Gbadamosi Adegoke Adelabu
Gbadamosi Adegoke Adelabu (3 September 1915 – 25 March 1958) held a prominent position in the politics of Ibadan city and subsequently the Western Region of Nigeria in the period leading up to the country's independence in 1960. Serving as Nigeria's Minister of Natural Resources and Social Services from January 1955 to January 1956, he later assumed the role of opposition leader in the Western Regional Assembly until his passing in 1958. Adelabu, hailing from a modest background, made significant strides in Nigerian politics. Educated at Government College, Ibadan, he pursued a business career.
Adelabu's political journey commenced in the late 1940s and early 1950s with active involvement in local politics in Ibadan. He played a key role in the formation of the Ibadan People's Party, which aimed to challenge established political forces. His influence and leadership within the party and the broader political sphere continued to advance, culminating in his appointment as Minister of Social Services and subsequent engagement in regional politics.
Despite his impactful contributions to Nigerian politics, Adelabu's career was tragically cut short by a fatal car accident shortly before Nigeria gained independence from Britain. Adelabu is also renowned for coining the Yoruba expression "penkelemesi," stemming from a misunderstanding of his use of the phrase "peculiar mess" during a speech in the Western Region House of Assembly.
Adegoke Adelabu's enduring legacy persists in Yorùbá and Nigerian history, serving as an emblem of resolve and influence in the nation's political landscape.
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