The Passing Of A Colossus

Ayo Adebanjo’s loss of life on February 14, 2025, on the age of 96, has left an indelible mark on Nigeria and the Yoruba nation. A towering determine in Nigerian politics and a logo of unwavering dedication to the ideas of democracy, justice, and federalism, Pa Adebanjo was a beacon of integrity, braveness, and selflessness.

Born on April 10, 1928, in Ijebu Ogbu Oke, Ogun State, Pa Adebanjo’s journey was one marked by his dedication to the pursuit of justice for the Nigerian folks. His early years noticed him influenced by the beliefs of Nigeria’s independence wrestle, first as a Zikist in 1943, then later as a disciple of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. His political opinions, rooted in Awoism, had been removed from mere ideology; they had been a guiding gentle that illuminated the trail for his tireless battle for democracy and good governance.

Pa Adebanjo’s journey was by no means a straightforward one. In 1962, he was compelled into exile in Ghana after being charged with treasonable felony, following the political turmoil surrounding the Motion Group and the trial of Awolowo. His defiance in opposition to oppression and his refusal to compromise his beliefs led him to face persecution, but his resolve solely strengthened.

Chief Adebanjo’s most important political contributions had been as a founding member and chief of Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation. Based in 1993, in response to the annulment of the June 12 election, Afenifere grew to become a platform for Adebanjo to advertise the beliefs of federalism and the necessity for Nigeria’s restructuring. All through his management, he remained staunch in his perception that Nigeria’s unity have to be negotiated, not assumed. He constantly advocated for a federal construction that may permit for regional autonomy, echoing the beliefs espoused by Awolowo within the Fifties. His stance on restructuring, a trigger he championed for many years, mirrored his agency conviction that Nigeria’s present construction of governance was unsustainable.

His politics had been rooted in his adherence to the ideas of Awoism, which prioritised social justice, free training, healthcare, rural growth, and a welfare state. These weren’t simply coverage factors for Adebanjo; they had been the core of his political ideology, the muse upon which he constructed his life’s work.

He was a person who believed that management was about serving the folks, not buying energy for private acquire. This perception made him a staunch critic of politicians who he felt had deviated from these beliefs. His sharp criticisms weren’t restricted to opposition figures but in addition prolonged to former allies who, in his view, had compromised the beliefs of the Yoruba folks and the Awoist trigger.

The 1993 annulment of the presidential election, which was received by MKO Abiola, grew to become a turning level in Adebanjo’s political life. As one of many chieftains of the Nationwide Democratic Coalition (NADECO), he performed a pivotal position within the wrestle in opposition to army dictatorship. Alongside different pro-democracy activists, Adebanjo stood on the frontlines, risking his life for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.

What set Adebanjo other than a lot of his contemporaries was his unwavering dedication to his ideas. In a political panorama usually characterised by opportunism and shifting allegiances, Adebanjo remained a continuing advocate for the values he held pricey. Whether or not within the Motion Group, the Unity Social gathering of Nigeria (UPN), or later the Alliance for Democracy (AD), his loyalty to Awoism by no means wavered. He was not a person who sought energy for its personal sake; he sought a simply and honest society, the place all Nigerians may prosper, the place the promise of independence can be fulfilled for each citizen, no matter their ethnic or regional background.

Adebanjo’s management was additionally marked by his mental prowess and media savvy. As a former journalist, he understood the facility of phrases and was by no means one to shrink back from a candid opinion. His interviews had been usually marked by a sharpness and readability that made him a sought-after determine within the media. Adebanjo’s means to have interaction with the general public, to talk reality to energy, was considered one of his defining traits. His criticisms, whereas usually controversial, had been rooted in a deep-seated want for a greater Nigeria, a rustic the place ideas mattered greater than political expediency.

Although his politics usually led him into public disputes with figures reminiscent of Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Bola Ige, and Bola Tinubu (now Nigeria’s President), Pa Adebanjo was by no means one to shrink back from confrontation when it got here to defending his beliefs. He was a fierce defender of Yoruba pursuits, however his dedication to the bigger reason for Nigeria’s democracy by no means allowed him to succumb to slim ethnic politics. He believed that Nigeria’s future lay in a restructuring that may permit for regional autonomy and a real federal system, the place each area may thrive with out the stifling hand of centralisation.

In his later years, Adebanjo remained a steadfast determine in Nigerian politics, main Afenifere by turbulent instances. His help for Peter Obi within the 2023 presidential election, regardless of Obi’s not being from the Yoruba ethnic group, was a transparent indication of his perception in ideas over ethnic or regional loyalty.

To Adebanjo, it was by no means about private acquire or ethnic benefit; it was about what was greatest for Nigeria as a complete.

Pa Adebanjo’s private life was as outstanding as his political journey. He was a faithful husband to his spouse, Chief Christiana Modupe Adebanjo, with whom he shared over 60 years of marriage. Their union was a logo of stability and love, qualities that Pa Adebanjo carried into each facet of his life. He was additionally a father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, a household man whose values of integrity, dedication, and repair had been handed all the way down to future generations.

In his loss of life, Pa Ayo Adebanjo leaves behind a legacy that can endure for generations. His life was a testomony to the facility of conviction, the significance of integrity, and the enduring worth of service to 1’s folks and nation. Whereas he might not have seen the complete realisation of his goals for a restructured Nigeria, his unwavering dedication to these beliefs has left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s political historical past.

As we bear in mind Pa Adebanjo, we have a good time a life nicely lived – a life dedicated to the beliefs of justice, fairness, and unity. His passing is a good loss to Nigeria, and whereas he can be dedicated to Mom Earth on Might 3, his legacy will proceed to encourage all who try for a greater, extra simply society.