FG renames varsity after Gen Adebayo

He served the people selflessly -Osinbajo

From Wole
Balogun, Ado Ekiti

THE Federal Government yesterday immortalised the late Major General Robert Adeyinka Adebayo by renaming the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, after him.
The six-year-old university was inaugurated by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo made the disclosure yesterday at a funeral attended by numerous military and civilian dignitaries from across the country.
Osinbajo said the honour was done to the late former governor of Old Western Region in recognition of his contributions to the unity and development of Nigeria.
The Acting President, who read President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech at the funeral service held at All Saints Anglican Church, Iyin-Ekiti, described General Adebayo as an officer and a gentleman indeed, adding:  “His military trajectory was in a way a lesson in Nigeria’s history.”
He said Adeyinka Adebayo Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, was one of the ways Nigeria would appreciate his contributions to the country and thereby immortalise him.
Osinbajo said Adebayo’s services to his fatherland were felt beyond the confines of his first love — the military. He said the late Adebayo fought for the unity of the country during the Nigerian civil war.
Osinbajo said: “This is a celebration of life of sacrifice and dedication to one’s community and nation. General Adebayo was a fine gentleman and the first indigenous Chief of Army Staff, who had a major influence on the life of the President as a young officer.
“To let you know how respectable this man was to President Buhari, the President personally instructed me to be here. General Adebayo had demonstrated that one must learn how to impact on the community where he has the opportunity of serving. As a military officer, he did well and as a military governor, he served the people selflessly.”
In a sermon at the service, the Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, who was represented by the Dean of the Church of Nigeria and Archbishop of Ondo Province, Most Reverend George Latunji Lasebikan, described Adebayo as “a man of great humane disposition, forthright, disciplined and focused,” adding that these qualities helped his career in no small measure.   Okoh warned Nigerian leaders against corruption and looting of the nation’s treasury.
The cleric said: “Nigeria is in trouble because our leaders are self-serving. But remember that only God has the power of life and death. All the money you have stolen won’t deliver you from the hands of death.
“There is so much suffering in the land. Unemployment is increasing; people are jobless and dying. All these were enough for our leaders to cater for rather than looting the treasuries for personal gains.”
First son of the late General, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo, who was also the first civilian governor of Ekiti State, pledged to preserve his father’s legacies.
“My father was a great man and his shoe will be too big to fill. But I pledge that I will do my best to ensure that the legacies he left behind will not be rubbished,” he said.
He thanked Governor Ayo Fayose for naming the Ekiti Government House and also the General Hospital in Iyin-Ekiti after his late father.