Former Kwara Governor Cornelius Adebayo Dies at 84

By Iyojo Ameh

Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, a former governor of Kwara State and prominent pro-democracy advocate, has died at the age of 84.

Family sources confirmed to journalists that Adebayo passed away in the early hours of Wednesday in Abuja. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Born on February 24, 1941, in the Igbaja community of present-day Kwara State, Adebayo was a significant figure in Nigeria’s political and democratic development. His political career spanned decades and saw him occupy key roles at both state and federal levels.

Adebayo was elected senator in 1979 on the platform of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), led by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He later served as governor of Kwara State in 1983 before the military coup of December that same year brought his tenure to an abrupt end.

During the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, he was appointed Minister of Communications, a position he held from 2003 to 2006. In that role, he oversaw reforms aimed at liberalizing Nigeria’s telecommunications sector.

A staunch defender of democratic ideals, Adebayo was a key member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), the political movement that championed the cause of democracy during Nigeria’s military era and sought the validation of the June 12, 1993, presidential election believed to have been won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola.

In 1993, Adebayo made headlines when he rejected an offer to serve in the military government of General Sani Abacha. He later faced police arrest in connection with opposition activities following a bomb explosion in 1995. Fearing for his safety, he fled into exile in Canada in 1996, joining other NADECO leaders abroad.

Before his rise to national prominence, Adebayo served as Commissioner for Education in Kwara State from 1975 to 1978, where he played a notable role in shaping educational policy in the state.