Tinubu, Obi, Afenifere Others Lead Tributes For Pa Adebanjo

Pa Adebanjo as he was fondly called in many quarters died "peacefully" in his Lagos home on Friday aged 96.

By Emmanuel Egobiambu

Obi, Tinubu and Adebanjo

Tributes are still pouring in for elder statesman Ayodele Adebanjo following his death. President Bola Tinubu, politicians, governors, and the pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere have all sent in their tributes for the man who died at 96.

Pa Adebanjo as he was fondly called in many quarters died “peacefully” in his Lagos home on Friday aged 96.

In his tribute to the late Afenifere leader, President Tinubu said he received the news of Adebanjo’s passage “with profound sorrow”.

“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,” Tinubu said in a statement on Friday.

The president described Adebanjo as a “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.”

According to him, in times of national crisis, the late Afenifere chief’s ” courage shone brightest”.

“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,” Tinubu said, paying condolence to the family of the deceased.

For Afenifere, the group Adebanjo led and played a pivotal role in its activities, the death of one of its pillars came with ” great shock and sorrow”.

“A patriot par excellence, his contributions during the struggle for Nigeria’s independence as well as during struggles for the restoration and sustenance of democracy in Nigeria shall remain indelible in the annals of Nigeria’s history,” the leader of the group R. F Fasoranti said in a statement.

“He was an unrelenting ideologue who fought for many noble causes under the auspices of Afenifere where he was once the Acting Leader. Members of the Afenifere family will greatly miss this fallen hero.”

‘Commitment to Fairness’

Chief Ayo Adebanjo (centre) flanked by Peter Obi (right) and Chief Femi Okunrounmu (left) at the rally in Abeokuta on Saturday, February 4, 2023.

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election Peter Obi also had glowing words for the departed patriot.

“My family and the Obidient Movement got the shocking news of the passing on of our dear father and leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, who was a great pillar in the struggle for a new Nigeria,” Obi wrote about a man who backed him in the country’s last round of elections, extending his condolences to the family.

Obi said Adebanjo was “a steadfast advocate for a united and progressive Nigeria” and had an “unwavering commitment to fairness”.

“As we mourn his departure, let us also celebrate a life well-lived in service to humanity and commit ourselves to upholding the values he so passionately championed,” the LP chieftain said. “May his death not be in vain. Instead, let it serve as a renewed call to action for all who believe in justice and fairness.”

Channels Incorporated Limited

PRESIDENT TINUBU'S STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF PA AYO ADEBANJO

I received the news of the passing of one of the Afenifere leaders, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, with profound sorrow. 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, Baba transitioned peacefully on Friday, February 14, 2025, at his home in Lekki, Lagos.

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.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

February 14, 2025