[PHOTOS] AbdulRazaq, Saraki, Omisore, Gbenga Daniel, Others Bid Farewell to Ex-Governor Cornelius Adebayo

By Victor Ayotunde Olaniyan

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Saturday led an array of political, religious, and traditional leaders to the final burial ceremony of the late former Governor of Kwara State and elder statesman, Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo.

The solemn ceremony, held at All Saints’ Anglican Church, Oke Onigbin, in Isin Local Government Area, drew an impressive crowd of dignitaries and well-wishers who gathered to honour the memory of the respected politician, scholar, and statesman.

In his sermon, the Archbishop of Kwara Province, Most Rev. Afolabi Israel Amao, described the late Chief Adebayo as a man of vision, integrity, and compassion whose life exemplified true leadership and selfless service to humanity.

“Death is inevitable; it’s a transition every human must prepare for. The best we can do is to live purposefully and in service to God and mankind,” Archbishop Amao said, urging Nigerians to emulate Adebayo’s humility, commitment to education, and moral uprightness.

He also charged the deceased’s children to sustain their father’s legacy of honesty and public service.

The event was attended by notable personalities, including Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq; his deputy, Mr. Kayode Alabi; former Senate President and ex-Governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki; former Governors Abdulfatah Ahmed and Alhaji Lai Mohammed (former Minister of Information and Culture); Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Yisa Ashiru; and Senator Sadiq Umar.

Other dignitaries at the occasion included the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi; former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore; former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Afenifere leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan; and the Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hon. Natu Usaway.

The service also had in attendance leading clerics, among them Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye (represented), and several Anglican Archbishops and church leaders from across the country.

Traditional rulers present included representatives of the Emir of Ilorin, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, the Orangun of Ila (represented), the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, the Elerin of Erinle, the Elesin of Igbaja, the Alofa of Ilofa, the Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, and other royal fathers from Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Ekiti-Kwara axis.

During the thanksgiving session, Bishop Oyedepo led prayers for the Adebayo family, thanking God for the impactful life of the departed elder statesman. On behalf of the family, Mr. Segun Adebayo expressed deep appreciation to all guests for honouring their late father and prayed for their safe return to their respective destinations. He also announced the donation of a missionary bus to the church in memory of the deceased.

Chief Cornelius Olatunji Adebayo, who passed on recently, was eulogized as an academic, politician, and public servant whose life of discipline, integrity, and patriotism remains a shining example in Kwara and Nigeria’s political history.