Posted by By Clifford Ndujihe on
AFTER a distinguished career during which he was one of the "Four Musketeers" who gave Lagos a solid administrative footing, the sun set at the weekend for Mr. Joseph Omotosho Adeyemi-Bero.
AFTER a distinguished career during which he was one of the "Four Musketeers" who gave Lagos a solid administrative footing, the sun set at the weekend for Mr. Joseph Omotosho Adeyemi-Bero.
The first public servant to be employed in Lagos State died on Saturday at 83.
When Lagos State was created in May 1967, Adeyemi-Bero was seconded from the Federal Civil Service to work with the then Lt.-Col. Mobolaji Johnson to set up the new state. They had a marching grant of £10,000 and with it, what is known today as Lagos State Government began.
The three other principal officers with whom he was appointed were Mr. Arthur Edward Houson-Wright (acting Secretary to the Government), Mr. F. C. O. Coker (acting Financial Secretary) and Mr. J. O. Agoro (Legal Secretary).
Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) and Chief Reuben Olorunfunmi Basorun (Secretary to the State Government under Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande in the Second Republic), were among those who paid tributes to the late technocrat yesterday.
In a statement by Hakeem Bello, his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Fashola said Adeyemi-Bero's contributions to the development of the state's public service would remain indelible.
The governor said that Adeyemi-Bero could be rightly described as one of the founding fathers of the state's public service because he was one of the first four principal officers to be appointed by Mobolaji Johnson on the creation of the state on May 27, 1967.
"It was on the shoulders of Mr. Adeyemi-Bero as acting Administrative Secretary alongside three others - Mr. Arthur Edward Houston-Wright (acting Secretary to the Government), Mr. F.C.O. Coker (acting Financial Secretary) and Mr. J.O. Agoro (Legal Secretary) that the military governor placed the enormous task of building the most populous state in the federation," he said.
Fashola continued: "Generations of Lagosians yet unborn would forever be grateful for the unwavering commitment, dedication, patriotism and hard work of Mr. Adeyemi-Bero and the three others known as 'the Four Musketeers,' which gave Lagos a solid administrative and financial footing.
"That Lagos is known today as the Centre of Excellence is traceable, in more ways than one, to the pioneering exertions of Mr. Adeyemi-Bero and his colleagues in those formative years."
Recalling that Adeyemi-Bero served with distinction as Principal Secretary to the Military Governor of Lagos State from 1967, Fashola said the deceased demonstrated the zeal, vision and steadfastness of a pioneer in various other capacities when he served as Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and later the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Sports and Social Development.
According to Fashola, it was in recognition of the late accomplished administrator's invaluable contributions that the former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu renamed the State auditorium Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium.
While praying to God to grant the soul of the departed sweet repose, Fashola urged the loved ones left behind to take solace in the honourable legacy of service and integrity left by their father, adding that the life and times of Pa Adeyemi-Bero should serve as inspiration to those coming behind.
Speaking in like manner, Basorun, who was the pioneer Lagos State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before decamping to the ruling Action Congress (AC), described Adeyemi-Bero as a foundation builder.
Told that Pa Adeyemi-Bero had passed on, Basorun was speechless momentarily.
When he recovered, he exclaimed: "Baba! Baba!! Are you sure he is dead? Baba was indeed one of the founding fathers of Lagos. He worked very hard to build Lagos State with Mobolaji Johnson. His patriotic service informed the Lagos State naming of the State Secretariat after him. May his gentle soul rest in peace."