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What Many Don’t Know About Him
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His Son, Chief NIYI ADEGBENRO Reveals A Lot
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Takes Us Back To Western NIGERIA CRISIS
This is the story of one great Nigerian who can’t be forgotten in a hurry. It is the story of late Chief (Alhaji) Dauda Adegbenro, a seasoned politician who played a key role during the Western Nigeria crisis of 1962 to 1966.
The story was written by his son, Chief Niyi Adegbenro’ , who is a popular socialite and politician.
In 1994, he wrote an 84 page book titled Loyalty To Leadership: The History of Political Race In NIGERIA 1962-1966. And he used his late dad, Alhaji Chief Dauda Adegbenro as a Case study.
“I had the rare priviledge of watching at close range the distinguished Political career of my late father Alhaji Chief Dauda Soroye Adegbenro especially during the period between 1962 and 1966 in the old Western Region” wrote Chief Niyi Adegbenro, who is today a respected Elderstatesman, resident in Abeokuta.
“This period was a turbulent one, which witnessed travails and malicious Detention by hostile opponents. That period is in many respect similar to our country’s recent political past, moreso in the area of its corrupting influence to induce political actors to support an unpopular government and to agree to subvert popular will. However the period between 1962-1966 is different from our recent political past given the quality of leadership provided, the courage to pursue principles and the loyalty to Leadership and cause in 1960 – All of which were sadly though, absent from our recent political history”.
“The Action Group crisis of 1962 brought my late father to the position of Parliamentary leader and later Premier of Western Region”.
“The Climax of the crisis was the State of Emergency declared by the Federal Government of ALHAJI TAFAWA BALEWA in the Region on 29th May 1962 and the appointment of Chief -Dr. Moses Majekodunmi as Administrator. My father was the first person to be Restricted because He was in Lagos at that time. He was driven to Osogbo now the capital of Osun State on solitary confinement. This was a trying period both for my father, the Action Group and Western Region. Attempts were made to break the unity within the Action Group while widespread violence was raging. It is a testimony of the High Quality of leader hip and the strength of character of the political actors that truth was ultimately made to triumph. Let me emphasise that the leadership of the Action Group remained coherent despite its tribulations in the hands of the Anti-Democratic elements. That this was the case was due, in the main, to the role played by leaders such as Senator Fasanmi, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Dele Ige, Alhaji Chief A. L. Adenekan, Chief Toye Coker, Chief Soji Odunjo, Chief Leteef K. Jakande, late Chief Bisi Onabanjo, Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Lanlehin, Chief S.O. Sogbein, Alhaja Somolu, late Prof. Oluwasanmi, Prof. Sam Aluko, Prof. Adenuga, Alhaji S. O. Gbadamosi, Chief Alfred Rewane, late Chief J. S. Tarka, late Chief Wenike Briggs, late Chief Akin- Olngbade, late Chief J. Odebunmi, Arch-Deacon E. O. Alayande, Alhaji Chief Lamidi Adedibu, Alhaji Chief F. A. Oyalowo, late Chief B. Obisesan, late Chief Mojeed Agbaje, Dr. Victor Olunloyo, late Senator Adeleke, the Father of the former Executive Governor of Osun State and Chief Osoba the Father of the former Executive Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba who effectively and affectionately looked after my father’s welfare in Osogbo.
These people individually and collectively, supported the acting leader during the period of crisis. It should be noted that the names mentioned above are not exhaustive. Indeed, the strength of the leadership at the time was the quality of support provided by the’ followers. In this regard, uncountable number of party’ loyalists and supporters both from within the region and at the National level visited my father in Osogbo with money and gifts so as to keep his spirit alive.
A singular act that had lasting impression on me was my father’s absolute loyalty to the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo during the crisis. Many inducements of financial nature were made by the leaders of both NPC and NNDP to encourage my late Father to Jettison the struggle D. S. Adegbenro was even promised the post of Governor in place of Sir Adesoji Aderemi, if Chief S. L. Akintola was allowed to continue as the Premier of the Region. My late father rejected all these inducements.
In fact the Owus had to refer to him as an acclaimed elected and revered Balogun Omo Ilu Owu (meaning that Alhaji D.S. Adegbenro was Owu citizens’ fieldmarshall and leader because of his steadfastness and dedication to the service of humanity)”.
“Although my father died on the 28th Sept., 1975, what he stood for has continued to be admired and appreciated by people. Indeed, a measure of this has been the fact that many of his children had been reward politically.
For example I was elected to the old Abeokuta Local Government Council in 1976 a year after his death. I was also re-elected to this same Local Government Council in 1978. In 1980 I was appointed a director of Allied Bank of Nigeria Plc by the President and Commander-in-Chief of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Shehu-Shagari. Recently my junior brother Engr. Sina Adegbenro was elected to the House of Representatives in Abuja from our Ifo Local Government area on the platform of S.D.P., which also formed the Government in Ogun State headed by Chief Olusegun Osoba. Just before the Nov. 17, Military take over, Chief Osoba appointed and swore me in as Finance Commissioner in Ogun State, the post my father held while serving in the cabinet of Major Genral Adeyinka Adebayo who was hen Military Governor of the Western State. Myself and other Children of our most respected father are touched by and deeply grateful to all democrat men and women nationwide who have remain d loyal to the cause that our late father died for.
It is very heartening that Nigerians had not forgotten the noble and patriotic role of our late father in the building of modern Nigeria”.
“This book is therefore dedicated to the memory of my late father Alhaji Chief Dauda Soroye Adegbenro, the late Balogun of Owu, and Ekerin of Egbas. It is: also dedicated to all Democrats who have laboured assiduously for the establishment of Democracy in Nigeria, I am optimistic that the book will reveal to some extent the strength of character and the quality of leaders of Alhaji Dauda Adegbenro”.
“The book also exposes the absolute confidence in and loyalty of Alhaji Dauda Adegbenro to the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo”.
“This is worthy of emulation by contemporary political actors. It is my hope that the publication of the book will serve as a challenge to intellectuals to conduct more research into the dynamics of politics during the country’s First Republic”.
