Late Benjamin Adekunle’s family seeks adequate recognition for the civil war hero
Yinka ADETUNJI
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The family of the late Brigadier Benjamin Maja Adekunle, Nigeria’s revered civil war hero, has voiced their disappointment over lack of adequate recognition for his significant contributions to Nigeria.
Adekunle an Ogbomoso-born distinguished soldier who trained at the Sandhurst Military Academy, died 10 years ago. He was renowned for his gallantry in reclaiming the delta and other riverine areas from the Biafran forces during the Nigerian Civil war.
Speaking with journalists during the Golf Kitty organized by the family at Ogbomoso Recreation Club on Saturday, Adekunle’s eldest child Barrister Mrs.Busola Olagunju said the recognition is long overdue. She added that her father did his best for the country and there was need proper recognition.
“My late father was a patriot who loved his country and sacrificed everything he had for the unity of this country, he was a good father, and we still miss him till today.”
Asked how she wanted him to be properly immortalized, Barrister Olagunju said “the same thing they did for other patriots and nationalists, by naming notable monuments, institutions, roads etc, after him, just for people to remember that such a patriotic person existed.
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“I believe with time, some of the issues in the past will be corrected. We are hopeful that whatever the case may be in future more recognition will be accorded him for his achievements and contributions to Nigeria”.
Brig Gen Samuel Gbenga Ladipo, president of Ogbomoso Valiant Club, in his remark, said, “I am happy that the family has put this together because for a long time the Black Scorpion has not been given the recognition he deserved and I want to believe that charity begins at home. Now that the Black Scorpion is being recognized in Ogbomosoland, in no distant future, Nigeria will accord him the recognition he deserves.
“Brig General Benjamin Maja Adekunle is one of the heroes of the Nigerian Civil War, this is well documented, however you can hardly find any monument, road or a military installation named after him but now that Ogbomoso has begun to recognize his own I want to suggest that a major road in Ogbomoso should be named after him, nothing can be too much to immortalize him.”
A retired Permanent Secretary at the Federal Civil Service, Sir Olusegun Adekunle, OON KJW while expressing optimism that that late civil war hero will be given adequate recognition said, “I believe that process is underway, there is no time that God cannot touch the heart of a leader to remind him of somebody who deserves to be honored. It happened in the bible and I am sure it will happen in our life time.”
Adekunle who is a nephew to the late warlord stressed, “He played great roles in my upbringing and my career. He loved the family and the nation. I am proud to be associated with him.”
Adekunle added, “This is a unique event because we are celebrating his10th remembrance anniversary and we are thanking God. By putting up this golf kitty we want to bring life into the kitty and it is sending a message that keeping alive is part of the legacies he left behind.”
He said the family will take over the sponsorship of hole 9 named after him by the Ogbomoso Golf Club and will be financing an annual golf tournament in his honour.
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Engineer Aderibigbe Adeyinka, Captain, Ogbomoso Recreation Club Golf section said golfers from IBB Golf Club Abuja, Tiger Golf Club Ibadan, Ilorin Golf Club Ilorin and others have arrived for the competition and prizes will be won.
The remembrance programme continues today with a thanksgiving at St. David Anglican Church, Agboin, Ogbomoso while on Monday there will be a visit to orphanage home and empowerment program on Tuesday.
The highlight of the memorial will be the inaugural Benjamin Adekunle Memorial Leadership Lecture, themed, “The Ogbomosos, military gallantry and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 9:30am, at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) auditorium. Speakers at the lecture will include Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani (Rtd), Dr. Olayinka Oyegbile, and Professor Omotoye Olorode.
