Afenifere Leader Adebanjo, Most Frank, Honest Nigerian, Says HURIWA
As news broke that the prominent leader of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, had died at the age of 96, the civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has said Chief Adebanjo was easily the most brutally frank, honest, truthful and patriotic statesman to have emerged out of Nigeria.
The rights group said his persistence in speaking truth to power demonstrated the purest quality of a man who was heaven-bound.
The renowned Afenifere leader reportedly passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday at his residence in Lekki, Lagos State.
The family confirmed his passing in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday.
“He died peacefully this morning, Friday, February 14, 2025, at his Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, home at the age of 96,” the statement read.
Adebanjo, a distinguished lawyer, former organising secretary of the Action Group, and the national leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, is survived by his 94-year-old wife, Chief Christy Ayo-Adebanjo, along with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
“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 statement added.
The family also disclosed that consultations are ongoing with Adebanjo’s friends, associates, and various interest groups across Nigeria and beyond to finalise plans for a befitting funeral.
Reacting to the announcement of his demise, HURIWA described the late sage as a man who lived a life of honesty and purpose, just as the rights group credited Chief Ayo-Adebanjo’s consistency in speaking truth to power for playing the role of a mentor to most of the credible civil rights and pro-democracy activists in Nigeria.
In a media statement by the national coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA lamented that the departure of Chief Ayo-Adebanjo means a lot to Nigeria because it marks the end of a glorious chapter, going by the fact that public officeholders would no longer have the privilege to gain from his wealth of knowledge as a political, legal and social tactician and a believer in equity, equality of opportunities and social justice.
“We in the civil rights advocacy organisations have indeed lost a great mentor and father figure who was an embodiment of truthfulness, justice and good governance.
“Chief Ayo-Adebanjo loved Nigeria and his departure on the day the world marks Saint Valentine’s Day shows that he was one of the very few who truly loved Nigeria and unfortunately, there is no evidence that his type is many anymore.”
Afenifere Leader Adebanjo, Most Frank, Honest Nigerian, Says HURIWA is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
