Obasanjo, Anyaoku, Atiku, The Patriots pay tribute to Adebanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, one time Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and foremost group of elder statesmen and eminent Nigerians, The Patriots have joined the growing list of the numerous personalities paying tribute to late Afenifere leader and statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, who passed away Friday, February 14, 2025 in his home in Lekki, Lagos State, at the age of 96.

Chief Obasanjo, in his tribute, signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, described the late Afenifere stalwart, as a great man, a committed nationalist, and an unpretentious personality, noting that the news of Adebanjo’s passing came as a shock.

“His passing is a huge loss to me, Ogun, and the entire country.

“I received the sad news with a deep sense of personal loss in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I am attending the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly.

“The news was shocking because when I visited him on Feb. 3 at his Lekki residence, I did not foresee his demise so soon.

“Adebanjo had a highly successful career and selflessly served his community, state, and nation. As a foundation member of the Action Group party, he will be remembered as a patriot,” Obasanjo said.

According to him, the late nationalist was an exemplary politician of integrity who demonstrated that politics should be about service, not personal enrichment.

The former president recalled that, during his tenure from 1999 to 2007, he and Adebanjo occasionally disagreed but remained committed to regenerating and repositioning Nigeria.

“He was unpretentious. His thoughts, words, and actions were free of political bias. He had friends across the country and lived a life of remarkable experiences.

“He fought courageously for Nigeria’s restructuring, believing in governance based on democracy, justice, equity, stability, and national unity.

“It is unfortunate that he did not live to see this dream fulfilled. His contributions to strengthening our democracy will be missed by the entire nation,” Obasanjo stressed.

Obasanjo extended his condolences to Adebanjo’s immediate and extended family on their painful loss.

“We pray that God grants them, and all of us—his friends and admirers—the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

“I will deeply miss my beloved friend. I cherish our remarkable memories together and hold onto the hope that we will meet again,” he said.

From Abuja, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, described Adebanjo, the late Leader of Afenifere, as a freedom fighter, foremost elder statesman and one of Nigeria’s few remaining nationalists.

Abubakar, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, said that Adebanjo was a formidable force and a fearless fighter for justice, equity and an egalitarian society.

He recalled the heroic role which Adebanjo played in wresting power from the military and enthroning democratic governance in Nigeria.

He said that Pa Adebanjo was at the forefront of the fight against military dictatorship.

“It is on record that Pa Adebanjo spent his entire youthful days fighting against colonial rule; spent his middle age to fight against military dictatorship and his latter days to ensure that good governance, rule of law and democracy took firm roots in Nigeria.

“I wish to state without equivocation that Pa Adebanjo was a golden example of how to live and die for the good of the country.

“Apart from mentoring many generations of civil rights activists across different generations, Pa Adebanjo was an activist extraordinaire and bridge builder who led the battle against injustice and oppression from the trenches.

“Undoubtedly, the life and times of Adebanjo remain a priceless map for contemporary and upcoming activists who advocate for good governance to learn and take a cue from.

“He taught all of us how to be statesmen of distinction,” he said.

Abubakar condoled with the Adebanjo family, admonishing them to take solace in the fact that their patriarch was a father to the whole country and pride to the Black race.

He also commiserated with the people and government of Ogun and prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of the deceased.

The Patriots, led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, in a statement on Friday evening by the group’s Secretary-General, Mr. Olawale Okunniyi said that it received the news of Adebanjo’s death with a heavy heart and assured that it will immortalise the legacies of late leader of Afenifere.

Okunniyi said: “Adebanjo, in the light of his illustrious life of service to Nigeria and humanity, will be greatly missed by The Patriots and the peoples of Nigeria that he lived and died for.

“Therefore, The Patriots as his immediate constituency shall therefore be setting up an immortalisation committee in the succeeding period, as its culture, to work out how best to immortalise the legacies of the Eminent Patriot.”

He described Adebanjo’s passing as the end of a remarkable era of a rare patriot.

According to him, The Patriots are proud to be associated with the exemplary life lived by Adebanjo.

He said that the late elder stateman  was also a leading light and one of the founders of The Patriots.

Okunniyi added: “The Patriots are also glad to relish with pride Chief Adebanjo’s forthrightness and consistency in speaking truth to power in his lifetime.

“He has been doing this especially since his emergence as the Organising Secretary of the Action Group, AG in the 40s under the revered leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory.

“Adebanjo, as a progressive politician in the 70s was quite outstanding, especially in the formation of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN led by the great Awo (Chief Obafemi Awolowo).”

He said that the late leader was quite an invaluable inspiration to the formation of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) under the leadership of Chief Abraham Adesanya.

He described Adebanjo as one of the key leaders of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which was at the  forefront of the struggle against military rule in Nigeria under the leadership of Chief Anthony Enahoro.

Okunniyi said that the late leader was quite distinguished and courageous in his contribution to the restoration of Nigeria’s current democracy, staying back in Nigeria to lead mass protests against the military.

“Again, Ayo Adebanjo, as an eminent leader of thought, was very instrumental and supportive in the formation of The Patriots towards the democratic constitutional political restructuring of Nigeria.

“He was later to become one of the leading voices of the 2014 National Confab set up by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan towards setting the pace for Nigeria’s political cohesion and stability,” he added.

Okunniyi, who commiserated with Pa Adebanjo’s wife, children and family members, prayed that God would give them the fortitude to bear “this great loss to the country and humanity in general.”