From Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has paid tribute to the late leader of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, describing him as a great man who was committed to representing his people effectively.
Obasanjo, who stated this in a statement by his Media Aide, Kehinde Akinyemi which was made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said Adebanjo was a committed nationalist with an unpretentious personality.
He noted that the news of the demise of the nonagenarian Afenifere leader came to him as shocking when he was attending the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, lamenting that his death was a huge loss to the people of Ogun State and the entire Nigeria.
The ex-president, who admired Adebanjo’s tenacity and commitment to ensure that democracy reigns in Nigeria, described him as a notable elder statesman with enviable track record of purposefulness, honesty and integrity to promoting the cause of national unity
He recalled that when he was the president between 1999 and 2007, he and Adebanjo sometimes agree to disagree inorder to reposition the country by meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people for a better Nigeria.
Obasanjo said “It was with deep sense of personal loss that I received the sad news of the passing of my beloved friend and senior brother, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, away in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where I am currently attending the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly.
“The unfortunate news came to me as a shock because when I visited him on February 3 at his Lekki residence, though he was in such a fragile state, I had no inkling he would leave us so soon. His transition is, no doubt, a huge loss not only to me and to Ogun State, but also to the country as a whole. He was a great man, a committed nationalist and an effective representative of his people.
“Looking back, Chief Adebanjo had a highly successful career with selfless service rendered to his community, state and, indeed, the entire nation. As a foundation member of the Action Group Party, A.G he will be remembered as a foremost nationalist and patriot who has given his best as an active community leader and an exemplary politician with integrity and one who has demonstrated that politics is an avenue not for mindless enrichment but for rendering faithful service to humanity.”
“Adebanjo’s commitment to enthroning democracy in our dear country, his tenacity in the face of daunting odds and mortal risk to his life is very common knowledge, and these mark him out as a courageous political leader and true patriot. Not surprisingly, he had come to be regarded as one of our most notable elder statesmen, who had an enviable track record of purposefulness, honesty and integrity to bear in promoting the cause of national unity.”
“As a democratically-elected President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, we both sometimes disagreed to agree to committed regenerate and reposition our country to meet the hopes and aspirations of the Nigerian people and chart the course to our nation’s glorious future.”
“He was such an unpretentious personality! His thoughts, utterances and deeds were completely devoid of political partisanship. He had patriot. Not surprisingly, he had come to be regarded as one of our most notable elder statesmen, who had an enviable track record of purposefulness, honesty and integrity to bear in promoting the cause of national unity.” from all over the country and he led a life filled with remarkable experiences.”
“Until his death, he fought with courage and tenacity to see to the restructuring of the Nigerian nation through which good governance based on democratic principles and practice and leading to unity in diversity, justice and equity, political stability, nationalism, popular participation, peace and security and socio-economic progress with strong leadership would be enshrined.”
“It is unfortunate that his dream to see this through couldn’t be actualised in his lifetime. Indeed, Chief Adebanjo’s contributions to the strengthening of our fledgling democracy will be missed by the entire nation.”
“My family and I commiserate with his immediate and extended family members on this painful loss and pray that God will grant them and the rest of us, his friends and admirers, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May the soul of our very dear Chief Adebanjo rest in perfect peace, Amen.”
“I will undoubtedly miss my amazing and beloved Egbon Ayo, with the hope to continue to hold on to the good and remarkable memories we had together, till we meet to part no more,” he added
