ALAFIN AND PENKELEMESI: WHY OYOS AND THE IBADANS SHOULD VOTE PENKELEMESI

By Adejare Ibrahim

In the time of need, when the whole world  collapsing on Oba Alhaji Adeniran Adeyemi II, the 41st Alaafin of Oyo; Chief Adegoke Adelabu Penkelemesi stood by him. In spite of all the intimidations by the Action Group Government of the Western Region, Adelabu stuck to his guns in defence of the Alaafin. After the Alaafin was unjustifiably banished from Oyo in 1955 and he first sought asylum in Lagos, Penkelemesi never wavered. He stood by his friend, Alhaji Adeniran Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo.

Also, you need to read how Chief Adegoke Adelabu (Adelabu Adebayo Adekola's grandfather) liberated the people of Ibadan from perpetual discrimination and slavery in their own land. One of the strategies adopted was mass education of the Ibadans. Adegoke Adelabu Penkelemesi founded Lagelu Grammar School, Ibadan. The school was founded by the defunct Ibadan District Council on January 27, 1958. The School, which had its first site at the then Agugu District Council Primary School, admitted 33 boys as pioneer students, with two members of staff to guide them. Replicating the old favour of his grandfather, Agbaakin Parakoyi of Ibadanland, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu Penkelemesi, built a multi-million naira auditorium for Lagelu Grammar School.

One way or another, history has a way of surreptitiously repeating itself. No matter what the situation is, I am from Oyo. The Oyos owe Penkelemesi gratitude. We will pay his offspring back in the same coin. Let's vote for Adebayo Adekola Adelabu Penkelemesi, the grandson of the Great Adegoke Adelabu Penkelemesi, as the governor of Oyo State.

If you are from Ibadan, and you are campaigning against Penkelemesi, it is a clear manifestation of your dearth of historical facts.