The late Chief Lamidi Adedibu was well known within and outside the political circle. Many Ibadan residents, the Oyo State capital, respectfully refer to him as “Baba Molete.”

This is because Adedibu’s palace is a few measured steps from the flyover at Molete, an area that was once dreaded at night.

Someone once jokingly said that Adedibu could eavesdrop on happenings at Molete Park from his palatial sitting room and when he sneezed, the passers-by and layabouts beneath the flyover caught cold and immediately maintained decorum.

However, to party loyalists, Adedibu was a political tactician who understood the game of politics. And on a whim, he could change the order of the game midstream.

Adedibu had a larger-than-life image. He was feared and despised by his political rivals, because he was also fearless, bold, and courageous. He exemplified the fact that politics is not for the lily-livered but for the brave and daring.

Adedibu’s romance with politics dates back to the 1950s. While learning the ropes, he mingled with the high and mighty political juggernauts.

He pitched his first political tent with the Ibadan Peoples Party, and thereafter joined the Action Group, under the leadership of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. And as is all politicians’, Adedibu defected to the National Party of Nigeria, then-led by Chief Adisa Akinloye and Chief Richard Akinjide, all of blessed memory.

Even those at the centre of power acknowledged the fact he had the party under his firm grip. His unmatched political influence and the manner in which he controlled the affairs of the party when he was in charge were perhaps the reasons why Chief Olusegun Obasanjo described Adedibu as the “Father of the PDP.” He was also referred to as the PDP garrison commander.

While the politician lived, aspirants for different electoral positions and board appointments thronged Adedibu’s Molete palace for endless caucus meetings. There was continuous going and coming of politicians, political aspirants, and associates to the palace to pay homage to the master of politics.

However, since the politician’s death, all of these displays of cosmetic political homage have ceased.

Power, they say, is transient.

When Adedibu breathed his last on June 11, 2008, time gradually eroded all that he represented and his enormous political authority.

The regular screeching of car tyres and the sounding of sirens signalling the arrival of “very important dignitaries” to Adedibu’s palace had significantly decreased.

Certainly, Adedibu’s loyalists and supporters of the PDP, his party, would sorely miss this political strategist. Those whose shoulders he regularly patted with his generosity will feel the vacuum created by his transition.

He warmed his way into the hearts of his party’s loyalists and many others through his prompt response to their dire needs.

His many loyalists and even the lowly in the neighbourhood were always sure of one good meal a week.

They were sure that Adedibu would make necessary provisions for Amala and Gbegiri every Friday.

Such was the generous nature of the late politician that he occasionally doled out cash to those who were always around him on a good day. That was how he made his ‘people’ happy.

On Thursday, February 2, The PUNCH visited Adedibu’s Molete home with the mission to confirm if the late politician’s loyalists and political associates were still touching base with the one-time Mecca. But aside from prayers and supplications that filtered from a mosque adjacent to a two-storey building, The PUNCH did not find any political figures on the wide-ranging premises.

Our correspondent spoke with Adedibu’s closest aide, Mr Kayode Adeyemi, who served the master of politics for 29 years until the last day.

He said, “Sincerely, he was a man to reckon with; a flexible-minded person, a philanthropist. He acted on what he believed in. He was a man of his words.

“It appears the political power he wielded was God-given. He controlled all of the political parties in the area. He single-handedly appointed councillors, chairmen of political parties, and paid their nomination fees.”

One of Adedibu’s sons, Niyi Adedibu, took our correspondent around the wide premises of the famous politician Molete home residence.

Like his father, politics runs in the veins of the young man. And, as he stood transfixed at his late father’s grave, The PUNCH noticed a sudden change in his mood.

He pointed at the grave, and said, “Here lies my father. He taught me everything I know about politics. When he visited me in the UK before his death, he told me that rigidity has no place in politics because “there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics.”

He added, “The goodness of men lives after them. And just like fire, our kindness to humanity in whatever form smoulders long after we have exchanged our mortality for immortality.”

A neighbour, Hon. Toyin Okesola, paid posthumous tribute to Adedibu, saying, “He was a good man and father to all.

“If you came sorrowfully with a need, Baba Adedibu would make sure the need was met. While Baba was alive, he often proverbially told us that until everyone would bow to death, many would always remember that Baba Adedibu has died.

Reflecting on Adedibu’s benevolence, Mrs Okanlawon Olayinka said, “He was a great political mentor to many people. He was known throughout Ibadan and across Nigeria. Through him, many people became councillors, House of Representatives’ members, senators, and even state governors. He gave succour to the needy and unburdened their pains.

“A woman with tears rolling down her cheeks, once sought Baba Adedibu’s financial assistance to set up a small-scale business to cater for her family’s needs.

“Moved to pity, Baba Adedibu not only gave her N250,000 for rent, but also empowered the woman with an additional N200,000 for wares. And for the stability of the business, Baba Adedibu made a separate weekly provision of N5,000 for the woman. He was a good man, and his neighbours here in Molete partook of his milk of open-handedness.”

Adedibu lived and died like a king. He was always surrounded by his “boys.”

