Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke at 63: The beat continues

January 15, 2018 marks the post-humus 63rd birthday of a man that many still want to believe is around, bubbling with life and making them happy as was characteristic of him during his lifetime and a man of many firsts; Senator Isiaka Adetunji Alanni Adeleke – the first Executive Governor of Osun State (January 1992 – November 1993), first Asiwaju of Edeland, first Chancellor, Adeleke University.

A man who during his lifetime gave all he had without discrimination, to make his fellow human beings live a worthy life. On January 15, 2017, he decided and unusually too, to mark his 62nd birthday modestly at his Ikeja residence in Lagos state, little did we know then that it would be the last of such celebration we would share with him.

The usual practice was for him to assemble his teeming well-wishers and associates at his Ede country home and fraternize heartily with all and sundry. It is different now; we are celebrating him as we have promised to do, to sustain his sweet memory and memorable achievements, as he clocks another year at the other divide.

We have accepted his glorious transition as the supreme will of the Almighty God, who we cannot query but we thank the author and finisher of our fate for the exemplary and fulfilled mission on earth that Adeleke traversed like a colossus and political icon.

Isiaka Adeleke, the undisputable apostle of politics without bitterness will continue to get the fullest honour and respect his memory deserves. Your Excellency Sir, the whole world stood still at your transition to glory, the vacuum created by your death is too big to be readily filled. Tears continue to fill our eyes and flow freely. It is difficult to comprehend that you are no more with us.

My big boss yesterday, today and forever, tears welled up in my eyes while writing this befitting tribute in your memory I have no choice, than to do so. I, like numerous people, shared quality times with you for over twenty-two years. You shared all you had with us. You gave everybody, who came your way the opportunity to enjoy life more abundant within your limited resources and while doing so, you atimes got broke. But not for you is a dull moment. Your bedroom and kitchen were opened to all.

You never complained of intrusion into your privacy. You had a good and beautiful heart and a readily forgiving spirit. You did not harbor malice towards anybody throughout your lifetime. Your very few political foes even attested to this fact. It is an incontrovertible fact. You were a consummate politician and compassionate family man to the core. You lived a wonderfully beautiful life and served your God to the best of your ability.

You gave hope to the hopeless; voice to the voiceless and help to the helpless. That was you, big boss- Asiwaju Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke. You were not materialistic. Rather you were urbane, classy, trendy and elegant in your carriage, with your trademark customized glasses.

It was encomium galore, glowing tributes and pure-from-the-heart commentaries that came your way at death. Nobody spoke ill of you and still do not. To Islamically immortalize you, a state-of-the-art-multi-million Naira Central Mosque, named after you and aesthetically finished, has been put in place by your loving family and has been commissioned on your birthday for worshippers. We believe, that all invocations offered there, will be accruable benefits to you and open wider, the doors to Aljanat Fridaus for you.

The Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Institute of Political Studies is also being contemplated by some of your think tank committee of intellectuals, where politicians and political science students would be able to tap into your cerebral works, some of which I am compiling for your proposed library. This will be in addition to an annual Isiaka Adeleke Distinguished Lecture.  By God’s Grace, we shall not relent.

Your death has changed the political equation in Osun state in its entirety; the centre can no longer hold. You remain the reference point and central issue. But to the glory of God, your political legacy of service to mankind is being nurtured by all those who believe in your cause. Dr. Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke, your brother, through the grace of God, fantastic display of loyalty to your memory by Osun West electorate, emerged as your successor in the red chamber, after a protracted play against concerted forces of fate. Your spirit also rose from the grave to fight the cause.

As you post humously mark your 63rd birthday in Aljana Fridaus and we are also celebrating you at this divide, it is only pertinent, to wish the nuclear and extended families and indeed all of us you left behind, the grace of God to trudge on and the comfort from the Almighty to soothe the pains attendant on us from your death – a situation we cannot reverse. We submit to the will of the Almighty, who knows best.

Happy 63rd birthday, you live forever in our hearts. The beat continues my great boss, friend and benefactor.

Olumide Lawal, who wrote from Ede was Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs To Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke.