Adebanjo: Nigeria has lost political leader committed to justice, democracy — Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of elder statesman and Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, describing him as a political giant whose unwavering commitment to justice, democracy, and national unity has left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s history.

In a statement he personally issued on Friday mourning the loss, he emphasised that the late nationalist’s decades-long struggle for a just and equitable Nigeria will be remembered for generations.

“I received the news of the passing of one of the Afenifere leaders, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, with profound sorrow. Nigeria has lost a political leader whose decades of unwavering struggle for justice, democracy, and national unity have left an indelible mark on our nation’s history,” Tinubu said.

Adebanjo, a renowned advocate of good governance and the rule of law died peacefully at his home in Lekki, Lagos, at the age of 96, according to family sources.

A devoted disciple of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Adebanjo’s political career spanned Nigeria’s First and Second Republics. He served as Organising Secretary of the Action Group (AG) and later played a crucial role in the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), pushing for progressive policies and democratic reforms.

“In moments of national crisis, Baba’s courage shone brightest. When democracy hung in the balance after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, he stood as one of the leading voices in NADECO, helping to galvanise a movement that became the bedrock of our collective struggle to reclaim democratic governance,” Tinubu noted.

The president, who recalled Adebanjo’s instrumental support in his own political journey, particularly during his 1999 governorship election under the Alliance for Democracy (AD), acknowledged their later political differences but affirmed that his respect and admiration for the elder statesman never wavered.

“Though our political paths diverged in later years, my respect and admiration for him never wavered. Until his death, I shared a deep personal bond with Baba Adebanjo; he was like a father figure,” Tinubu stated.

The president extended his condolences to Adebanjo’s family, the Afenifere socio-political group, governors of the Southwest, and all Nigerians who shared in his vision for a better Nigeria.

As the nation mourns the passing of one of its last nationalist icons, Tinubu urged Nigerians to find solace in the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to selfless service and the pursuit of a more just and prosperous country.

“May the soul of this great patriot find eternal rest, and may his ideals, which he so passionately envisioned, forever resonate in our country,” the statement concluded.

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