Otunba Segun Showunmi, convener of the National Opposition Movement Coalition (NOMC), a platform aimed at fostering grassroots consensus for the selection of future leaders and a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended his condolences to the family of Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of Afenifere, who passed away on Friday at the age of 96.
Showunmi described late Adebanjo as an ever-ready icon who took on those he considered to be the opponents to his interesting worldview of the progressivism of the Awolowo school of thought.
Adebanjo died at his residence in Lekki, Lagos, leaving behind his 94-year-old wife, Christy Ayo-Adebanjo, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
In a statement on Saturday personally signed by Showunmi and made available to newsmen including Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com), he depicted the late elder statesman as a pillar of political activism and a strong voice in national affairs, adding that his demise would be deeply felt by all and sundry at a time like this.
He added that Papa’s contributions if built upon will help in the overall journey of nationhood, for whatever might have been considered as the sticking point occasioned by the politics of Awolowo and Azikiwe, Ayo Adebanjo had paid in full.
Read Otunba Showunmi’s release in extenso as reproduced hereunder:
“Afenifere chieftain Ayo Adebanjo bows to death at 96
“The lion with the heart of a tiger, brave, firm, determined, dutifully focused Pa Ayo Adebanjo is one of the very last of an era.
“To follow his activities in life is to marvel at where he got his courage from. He is ever-ready to take on those he considers to be the opponents to his interesting worldview of the progressivism of the Awolowo school of thought.
“He distinguished himself by the courage to dare to walk alone if need be, and this was most pronounced when against the popular position of his political family who in the 2023 election pitched their camp with their son in the person of the present president Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in his election journey to become the number one citizen of the country, Baba returned to his zikist origin by supporting Peter Obi and by so doing he gave the Yorubas a lifeline with the Ndigbos of southeastern Nigeria a front-loaded payment towards improving the handshake across the Benue river, a significant step in building better understanding between those on the southern protectorate who got amalgamated with their northern Nigerian kits and kin’s known then as the northern protectorate.
“Papa’s contributions if built upon will help in the overall journey of nationhood, for whatever might have been considered as the sticking point occasioned by the politics of Awolowo and Azikiwe, Ayo Adebanjo has paid in full.
“The future must now commence on a clean slate for to reflect on what Baba Adebanjo had to contend with is to salute his bravery.
“There is no point dwelling on his pro-democracy struggle, safe to say that I believe he must at the twilight of his days wonder what chaos we have created that we call democracy, seeing that indeed what we have does not measure up to the idealism of party politics nor does it meet the yearnings of our people in terms of serving the greater good for the majority of our near 250 million population.
“As the Grim Ripper has visited Baba Ayo Adebanjo one must celebrate a life lived to the fullest, on his terms, according to his strong belief in his ideals.
“Oh, Baba Adebanjo, Omo Asote Maru.
“Sleep well, Rest well, to God be the glory you died with your honour intact for you have stood for your convictions.
“May your gallant soul rest in perfect peace. Thank you for giving your all.
“We mourn a great leader and a social warrior of yoruba extraction.
“Otunba Segun Showunmi
Convener
The Alternative (Let the best of us lead the rest of us).”
