Leadership (Abuja)
Sarkin Babalola
13 June 2008
The remains of the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, the strongman of Ibadan politics, were buried yesterday in his Molete, Ibadan home at about 11:30 a.m. amidst tales of bitterness by dignitaries who came for the ceremony.
The prayers were said by Alhaji Busari Haruna, the Chief Imam of Ibadan, who beseeched the Almighty Allah to grant the late politician Aljanah Firdaus (paradise).
Haruna was assisted by many top Islamic clerics, including the Chief Imams of Ogbomosho, Igboora and Bodija.
Top dignitaries, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his daughter Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello; Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Oyo State Governor, Lamidi Adesina, and Alhaji Arisekola Alao, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, converged at the late Adedibu's house for the funeral.
A mournful Obasanjo and his daughter, however, left before Adedibu was buried.
Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, who accompanied President Umaru Yar'Adua on a state visit to France, could not make it, but his deputy, Alhaji Taofeeq Arapaja, and cabinet members were present.
Other dignitaries who witnessed the burial included the National Vice-Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (South-West), Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo, Alhaji Yekini Adeojo, a top PDP chieftain; former Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice Nurudeen Adekola, and frontline industrialist Chief Kola Daisi.
More than 10,000 sympathisers converged for the burial, but fewer than 2,000 could gain access into Adedibu's compound.
Pickpockets made a haul as they dispossessed unwary sympathisers of their mobile handsets and money.
Tell magazine correspondent, Mr Jide Jegede, said about N5,000 was picked from his pocket.
Earlier, the grave site initially chosen on Wednesday for the burial was changed by the family.
The site was chosen by Alhaji Arisekola Alao, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the earlier site, which is located about 20 metres behind a hall, was considered not suitable, as it is said to be always water-logged.
A family source, however, said that there was a long standing dispute between the late Adedibu and the NITEL over the parcel of land on which the initial grave site was located.
A group of women was, however, pressing that the new site was also not befitting and was insisting that the late politician be buried right in front of the entrance to the main building. "Baba (Adedibu) should be buried here and not at the backyard. Everyone coming into this place should see his grave," a woman who stood by the entrance screamed in Yoruba .
Another woman, who was speaking on her mobile phone, instructed her caller not to open her shop today, for as far as she was concerned, it was the "king" of Ibadan who had passed on. "Oba Ibadan lo ku (it is the king of Ibadan who is dead)," she said with a tinge of authority and bitterness.
A weeping young man, Lasisi Adekola, said it was unfortunate that canopies were being set up for Adedibu's burial.
"Oye ka fi se ayeye ojo ibi baba ni (The canopies ought to have been for the celebration of his birthday)" he said.
Anti-riot policemen cordoned off about two-kilometre stretch of road leading to the house of Adedibu.
Motorists were diverted to side streets while the Oke Ado-Molete road was deserted as very few people were on the street.
Traders took precautionary measures by locking up their shops.
The Ekiti State Government has described late Adedibu as a pillar of the country's democracy.
Governor Segun Oni, speaking through his Senior Adviser, Public Communication, Mr Moses Jolayemi, said in Ado-Ekiti that Adedibu was an umbrella for the PDP in the South-West.
"His death was a great loss. His position would be difficult to fill in the party. Adedibu was a pillar of democracy in Nigeria and PDP. He has left behind a pair of big shoes, naturally too big for anybody to wear now. "
Mr Olufunminiyi Afuye, the Action Congress leader in the State House of Assembly, said that Adedibu led "an eventful life" while on earth.
"Well, it is an end of an era of a man who bestowed so much on politics in Nigeria. May his soul rest in peace," Afuye added.
Most shops and markets in the city were shut, partly in fear and in honour of Adedibu, who bestrode the city's political terrain like a colossus for nearly 57 years.
Few people were seen on the road, especially on streets adjoining Adedibu's palatial home, where shop owners had hurriedly closed for the day when the news of his death filtered in.
Many people were seen in groups and around newsstands discussing the sudden demise of the politician, whose words were taken as law.
Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, also known as Tokyo, an Adedibu die-hard loyalist and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) state chairman, directed commercial buses, taxis and commercial motorcyclists (okada) to withdraw their services yesterday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. in honour of the late politician.
Some commercial motorcyclists, who tried to defy the order were stopped by suspected union officials who were on the streets to ensure compliance.
The withdrawal of vehicles led to commuters being stranded, with people trekking to their destinations.
As a result, vehicular traffic was light. Markets also remained closed, including the popular Bere, Mapo, Oja-Oba and Bode Markets in the heart of Ibadan.
Throughout the city, street urchins (area boys) were having a field day, mounting checkpoints and extorting money from motorists.
One of the children of the deceased, Alhaji Dauda Adedibu, said that it was not possible for anybody to step into the shoes of his father either among the children or his political godsons .
Dauda, who was crying profusely as he spoke with our correspondent yesterday, shortly after his father had been buried, said Chief Adedibu had done a lot for the politics of this country, especially people of Oyo State.
General Ibrahim Babangida yesterday described Adedibu as a politician who added glamour to the politics of Oyo State.
"At age 80, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, the strong man of Ibadan politics, finally joined his ancestors. Life to him would make meaning if only the society could improve on services that would impact on the citizenry and enhance their standard of living.
"His brand of politics was one that was brewed in the oven of reality and not one that spoke so much of ideology without a corresponding benefit for the people for whom it is meant to serve. Little wonder, people tended to misconstrue his reading of political situations to being that of bread and butter plus amala. The man was a practical man, full of witty sayings and deft political knowledge from pre-independence Nigeria to this millennium age," the former president said in a press statement issued by his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua.
"When I was the President of this great country, I enjoyed a lot of wise counsel from Chief Adedibu who I often invited, particularly during Ramadan, to break fast with me in the Presidential Villa. During the June 12 episode, as a practical politician who understood the position we had to take, he was forthcoming with his support and advice, which helped us to navigate the political murky waters to a safe landing.
"He spoke straight from his heart without minding whose ox was gored. His bluntness was infectious and matter of speaking, down-to-earth. There was no dull moment in Chief Adedibu's life. In fact, the glamour he brought to politics, no matter how pedestrian, won for him many followers and was later to become a formidable political actor that could not be ignored in the politics of Oyo State.
"Hate him or like him, one thing you cannot take away from Chief Adedibu is the fact that he was friendly to the ordinary folks out there, majority of whom are the drivers of our people-centred democracy. You may disagree with his style of politics, but it is not one without its side attractions. Ibadan people will certainly miss him.
"Oyo State will certainly miss him. Nigeria will certainly miss him. His Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, will certainly miss him. I and my family will surely miss him. The glamour of politics and politicking has surely faded in Oyo State. The fact that he made his modest contribution to the growth of democracy is an achievement that will live after him," IBB added.
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