Fifty nine years after, the historic sacrifice made by Governor of the defunct Western Region, Lt. Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi is still fresh in the memories of those who were a witness to the counter-coup which terminated Fajuyi’s life a month after his 40th birthday.
On July 29, 1966, the Ado-Ekiti son was hosting the Head of State and Commander-In-Chief, Major General Aguiyi Ironsi, in the Government House in Ibadan, the Western Region capital, when a troop of blood-thirsty soldiers arrested him alongside his guest, both of whom were later shot at a spot near Lalupon, about 15 kilometres to the Government House.
TheTabloid.net gathered that Fajuyi wasn’t in the script of the invading soldiers, but he felt he owed his guest his protection, hence he gave himself up to die with honour as a true son of Yoruba, an ethnic group that places high premium on respect as well as safety of their guests.
Against this backdrop, the Ibadan Discourse Group (IDG), an association of concerned elite, converged on the House of Chiefs at the Secretariat, Ibadan on July 10, 2025 when the group celebrated life and legacy of Fajuyi with the theme: “Fajuyi: Essential Values for National Leadership.”
Chairman of the event, Chief Adebisi Adesola appreciated the attendees and described the occasion as apt, considering the state of the nation and the unending debate on purposeful leadership.
He disclosed that the host group is designed to engineer intellectual dialogue and provide practicable solutions to humanity problems, thereby fostering nation growth. This, he said, would be achieved in partnership with organisations, institutions and individuals who share the IDG ideals.
The former Secretary to Oyo State Government and Head of Service eulogised Fajuyi as a worthy national hero to be referenced as a case study in the quest for Nigeria’s unity anchored on good leadership.
“I want to call our attention to one running battle with leadership in this country. Over the years, we have identified leadership as a major problem that has handicapped the full realisation of the potentials of our country.
“If you go through the last 28 years, for instance, every change in leadership has been attributed to poor performance. It becomes a running battle. Unfortunately, this trend of blame game has not changed till now. We have seen President Obasanjo, who has constituted himself to the consciousness of Nigeria criticising at all times all those who succeeded him.
“We, therefore, decided to hold a discussion in Fajuyi, as a way of directing attention to the issue of leadership. Fajuyi was rarely cardinal. His leadership carries the value, sacrifice, hospitality prevented two regions of this country from being at daggers drawn,” he said.
Patron of the IDG, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, also extolled the virtues of Fajuyi as a brave soldier with exemplary loyalty to leadership and a good administrator. He recalled that Fajuyi was on a frontline military mission in Congo during Lumumba Sponge crisis where he performed excellently and was decorated with the Military Cross, the highest British medal for courage. The similar courage he showcased when he stood by his Head of State and supreme commander Aguiyi Ironsi, by laying down his life.
Farounbi said that aside his military bravery, Fajuyi’s administrative prowess included his stoppage/ quelling of the operation wild wild west political crisis (Wet E) of the then Western Region between loyalists and supporters of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola (Premiers of Western Region).
Former Ondo State Governor Dr. Olusegun Mimiko stated that it is imperative to bring to the consciousness of the younger generation the sacrifices and virtues of Fajuyi.
Mimiko said, “Fajuyi’s type of discipline, courage and selflessness are values any nation needs for progress. It’s gratifying that Ibadan Discourse Group put this event together. Particularly, the intervention and participation of the students that will extol the virtues of Fajuyi. For every outing, our focus should be on the future. If we continue along this path, celebrating the best of what has been, for us to be able to engineer the future, I think it’s a worthwhile.”
Mimiko described Fajuyi’s choice to die alongside his friend and superior as a rare act of loyalty and selflessness. He stressed the importance of restructuring Nigeria’s political system to reflect its diverse nature, arguing that visionary and contextual leadership is needed.
He condemned election rigging, describing it as a form of civilian coup, and noted that Nigeria’s problem is not leadership, but lawlessness.
Mimiko charged the Ibadan Discourse Group to use creative art to drive unity and development, suggesting an idea of producing historical film to tell the story of late Fajuyi.
The Guest Lecturer Professor O.B.C Nwolise, noted that good leadership is rooted in peace, development, and wellbeing of the people. He stressed that lawlessness, not lack of leadership, is Nigeria’s greatest challenge.
He described the annulled June 12 election as the only free and fair election in Nigeria’s history and declared that Nigeria is not a true nation, but merely a state.
He, therefore, proposed several solutions such as immediate reconvening of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Southern Governors Wives Forum, reversal/dousing of any tension deliberately raised between Igbos and yorubas. These tensions are traps to further divide us at our own peril, formation of a team to explore the philosophical songs of the East and West as a means of teaching sacrifice, and the establishment of the Adekunle Fajuyi/ Aguiyi Ironsi tripartite Life-Saving Memorial Hospital incorporating foreign medicine, African traditional healing, and spiritual care.
Other speakers at the event advocated for unity, peace, and national development, urging Nigerians to emulate the discipline, fearlessness, and integrity that defined the leadership of Fajuyi.
Other figures at the event included a Media Consultant, Mr Clement Ige, former Editor, Chairman, League of Veteran Journalists (Oyo State chapter) Alagba Banji Ogundele, Deputy Editor of the Daily Sun newspaper, Mr Femi Adeoti, Publisher, the Newscoven.com, Mr Dapo Falade, the National Publicity Secretary of the Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Founder of the Arts and Culture Connexions, Ibadan, Mr Tunde Odunlade, representatives of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; students from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan City Polytechnic and Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan; intellectuals, pressure groups, press and members of the Fajuyi family.
Published on July 12, 2025
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