected member of the group, he undertook peace missions to crisis spots and represented the group on many other occasions, leaving a lasting and inspiring impact. His commitment to public service showed when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo invited him to serve as Minister representing the North-Central geopolitical zone in his second term in 2003. He was appointed to head the Ministry of Communications at a crucial time when the country was transitioning to digital platforms, and he served in this role for four years.
After leaving office in 2007 and observing the kind of politics in the state, he somehow again became the leader of the opposition, plotting to upstage the ruling political dynasty at the time. He left for Canada for some years, only to return to the state and find the political environment even more stifling for the opposition, with increased political repression and limited opportunities for dissent. He once again embraced politics, seeing it as a destiny that had placed him in the opposition driver’s seat.
He admirably played that role, as his house in GRA, Ilorin became a haven for opposition politicians who tolerated Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, and his side of Middle Belt politics, which advocated for the rights and interests of the Middle Belt region in Nigeria.
I became closer to Chief Adebayo when we were both appointed as Chairman and Secretary of the Committee on the Erin-Ile-Offa Boundary dispute in 2021 by the state government. This committee was tasked with resolving a longstanding territorial dispute between the communities of Erin-Ile and Offa, a matter of great importance to the people of Kwara State.
Throughout the assignment, which appears to be ongoing as no report has been submitted to the state government so far due to the committee’s inability to obtain approval, he remained calm yet deeply engaged in his reflections.
On two occasions, I accompanied him to the Government House in Ilorin over the boundary dispute issue. I used to call him “His Excellency,” and on most occasions, he would say in Yoruba, “Prof., His Excellency fun osu meta pere” (Prof., His Excellency for three months only).
With his death, a big vacuum has been created in the camp of opposition politicians in Kwara State and, indeed, the entire country. We will surely miss him for his calmness and ideological approach to politics. As a Governor who was not allowed to unpack all his programmes and projects for the development of Kwara State before the military struck, he, therefore, stands out in a different category from past Governors of the state. The challenge of his death is that our politicians should honour him by being more prepared to serve the people and show concern for elevating the place of citizens in Kwara and Nigeria’s democracy. That was his primary concern and preoccupation until his death on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Adieu, Baba C.O. Adebayo.
Prof. Hassan A. Saliu, Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin.
