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'[[File:AAK ADEYEMO.jpg|thumb|Alhaji A.A.K Adeyemo Business Man and Politician. 1941-2002]] '''Abdul Azeez Kolawole Adeyemo''' (June 14, 1941 – March 12, 2002), popularly known as 'Alhaji how are you', was a Nigerian and prominent Yoruba politician. He was born in [[Ado-Ekiti]] the [[Ekiti State]] capital to Sir. Rufai Adeyemo & Princess Adebolarin Agunsoye. Growing up as a [[Catholic]] during the British [[Colonial Nigeria|colonial era]], he later converted to Islam. He became a politician early in his career. He joined the Western Region campaign of [[Egbe Omo Oduduwa]] founded by Chief Jeremiah [[Obafemi Awolowo]]. He was also a front-line member of [[Action Group (Nigeria)|Action Group political party]] which later metamorphosed into [[Unity Party of Nigeria]]. His main legacy was to secure democracy and [[good governance]] in post independent [[Nigeria]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} ==Background and Political life== A clergy, a painter, a successful business man, and an orator who assumed his first political office in the [[Nigerian Second Republic|Second Republic]] as a Member of Parliament on October 1, 1979, when Alhaji [[Shehu Shagari]] was sworn in as the first [[History of Nigeria (1979-1999)|civilian President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria]]. The government was later removed from power on New Year's Eve 1983 by [[Muhammadu Buhari|Major General Muhammadu Buhari]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Opejobi |first=Seun |date=2018-12-30 |title=1983 coup: What Shehu Shagari did to Buhari for overthrowing his govt - Family reveals |url=https://dailypost.ng/2018/12/30/1983-coup-shehu-shagari-buhari-overthrowing-govt-family-reveals/ |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}</ref> Alhaji A.A.K Adeyemo played a significant role as a Campaign Manager in the victory of the short lived government of Evangelist [[Bamidele Olumilua]], Governor of old [[Ondo State]] from 1991 to 1993 under the umbrella of the [[Social Democratic Party (Nigeria)]]. He later served in that administration as the [[Ondo State]] Parliamentary Co-ordinator & Liaison Officer. The biggest problem that clogged the wheel of Nigeria's ride to social, economic and political self-actualization was epitomised by Military President [[Ibrahim Babangida]]'s annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential polls won by Chief [[Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola]] in a free and fair election. The annulment coupled with the dissolution of the political parties invariably led to the demise of the civilian government in all individual states across the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Once again, the Nigerian dream of a democratic sovereignty to which 'how are you' remained absolutely committed was cut short in a carapace of indifference and cynicism; justice was debased to tokenism and cynical symbolism.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}} ==Elder Statesman== Alhaji Adeyemo was also a renowned leader of the PAN Yoruba Elders Consultative Forum popularly known as '[[Afenifere]]'.<ref>Dr. Lanre Tytler (August 14, 2007). "Afenifere and Yoruba Council of Elders: Who and Where Are They?". NigeriaWorld. Retrieved 2009-11-08.</ref> He was also instrumental in the creation of [[Ekiti State]] in October, 1996. Following the restoration of democracy in the late 1990s shortly after the sudden and mysterious death of the military dictator General [[Sani Abacha]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/06/98/nigeria/109265.stm | work=BBC News | title=Abacha dies at 54 | date=June 8, 1998}}</ref><ref>a b c d "Abacha, Sani." Encyclopædia Britannica. 3 February 2007</ref> Alhaji Adeyemo continued to be politically active and assumed the status of a 'Godfather' owing to his sphere of influence across the political terrain and [[oligarchy]]. This was demonstrated by his unquestionable role in the political aspiration of Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo as first Governor elect, [[Ekiti State]], under the platform of the [[Alliance for Democracy (Nigeria)]], in 1999. A shortlist of his political alliances includes Samuel [[Adekunle Ajasin]] JP, Alhaji [[Shehu Musa Yar'Adua]], Alhaji [[Baba Gana Kingibe]], Chief [[Olu Falae]], [[Robert Adeyinka Adebayo|General Adeyinka Adebayo]], Evangelist [[Bamidele Olumilua]], [[Olusegun Agagu|Olusegun Kokumo Agagu]], Alhaji [[Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa]], Pa [[Abraham Adesanya]], [[Theophilus Danjuma|T.Y Danjuma]], Alhaji [[Bamanga Tukur]], Otunba Reuben Famuyibo, [[Adebayo Adefarati]], Ebenezer Babatope, and Chief [[Bola Ige]] amongst others. ==Demise== 'Alhaji how are you' died in hospital on March 12, 2002, after being rushed to hospital following a protracted high blood pressure resulting from a long-standing cardiovascular disease. ==References== <references/> {{DEFAULTSORT:Adeyemo, Abdul Azeez Kolawole}} [[Category:Yoruba politicians]] [[Category:Nigerian former Christians]] [[Category:1941 births]] [[Category:2002 deaths]] [[Category:Converts to Islam from Roman Catholicism]] [[Category:Nigerian Muslims]] [[Category:Nigerian Ahmadis]] [[Category:People from Ekiti State]]'