Nigeria has lost one of its elder statesmen. Vocal. Unrelenting. Dogged! These are some of the adjectives to describe Ayo Adebanjo who died on Friday.
Adebanjo was 96.
“He died peacefully this morning, Friday, February 14, 2025, at his Lekki, Lagos Nigeria home at the age of 96,” the family statement announcing his death partly read.
As the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group Afenifere, Adebanjo’s passion for the advancement of the country was unmatched. His charismatic leadership and drive for a progressive and united Nigeria were the hallmarks of his nine-decade sojourn.
“We will forever cherish his commitment to fighting for truth, equity, and justice. His belief and struggle for a truly independent and progressive Nigeria was total and this he fought for until he breathed his last breath,” the family said.
This video compilation showcases Adebanjo’s comments on several national issues ranging from politics, good governance, corruption, and social justice among other matters.
‘Root Cause’
Pa Ayo Adebanjo was quite vocal about the need for constitutional change. At several fora, the Afenifere leader canvassed for a new constitution and labeled the 1999 Constitution as anti-people.
‘No Sincerity’
While there have been attempts to amend the constitution, Adebanjo believed there was no sincerity in those efforts.
A Statesman At 90
During his landmark 90th birthday, family, friends, associates, and top dignitaries from across the country gathered to celebrate Pa Adebanjo.
Until We Restructure
Despite his advancing age, Chief Adebanjo did not mince worse about the state of security in the country.
He insisted that a change in the constitution was needed to resolve Nigeria’s security issues.
‘Not Where we Should’
During Nigeria’s 59th Independence Anniversary in 2019, Adebanjo also raised concerns about the quality of leadership in the country.
As far as he was concerned, Nigeria has been unlucky with getting the right people to drive the nation’s development.
“We are not where we should be because we have not been lucky to have the right people at the top,” he said on that occasion.
Restructuring, Not Self-Determination
As calls for secession heightened in the country, Adebanjo also weighed in on the debates.
Source: Channels TV
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