WorldStage Newsonline– President Bola Tinubu said he received the news of the passing of one of the Afenifere leaders, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, with profound sorrow, saying “Nigeria has lost a political leader whose decades of unwavering struggle for justice, democracy, and national unity have left an indelible mark on our nation’s history.”
According to the family, Pa Adebanjo transitioned peacefully on Friday, February 14, 2025, at his home in Lekki, Lagos.
Tinubu in a statement said “All who knew Baba Adebanjo drew from his boundless wisdom and cherished the democratic ideals he tirelessly campaigned for.
“His principled voice, which resonated through decades of political activism, will be deeply missed. As a nation, we will miss his regular interventions in national affairs, which enriched our political discourse. Though we mourn his departure, we are also grateful to God for blessing him with a long, remarkable, purposeful life—96 years of unrelenting advocacy for progress and equity.
“Baba, as a lawyer, statesman, and politician, stood among the last of a generation of nationalists and independent heroes who shaped the foundation of our country.
“A devoted disciple of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, his contributions spanned political eras, from his role as Organising Secretary of the Action Group in the First Republic to his leadership in the Unity Party of Nigeria during the Second Republic.
“In moments of national crisis, Baba’s courage shone brightest. When democracy hung in the balance after the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, he joined the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) as one of the leading voices against military dictatorship, helping to galvanise a movement that became the bedrock of our collective struggle to reclaim democratic governance.
“His unwavering commitment to truth and justice extended to my journey as a governorship candidate in 1999. Baba Adebanjo’s steadfast support was instrumental in my election as Governor of Lagos State under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy.
“Though our political paths diverged in later years, my respect and admiration for him never wavered. Until his death, I shared a deep personal bond with Baba Adebanjo; he was like a father figure.
“I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, the Afenifere family, the governors of the Southwest, past and present, and all Nigerians who shared his vision.
“Let us take solace in the enduring legacy of a man who dedicated his life to the service of others—a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.
“May the soul of this great patriot find eternal rest, and may his ideals, which he so passionately envisioned, forever resonate in our country.
SANWO-OLU, SOUTH-WEST GOVERNORS
The Chairman of the South-West Governors Forum and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passage of elder statesman and foremost nationalist, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
Adebanjo, an Afenifere chieftain and former National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), died on Friday at his residence in Lekki at the age of 96.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said the death of Adebanjo, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated elder statesmen, was a colossal loss to the country and the Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, and an irreplaceable loss to the people of Ijebu and Ogun State.
He also expressed condolences to the Adebanjo family, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the entire Isanyan Ogbo community in Ijebu, Ogun State, on the passing of a social and political leader who never held executive or appointed government office in his lifetime.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said Chief Adebanjo’s record of service to the Yoruba nation and Nigeria as a whole as a celebrated lawyer, politician, rights activist, and Afenifere chieftain would remain indelible for generations to come.
He said: “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Lagos State, and the entire people of South-West, we celebrate the departure of our foremost nationalist and Afenifere chieftain, Ayo Adebanjo, who contributed his quota to the growth and development of Yoruba and Nigeria during his lifetime.
“The legacies of Chief Ayo Adebanjo cannot be forgotten because of the positive impacts he made during his lifetime and his extraordinary life of courage and service to humanity, his community, the Yoruba race, and the nation.
“He was devoted and committed to the Nigeria Project for about seven decades. We cherish his commitment to fighting for truth, equity, justice, true federalism, and good governance, which he championed and fought for many decades until his last breath.
“Pa Adebanjo was a fearless and courageous man, who fought for justice with honesty and integrity. He was in the trenches for many years, even at old age, fighting for a better Nigeria. He was a hero of democracy and teamed up with other progressives and members of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) against the annulment of the June 12 election.
“I commiserate with Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s widow and family members, friends, associates, the people of Ijebu community, Yoruba, and all Nigerians over the death of the elder statesman.
“I pray for the repose of the soul of the late Chief Ayo Adebanjo. May God grant the deceased family, loved ones and the Yoruba the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss of the nonagenarian.”
