By Ola Ajayi & Deji Oke

Ibadan—GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his predecessor, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala yesterday surprised many dignitaries who attended Adegoke Adelabu post-humous centenary birthday celebration, as they embraced each other openly, signalling an end to their political bitterness.

Gov Ajimobi

The action of the two politicians attracted loud applause from the large crowd that attended the ceremony at the Civic Centre, Ibadan.

There relationship between the two became strained in 2007 and this continued till the April 11, 2015 governorship election.

It was however reported that they buried the hatchet shortly after the general polls with Alao-Akala showing no interest in contesting Ajimobi’s victory at the election tribunal.

Alao-Akala, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,  for Labour Party came third in the governorship election.

After the warm embrace, Ajimobi spoke glowingly of Alao-Akala, describing him as his boss as he was  governor before him.

Speaking about the late Adelabu, Ajimobi  described the politician, who died at the age of 43 as one of the most brilliant Ibadan men he ever knew.

While challenging Ibadan indigenes to celebrate their  heroes, he named Felele-Agodi Gate Road after the dead politician.

According to him, “Alhaji, the Hon. Adegoke Adelabu was a man of great ideas who lived before his time. His book, African in Ebullition, published in 1952 was more of a manifesto of social welfare programmes for improved living condition of the people. He utilized his position as the leader of opposition to Action Group under the sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo to offer such robust political direction that kept the government in power constantly on its toes to provide better services for the people.

“Chief Anthony Enahoro as the House Leader once acknowledged it in the Western Region House of Assembly  in 1953, when he stated that; ‘This is not the time for partisanship, but I wish to say, Mr. Speaker, that nobody realized better than we on the government bench that Alhaji Adelabu provided that useful check, without which democratic government could not survive”. He was more than a match.’

“The stormy political life of Adelabu a.k.a. Penkelemeesi was based on a tripod that was easily identified by the master of the game himself. He possessed what is required to dislodge the condominium – sound education, discerning power, political articulation, courage of conviction, iron will and uncompromising stance in the face of threat and intimidation”.

In his lecture entitled: ‘Adegoke Penkelemeesi Adelabu: A thousand stars of honour’, Professor Mark Nwagwu said; “Penkelemeesi, you wave your hand, you beckon on us all to your side, and you fly us to Nigeria of glory, Nigeria of your passion, of your dedication, Nigeria of your dreams, a Nigeria that will command your admiration and reverence; and not one, such as we have today, which you would painfully survey and snarl: what a mess.”

Adelabu’s book, “Africa in Ebullition” first published in 1952 was launched at the ceremony  with several donors including Ajimobi making handsome donations.

“Penkelemeesi, we will not fail you, by a supreme effort of our will. Yes, Penkelemeesi, today you find both great desires and base attitudes, heroism and cowardice, zeal and disenchantment.

On this same country, Penkelemeesi, you have your son’s and daughters who are working for a new Nigeria, of honour…….”, he said.