FG Renames FUOYE After Late General Adebayo
The Federal Government on Saturday renamed the Federal University, Oye Ekiti after the late military governor of the old Western Region, Major General Adeyinka Adebayo.
The Acting President Yemi Osinbanjo made the pronouncement at the funeral service held at All Saints Anglican Church, Iyin Ekiti, for the late general.
Osinbajo who posited that the honour was done to immortalize Adebayo for his immense contributions to the unity and development of the Nigerian nation 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 1st indigenous Chief of Army Staff who Mr President had harmonious relationship with.
“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 a military governor, he served the people selflessly.
“As a military officer in 1967, he fought hard to prevent the rebel army from making incursion into Lagos, the then Federal Capital Territory. He headed the post war conciliation committee for the integration of the Igbos back to Nigeria. In fact, his military trajectory was a case study in Nigeria.
“General Adebayo did not only serve Nigeria, he served with integrity. In the struggle for democracy in Nigeria, General Adebayo was a member of National Democratic Coalition(NADECO). Since 1999, he had been encouraging southwest governors on the need to bring back the old glories, because he didn’t like the way the southwest was falling behind in education and agriculture.
“General Adebayo had left the right inheritance, and this was not money but good character and I want the coming leadership to emulate what his iconic life represented”, he concluded.
Also speaking, the primate of Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh told Nigerian leaders to eschew corruption and massive looting of the treasury, saying death will surely come one day.
Okoh who was represented by Arch Bishop George Lasebikan described Adebayo as a man of great “human disposition , forthright ,disciplined and focused” , saying these sterling qualities helped his career in no small measure.
“Nigeria is in trouble because our leaders are self-serving . But remember that only God has the power of life and death. With over 98 billion dollars you have stolen, this won’t deliver you from the hands of death.
“There are so much sufferings in the land, unemployment is increasing , people are dying and jobless, so all these were enough for our leaders to cater for rather than looting the treasuries for personal gains”.
