Encomiums as Obaleke, former Awolowo private secretary, is laid to rest

Family, friends and well wishers showered praises on Rufus Obaleke, former private secretary to Obafemi Awolowo, the revered nationalist and premier of the old Western state, who was buried in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, on Friday.

The funeral service of the deceased held at Union Baptist Church, Ibadan.

Obaleke died on October 12, 2020 at the age of 88.

He was described as a man who braced the odd to be successful in life. Taiwo, his father, was a farmer while Ibiroke, his mother, was a petty trader.

In a condolence letter to the deceased family on behalf of Seyi Makinde, the Oyo state governor, Ololade Agboola, head of service in the state described Obaleke as an epitome of integrity and competence who would be sorely missed.

After his primary education in Awe, Oyo state, he was admitted to Baptist Boys High School, Olivet Heights, now Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo in 1948. Because of his exceptional performance in academic, he was one of the five students awarded scholarship by Western Regional Scholarship Board in 1953.

Obaleke joined the service of the Western Nigeria as a third class clerk in 1954 but resigned in 1957 to join Barclays Bank as a clerk. He later left the bank and was employed by the Western state civil service as executive officer.

Apart from serving as Awolowo private secretary, he also served as private secretary to seven traditional rulers who were appointed as ministers without portfolio by the Western state government.

Between 1962 and 1966 when the military took over via a coup, he also served as one of the private secretaries to Ladoke Akintola, the late premier of Western state. After an illustrious career in public service, during which he served in various executive positions in Oyo state, Obaleke retired in 1994.

The deceased was also notable for his devotion to church activities. He received accolade for being instrumental to the establishment of Union Baptist Church Nursery/ Primary School in 1987. He also served as chairman of the school management board.

As a member of Awe Development Association under the leadership of late Ojetunji Aboyade, a professor, he was part of a sub-committee of the association, which produced a document that Ibrahim Babangida, a former military ruler, used to establish community banks in Nigeria, with the first of its type in the country established in Awe, Obaleke’s home town.

A committed family man in his lifetime, he is survived by four children, Iyabosola, Olufemi, Olusoji and Temitope, and 11 grandchildren.