It’s a great loss - Adedibu

By Jackson Udom - 15.02.2008

CHIEFTAIN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, on Thursday in Ibadan, described the death of Chief T.O.S. Benson as a loss that would be difficult to forget.

Alhaji Adedibu, who was spoke with the Nigerian Tribune at his Molete residence, disclosed that the late politician though not in the same camp with the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was the first to move the motion for the declaration of Awolowo as the leader of the Yoruba race.

“He was my leader I respect him so much. He was one of the very few surviving members of the House elected in 1951. Apart from the late Chief A.M.A Akinloye. The only surviving member of that House now is Chief Anthony Enahoro. We will miss him, Nigerians and indeed, the political class will miss him, and his place will be difficult to fill,” he declared.

According to Adedibu, “TOS Benson was very rascally and he loved people who are rascally like him. So he loved me so much. Politicians will definitely miss his advise.”

Adedibu, who was flanked by the former military administrator of Lagos State, General Raji Rasaki (rtd) stressed that “despite the fact that TOS Benson was not in the same camp with the sage, he was the one that first moved the motion that Awolowo be made the leader of the Yoruba race. That is to show you that he practised politics without bitterness.