32 Facts About Adegoke Adelabu

Gbadamosi Adegoke Adelabu was a prominent personality in the politics of Ibadan city and subsequently that of the Western Region of Nigeria right before the country's independence in 1960.

Adegoke Adelabu was Nigeria's Minister of Natural Resources and Social Services from January 1955 to January 1956 and was later the opposition leader in the Western Regional Assembly until his death in 1958.

Adegoke Adelabu was a self-made man born into a humble family but became an influential figure in Nigerian politics.

Adegoke Adelabu attended Government College, Ibadan and eventually became a businessman.

Adegoke Adelabu was born on 3 September 1915, the son of Sanusi Ashinyanbi and Awujola Adegoke Adelabu.

Adegoke Adelabu's mother was the second wife of Sanusi, but she died when Adelabu was quite young and the young Adelabu was then raised by a paternal aunt.

Adegoke Adelabu obtained a baptismal certificate for Adelabu, providing him the opportunity to attend the CMS schools.

Adegoke Adelabu was offered employment by UAC as an assistant to the Ibadan district manager, an expatriate Adelabu had met a year earlier.

Adegoke Adelabu's first assignment was a tour of the cocoa producing areas of Ibadan province.

However, Adegoke Adelabu left UAC in 1937 and joined the produce trade business.

Adegoke Adelabu was unsuccessful in the trade and was looking for a civil service job.

Adegoke Adelabu was with the cooperative until 1945, when he went back to UAC.

Adegoke Adelabu was successful in his second stint with the organization but after the resignation of his mentor, the Ibadan District Manager Richardson, Adelabu left the firm.

Adegoke Adelabu then ploughed income from UAC into a textile trading business with Levantine clients in Ibadan.

Adegoke Adelabu became interested in acting as an Administrative Secretary for the native council.

Adegoke Adelabu was known as a smart individual, and the fact that he was literate brought him to the attention of the chiefs in their opposition to Agbaje.

Adegoke Adelabu obliged, hoping to earn the job of Administrative Secretary.

Adegoke Adelabu was active in the movement to depose Agbaje, providing print commentaries and assisting in writing the petition that the chiefs forwarded to the colonial authorities.

Adegoke Adelabu capitalized on some anti-Ijebu sentiments among native Ibadan residents, especially after the loss of Oshun division, which was supported by Action Group leaders such as Awolowo and Akintola.

Adegoke Adelabu then became more active in the organization of NCNC in Ibadan and became the secretary of the party's Western Province Working Committee.

Adegoke Adelabu earned recognition within the party as the only IPP legislator who stayed with NCNC.

Adegoke Adelabu opposed the district council terms of tax reform and the role of heads of lineages in governance, positioning himself as a supporter of traditional authority and values.

Adegoke Adelabu became chairman of the Finance Committee and any other standing committee of the council.

Adegoke Adelabu later became the First National Vice President of NCNC and was appointed Minister of Social Services, a post he held concurrently with his position as chairman of the Ibadan District Council from January 1955 till January 1956.

In 1955, Adegoke Adelabu's administration was a subject of an inquiry into allegations of corruption in the district council.

Adegoke Adelabu resigned both positions after the report of the inquiry into the affairs of the district council.

In 1956, Adegoke Adelabu again ran for a seat in the regional assembly, but this time as leader of NCNC in the Western region.

Adegoke Adelabu then became the leader of opposition in the Western House of Assembly.

In 1958, Adegoke Adelabu opposed the leadership of Azikiwe because of its support for a tripartite national government consisting of AG, NCNC and NPC.

Adegoke Adelabu did not like the inclusion of AG, describing it has an unholy alliance.

Adegoke Adelabu was returning from Lagos along with a Syrian businessman when their car hit an oncoming vehicle.

Adegoke Adelabu is often mentioned in Yoruba and Nigerian history as the author of that expression: "penkelemesi", a Yorubanisation of the phrase, "peculiar mess" which Adelabu, known for his deep knowledge of English, had used on an occasion to describe the opposition in the Western Region House of Assembly.