By Editor
LAGOS— AS more tributes continue to pour in for the late Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, one of his daughters, Mrs Adeola Azeez, yesterday, disclosed that her late father may be buried in May but it will be subject to the approval of the family.
Recall that Pa Adebanjo died on Friday, February 14, 2025, at the age of 96. Mrs Azeez, who told newsmen at the family’s Lekki residence, debunked the earlier report that the family had settled to bury the late Afenifere leader in April.
“We are considering May but the family will meet and decide on a date,” she said. Meanwhile, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi; former Cross River State governor, Mr Donald Duke; General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye; and former Ogun State governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel, yesterday, visited the Adebanjo family where they paid glowing tributes to the late Awoist.
Also, former Ogun State governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; Chief Supo Shonibare, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Mr Akin Oshuntokun, Oba Oladipo Olaitan among others visited the Adebanjo residence.
They described the late Adebanjo as fearless, who was prepared to put his life and everything he owned on the line. Speaking during a condolence visit to the Adebanjo family, the former Vice President said Adebanjo will be remembered for his courage and dedication.
Osinbajo said: “One thing that needs to be said about Papa Ayo Adebanjo is that he has been at the forefront of every significant, political and social progressive cause since before and after independence. There is practically no social cause that he has not been part of.
We all know that every time he (Adebanjo) took on a cause, he spoke boldly and spoke clearly without fear. “Very many times, he was prepared to put his life and everything he owned on the line. We saw that repeatedly in his championing of democracy in the dark days and towards the end of military rule.”
Speaking on the vacuum he left behind and the lessons to be learned from him, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi described the late Adebanjo as “fearlessly and courageously” fought for justice. Obi said: “I know his family and people like me have lost somebody we can call a father but most importantly, Nigeria has lost somebody important. He is somebody who fearlessly and courageously fought for justice, fairness and what is right. “Most importantly, he remained consistently consistent to the end. Not often do you see people consistent in this part of the world. They might start it and soon compromise or it becomes transactional. He (Adebanjo) deprived himself of every form of inducement. He deprived himself at the cost of his life but he remained consistent and that is very rare.”
He was a man of principle — Gbenga Daniel
On his part, former Ogun State governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel described the late Afenifere leader as a man of principle.
Daniel said: “He is like a father to me and I must confess how he supported my administration even though we didn’t belong to the same political party. That underscores the fact that this is a man of principle and he exhibited that to the end. “For me, I cannot but continue to praise God for his life. We all know what he stood for. He is a man of principle, a man of conviction. He is somebody who cannot be swayed or influenced by material considerations.
“Several people felt that as leader of Afenifere, what he should be doing is supporting one of his own but by that singular action, whether we like it or not, he has created a bridge between the east and the west.”
He was more than an ethnic figure —Alaafin-elect
Also in his tributes, the Alaafin elect, Oba Akeem Owoade said the late Afenifere leader was “more than an ethnic figure.”
Oba Owoade, in a statement, by his media aide, Mr Bode Durojaiye, said: “The Alaafin of Oyo does not mourn but rather celebrates the laudable impact of a man of principles, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, who was not just a rarity; but a force of change, inspiring others to pursue lives of purpose and authenticity. “His unwavering moral compass not only defined him but also uplifted those around him. At the heart of this principled man’s journey lies an unshakable foundation of core values.”
Adebanjo lived, died an Awoist —Ngige
Also, former Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has described the death of Adebanjo as an irreplaceable and monumental loss to the nation. Ngige, in a statement by his media office, said: “Adebanjo chose to live an honourable and incorruptible life and was not moved by material acquisitions, just like many other politicians of that era, unlike what is obtainable today in the country
