Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed regret over his inability to write biography of late educationist and former head of service of the federation, Simeon Olaosebikan Adebo.
Obasanjo said his inability to record the account of life of the late former UN Deputy Secretary-General remains one of the greatest regrets of his life.
The former president disclosed this on Saturday in Abeokuta at the induction and award ceremony of the Egba Legacy Network held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
The elderstateman recalled that several attempts made to get the political life, civil service experience, and diplomatic relations of the country from the late Simeon Adebo were met with gridlock.
He maintained that the late educationist refused to tell his story because of the intrigues and controversy that will ensue the biography when published.
“I went to Baba to write his biography, and he asked me who you had in mind to write the book, I responded that it was Prof. Saburi Biobaku. He later said I should come back. When I got there, he had changed his mind.
“He said, Segun, if I should open my mouth to reveal what I know in politics and government, the country will be set ablaze. So, I we won’t publish it when you’re alive. We will draft the information down and publish it after his demise. He thereafter said I should come back again, but that time, he said he’s not saying anything, that’s why we don’t have any books about Chief Simeon Adebo and that has been my greatest regrets in life,” Obasanjo averted.
He, therefore, charged the leadership of Egba Legacy Network to trace the historical background of the ancient Abeokuta cities and ensure that notable personalities involved in the development of Egbaland were given recognition in their heritage tourist project.
He urged them to take advantage of Abeokuta proximity to Lagos by ensuring the ancient town become a tourist attraction.
Earlier, the Osi Apagunpote of Egbaland and Chairman of the Egba Legacy Network, Chief Lai Labode, Jnr enjoined the new inductees to live up to expectations and join hands with the leaders of the group and Egbaland to facilitate a development roadmap that will beautify the town.
Labode said the motive was in a bid to retain the good memories of Egbas culture, traditions, and past, and present heroes of Egbaland.
According to him, part of the projects the group wanted to embark upon is the Egba history and heritage areas where statue of iconic Egba sons and daughters like Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, Prof. Saburi Biobaku, Madam Efunroye Tinubu, Fela Anikulapo, Chief Beko Ransome Kuti, Chief MKO Abiola, Ayinla Omowura and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would be engraved to beautify the towns.
Lai Labode highlighted Ibara GRA, Oke-mosan-Kobape expressway and Alake Palace as areas that will witness the first phase of the historic turnaround.
The Osi Apagunpote Lai Labode explained that the group made up of professional like-minds was founded 18 months ago to unify all Egba sons and daughters of social networks both home and diaspora.
