Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke: So long a tribute

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7 years ago

A review of Adewale Adeeyo’s book, A Furious Paralysing Force (Serubawon) by Sulaiman Ajibade.
A Furious Paralysing Force “SERUBAWON” is a 30-page tribute written in vivid memory of late Senator (Dr) Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, CON by Dr Adewale Adeeyo. It is the longest tribute done to a deceased nationalist in recent times. Not even the historic Shakespearean seven-page funeral oration written and read by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka in honour of the former Minister of Justice and Deputy Leader of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Bola Ige, could contextually compare.

The pamphlet opens tersely with the strange marriage (regarded as inconveniency in the uncivilised days) between late Senator Raji Ayoola Adeleke and Madam Esther Adeleke, from whom Isiaka learnt piety, behavior and empathy.

The crux of the tribute, according to Adeeyo’s critical analyses of Nigerian politics, is the inherent lessons for our incumbent and intending leaders with a view to avoiding the usual awaiting pitfalls on assumption of public duties. The emphasis on these lessons is imperative given the permanent nature of the character traits living with Nigeria’s polity. These traits include: lifelessness, mystery, darkness, invisibility of an enterprise, especially when politics is taken as a vocation, and of course, hopelessness.

Between the sublime and ridiculous

The above identified traits of the nation’s politics played out well between the late Senator Adeleke and late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu in the old Oyo State, when the former declared his interest in the gubernatorial elections, shortly before the old Oyo State was bifurcated, and Osun State created in 1991.

With a sound reminder of how former military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, GCON, deftly experimented with political power, Adeeyo wonders that where guns prescribe law and order, there would never be passion and ecstasy:

“IBB . . . had long ago sullied his personal and professional reputation by spinning a vast web of deception that rolled out an unprincipled, unending and unconscionable transition program that had endured many tiring and frightful years that seemed choreographed to fail, at all times, and thus evade the capture of real democratic government”.

However, in whatever way one views the highly elusive and charming style of IBB, Adeeyo says the civilian politicians, particularly the new breed to which Isiaka Adeleke belongs, were largely endowed with moral support.

The menace of “godfatherism” in Nigerian politics comes to debatable focus with the author’s adequate chronicling of how Adeleke clashed withAlhaji Adedibu, who regarded Adeleke’s governorship declaration as an offence against etiquette:

“Isiaka had come out of nowhere with the fiercest passions to demand that he deserved the highest office in the land without apprenticeship with any known person or group who possessed powers at the pinnacle of party politics in Oyo State. His flirtation with the Governorship office had generated too much noise and caused full – blown anger, if not chaos, especially when he blatantly refused to make consultations with anyone in the hierarchy of power structure that often produce proficient agenda setters, brave gate keepers and mystical “god father” of party politics. Isiaka’s lack of consultation with elders and indeed, anyone at all, was the irritation that magnified his blunder as a barefaced and inexcusable assault”.

Feeling helpless with Isiaka’s increasing charm, Adedibu invited him to a meet telling the former to relinquish his governorship dream, with a resolve not to either harm or fight him, who silently rebuffed the instructional advice by following it with a hire of a muscular helicopter with a consignment of tonnes of political handbills which highlighted the lofty programmes that would found his coming erudite government.

According to Adeeyo, Adedibu who was once nicknamed “Garrrison Commander” by General Obasanjo, on account of his political skills, frightening powers and expertise in election matters, blended myths with reality and legends with facts. A great man of great wisdom and imagination, Adedibu, who had the power to subjugate anyone in his path, would choose not to be pushed into “unforced errors.”

Adeleke on the other hand, had calmly chosen to demystify the reigning king of party politics which consist of “good doers” as well as sponsors of mayhem who have appropriated the apparatus of power and influence of party politics.

Of rulership and leadership

The author dedicates more than half of the book to the political rivalries, calculations and, of course, the forceful tutelage of over a year of Adeleke under Adedibu, not merely for narrative purposes, but for the readers to be able to differentiate firmly between rulers and leaders as well.

IBB ruled with guns and decrees to promulgate distinctual political entities, while on the other hand, Alhaji Adedibu, with delusion and unsigned pacts, ruled the political grassroots with frightening awesomeness.

According to the author, if Isiaka was venerable in populism, Adedibu was villainous. Adeleke was young, ambitious and an upstart politician, Adedibu was an old obstinate intriguer.

In radiating summary, Adeeyo shares with his readers the philosophical lessons of life which Adeleke’s 25 years of politics and public life represent:

“In those twenty five years, Isiaka has been more of a beautiful human person to those who encounter him up close, or even tangentially. That is, how to measure a man, through selfless relationship with humanity. Not through his wife, children or siblings. It is through his spirits that does not frighten other beings that we must target our prayers now that he is no more”.

One of the first lessons of Isiaka’s life is generosity. Comments from the bereaved masses of the people at his burial are enough evidence. The next lesson is courage. Alhaji Adedibu’s fearsome warning to him to set aside his governship dream only turned out as words of encouragement to him.

By and large, just like Adeeyo and others present when Adeleke was being sworn in in 1992, at the age of 36, as the first Executive Governor of Osun State were oppressed by joy, whoever reads this tribute would also be oppressed by the author’s literary creativity. The book is a delightful addition to world literature.