Kinsmen and associates have described the exit of Col (Prince) Tunde Oyedele (rtd) as not only a loss to members of his immediate family, but the entire Adaland of Osun State.
They said there’s any personality who used his or her influence for the betterment and wellbeing of his people, Baba Oyedele was that person.
In a statement issued yesterday by Rotimi Igbayilola, on behalf of 89 Set of Ada Secondary Commercial Grammar School (ASECOGRAMS), Ada, he said, “Apart from the stories heard from the grapevine, he personally regaled my humble self with the stories behind the establishment of the school in Ada.
“He told me the stories of how he influenced his superior officer (late General Adeyinka Adebayo), the then governor of the Western Region to ensure the school was eventually established. But for the presence of ASECOGRAMS at Ada in 1969, destinies of so many illustrious sons and daughters of Adaland and several others across the globe could have been truncated. That school with the carefully chosen motto of, “Not for school, but for life” was the reason why probably many eventually turned out to be successful professionals which they are today.
“Again, I count myself fortunate to be part of the team which paid the late patriarch a visit at his Bodija residence on 27th December, 2023.
Baba, at over 90 was still thinking about the wellbeing of his people despite his state of health on that fateful day,” he said.
Igbayilola said Oyedele got so many Ada indigenes enlisted in the Army while serving as paymaster- general.
“As the chairman of old Ifelodun local government area, he gave whatever salaries he should have collected to several indigent students whose parents could not afford their school fees. Amongst undeniable countless achievements to his credit still was that he ensured that the popular Obada Market, Ada was given a facelift. He equally ensured Ada town had a library when he had the opportunity and built the public toilet for our community. In fact, his life can aptly be described as a cornucopia of humanism and service to mankind,” he said.
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