Ladoja core loyalist ‘Baba Oyelade’ dies, for burial Sunday
Khalid ABRAHAM
Pa Wahab Gbadebo Oyelade, a core loyalist of ex-governor of Oyo state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, is dead.
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Pa Oyelade reportedly died Saturday during a brief illness.
According to an unconfirmed information he was 88 years old at the time he passed away.
A source who confirmed the death informed he would be buried at his residence at Stadium road, Ogbomoso, Oyo state, tomorrow, Sunday February 25, at 10am, according to Islamic rites.
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Late Pa Oyelade, for many of his active political years embraced Senator Ladoja’s political leaning and defected to different political parties with the strong man of Oyo state politics.
During his governorship tenure (2003 – 2007), Ladoja appointed the late octogenarian as chairman Oyo State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) during which period he cemented his legacy as pro-people with his recruitment of hundreds of unemployed youths into the state teaching service – teaching and non-teaching cadres. The scale of employment was unprecedented with several hundreds benefiting from his Ogbomoso constituency.
Announcing the death in his Facebook wall, Alao Gbolahan writes, “Former Oyo TESCOM Chairman, Chief Wahab Gbadebo Oyelade, passes on. The best TESCOM Chairman so far. Rest on, Baba daada! A humble and lover of Ogbomoso community!”
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The Ogbomoso-born politician, from Onisalaalu-Kolara compound (with mother from Kawu compound, Masifa) was neither a religious nor ethnic bigot, he embraced everyone without prejudice.
He sought to be chairman of Ogbomoso South local government before serving at TESCOM but this never materialized.
A former teacher, he taught at primary and secondary school levels before transferring to the St. Andrews College of Education (now Emmanuel Alayande University of Education), Oyo, where he rose to become Director of Sandwich programmes.
He’s survived by wife and children.
