By Amofokhai Williams
The nation is in mourning as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pays a heartfelt tribute to Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the towering nationalist whose unyielding fight for justice, democracy, and unity shaped Nigeria’s political landscape.
Adebanjo, a pillar of the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, breathed his last on Friday, February 14, 2025, at his Lekki residence in Lagos, leaving behind an enduring legacy of activism and advocacy.
Reacting to the news with profound sorrow, President Tinubu described the late elder statesman as a political warrior, a relentless voice for justice, and one of the last-standing disciples of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“Nigeria has lost a political leader whose decades of unwavering struggle have left an indelible mark on our nation’s history,” Tinubu lamented.
Tinubu said from the trenches of the First Republic, where he served as Organising Secretary of the Action Group, to the stormy years of military rule, when he stood as a defiant voice in NADECO, Adebanjo’s life was a testament to unyielding courage in the face of oppression.
The president recalled how the late nationalist stood shoulder to shoulder with him during his 1999 Lagos governorship bid, providing steadfast support that ultimately led to his victory under the Alliance for Democracy (AD).
“Though our political paths diverged in later years, my respect and admiration for Baba never wavered. Until his death, he remained a father figure to me,” Tinubu reflected.
Beyond politics, he said Adebanjo was a moral compass—a man whose principled voice echoed through the decades, challenging injustices and advocating for a truly federal Nigeria.
“Though we grieve, we must take solace in the enduring legacy of a man who dedicated his life to service,” Tinubu concluded, praying for his eternal rest.