Some people denigrated them as Baba’s bodyguards or thugs. They were always on the lookout, and their mere presence would make a lion nervous. That means it was not easy gaining entry to Adedibu’s Molete palace without his approval, except the person was heading for a suicide mission. Guess what the repercussions will be?

Also, Wasiu Olaniyi, a former Adedibu’s boy, sounded a frightful warning to those who still see thuggery as a means of survival.

Recounting his experiences to The PUNCH, he said, “Thugs do not live longer. They can die at any time. Thugs should therefore have a change of heart, learn a trade, or acquire a good education. There is no one whom God cannot change. Many thugs have lost their lives to thuggery. About six of Baba Adedibu’s boys have died.

“Baba Adedibu never asked us to go to any place and incite violence or sent us to kill anyone. He sacrificed his comfort for the hardships of the poor. He fought for the defenceless, whose rights had been violated and whose voices had been silenced by the oppressors of society.”

At a recent caucus meeting in the state, some PDP members reminisced about the stabilising role played by Adedibu as “a father of the party.” They also expressed their reservations on matters capable of jeopardising the party’s victory in the March 11 election.

A staunch stakeholder of the party who spoke to The PUNCH on condition of anonymity noted that “too much power is concentrated in the hands of the incumbent. And remember, the governor is an executive governor.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/adedibus-mansion-loses-shine-followers-relive-ibadan-strongmans-amala-politics/%3famp

Nothing last forever,not even hausa perfume.

That's how the current animals in human skin will soon end. The old sickly drug baron must be disgraced. Nigeria shall be free.

Adedibu- The garrison commander of Oyo politics. The strong man of Ibadan politics. The originator of Amala politics.

AdaojoTheUrchin:
The garrison commander of Oyo politics. The originator of Amala politics.

Everyone knew him without ever meeting him.

He was just a philanthropist

If only his children had followed his footsteps

You go fear power,I remember when this man single handed change ladoja Destiny

DWJOBScom:


Everyone knew him without ever meeting him.

He was just a philanthropist

If only his children had followed his footsteps

But I understand one of his children later got into the House of Reps? Is that true?

Notorious father of Ibadan thugs


The then McOluomo of Ibadan

See whitewashing

Baba himself that year

All this rubbish and no pictures shame.

You wrote a 500+ worded article with no single picture? Na wa o!

Hmmmmmmm
Life 😩

The strongest man of Ibadan politics

May his soul rest in peace

AdaojoTheUrchin:


But I understand one of his children later got into the House of Reps? Is that true?

Senate

Senator Kamoru …
Not so smart like his dad …

AdaojoTheUrchin:


But I understand one of his children later got into the House of Reps? Is that true?

Very true and that was the last of it

I don't know if he still there

Inside life.
V U V all is V.

watch how ibos will carry the matter for head pass Yorubas

Newton2024:
That's how the current animals in human skin will soon end. The old sickly drug baron must be disgraced. Nigeria shall be free.

Okorosss na datti first cry 🤣🤣😁

Another stupid post.

"Such was the generous nature of the late politician that he occasionally doled out cash to those who were always around him on a good day. That was how he made his ‘people’ happy."

Is it the job of the polooticians to "occasionally dole out cash"?

Or to provide infrastrutures, amenities, schools, create inventive programs, tackle insecurity, inflation, improve cost of living, standard of living, rate of literacy etc.

No wonder you hear extremely foolish fools who mistake themselves as celebrities saying "I will vote for so-so-and-so because he was generous to me in year 2012, because he gave me a slot, because he enrolled me in this / that, because he gave me a shop as a widow"... Foolish slaves! Those are tangential unofficial acts -- its personal, its not his job. If he does that for 5,000 people, remember there's about 5 million people on average in each state in Liejeriya. So what happens to d rest? E ti sinwin...

Nonsense!

That is life for you.

Nothing lasts forever

Ezeugo comes to mind

He has a greedy first son

Staying in America and refusing Access to most of Baba's Asset

A once Political Mecca with food , drinks, wines and merriment... A place people go for Jumat prayers. Politicians go to pledge donations and do give away and charity


Arisekola and Adedibu's children are not concerned about local politics... Ibadan is like a Village to them


.

Hmm... My (girl) friend's late father. This life is funny. Met a lady in church some years back (won't mention the town, church or school). We became friends on low levels. Never knew she is Adedibu's daughter because she dropped her surname for safety reasons. But I had other friends at her hostel who suspected her identity and told me of how security officers came to pick her when Adedibu died. It was after I saw her at a high level political event and later informed her that I saw her there that she told me the truth.

How time fly

Baba who lived as if he would never die... As if he had power over death.

Good

Thug Mansion. A thug is remembered by his name. A good Thug is still a Thug.

Alright

The strong man of Ibadan politics more powerful than Abacha’s man arisekola alao . He made governors. He went on TV and said he would remove ladoja because he wasn’t settling him from state coffers. He sponsored his impeachment because all members of the house of assembly were loyal to him. He made Alao Akala governor who became like a sitting duck and always allocated a portion of the state revenue to baba adedibu as governor Alao Akala prostrates for Adedibu, but ironically both men Akala and Adedibu that removed ladoja all slumped and died while ladoja is still alive