Reuben Abati back in 2008 remarked on the deliberate conspiracy plot to obliterate Adegoke Adelabu Penkelemesi from history
"The deliberate attempt to forget Adelabu and erase his value is part of the collateral damage of the politics of acrimony that dominated Yorubaland for more than 50 years, and a national culture of selective remembrance".
"But recently" he continued "there have been attempts to revive the memory of this forgotten nationalist".
But this theory of historical intrigue seems to be continual and largely transferred on the subject only, but then fate chose with a dissipated lot when he selected between him and his direct counterpart. But his character and style was a envy of many. No doubt he was the brightest. He wore the dermis and garb of the common man, he empathized every impoverished woes and pains.
His thoughts on education still echoes in this present age in his master piece "Africa in Ebullition and Selected Speeches". He propounded a massive System of Education for the Masses that should be likened to the European countries despite constraints forbidding. He was a staunch proponent for a compulsory and free primary education from the age of five, he also believed it will free us from the scandalous spectacle of child labour.
How then will these invaluable efforts be gravely undermined in our study of history today, how can we proclaim publicly that this person antagonised a campaign for the stable foundation of education in the south west of Nigeria. A man who advocated for at least 50% of schools to be built in the rural areas. It's contradictory isn't it? He was a man of honour, a true nationalist and men of honour do not stand against their own words or what they stand for. I strongly believe he could not have utter those comments, grossly misconstrued, misrepresentation or misinterpretation.
He had vision, a distinct preference and respect for teachers where he proposed a higher percentage bonus over a similar man with equal qualifications but practicing other jobs and this is plainly because he valued the time, devotion and lifestyle of teachers. His audible decibel of resolute and eloquent rhetorics largely swayed at the hem of the low and penurious is an unflinching emblem of his pugnacity and support for the common man.
No legacy is so rich as honesty. William Shakespeare