Former Ogun State Deputy Governor, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, has declared that he is no longer interested in seeking elected political positions. The statement was made in an interview with Punch, where the former official discussed his life history, educational background, and the reasons behind his decision to step away from the political arena. Kaka, who served as a commissioner under a military governor before becoming deputy governor, emphasized that his entry into public service was not initially planned as a lifelong career.
Kaka’s journey began in a challenging environment. He described his mother as his father’s third wife, noting that the first three children she bore died as toddlers. This tragedy led her to leave the marital home temporarily, though she was persuaded by her father to return. Kaka was born after her return, but his early years were marked by health struggles. He reported suffering from various ailments that required multiple interventions, including local remedies, Quranic recitations, and Christian and Aladura spiritual treatments, before he became well enough to attend school.
His educational path was complex. Kaka recounted being promoted on trial through primary school until his father insisted he repeat a class. He later faced a choice between completing Quranic studies and attending secondary school, a conflict resolved when his mother’s determination prevailed. He gained admission to three institutions but chose Ijebu Muslim College over Ijebu College after learning the latter served pork, a concern that initially angered his father. Academically, he struggled with science subjects due to teacher shortages, eventually switching to biology and later securing degrees in agriculture and animal science from the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos.
The death of his father in October 1968 proved to be a pivotal moment. Kaka was in Form One at Ijebu Muslim College when his father, aged 52, died suddenly in a hospital after complaining of thirst and being given tea. Following this loss, Kaka faced an uncertain future regarding his education. However, his uncle, a structural engineer who had recently returned to Nigeria, stepped in. Impressed by Kaka’s improving academic rankings, the uncle provided financial support for his schooling and pocket money, enabling Kaka to continue his studies and eventually enter public service through Pfizer Livestock Feeds before his political appointment.