It is with a heavy heart but total submission to the will of almighty God that I have to write this tribute recounting the life, times and struggles of Pa Ayo Adebanjo. Death is often more painful when a person dies at a young age while we celebrate the departures of elders in Africa knowing that they have lived a good life. It is more so that such celebrations are heightened and, in most cases, lavish, if the particular subject of funeral died wealthy or left wealthy children or relatives behind. The pleasure and happiness displayed at such events are usually due to the fact that the deceased is regarded to have contributed his good quota to humanity and deserves the pleasure of God in the hereafter based on human self-indulging assessment. However, when a man of immeasurable essence dies, no matter the age, the loss is often very painful as hardly do we want to lose any loved one.
This is the situation I have found myself since February 14, 2025 when Pa Ayo Adebanjo died at the ripe of age of 96. One of the few stalwarts left behind by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a committed patriot to the project Nigeria, a formidable politician and erudite scholar, Chief Ayo Adebanjo was an ardent advocate of democracy and good governance, the cause to which he committed his entire life and resources. He was a brave soldier of democracy who remained unwavering in the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which he co-founded with other senior and staunch comrades during the campaign for an end to military rule. As an uncompromising supporter for social justice, he led, with others, the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, till he took the last breath. Without his immense contributions in the two movements, Afenifere and NADECO, the fight for the restoration of June 12 1993 presidential mandate of Chief M. K. O. Abiola would probably have not taken of.
The above is not to discount the contributions of many others whose presence and dogged leadership cannot be undervalued. Pa Adebanjo sacrificed all in order to ensure that the political determination of Nigerians would not be pulverized by the military. It was a suicidal mission when he, alongside with people like Pa Abraham Adesanya, Pa Anthony Enahoro, Chief Bola Ige, Pa Ayo Opadokun, Pa Fasoranti, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, leading millions of other Nigerians, took to the trenches in engaging the military to de-annul the June 12 presidential election which was soullessly and recklessly annulled by the regime of Ibrahim Babangida. With old men above 60 and 70 years of age leading the struggle, many younger Nigerians were encouraged to see the future of democracy in the commitment of the elders.
The battle took a long period of time but despite the demise of Chief MKO Abiola, the man whose mandate was being sought to be redeemed, in the military gulag, it was still possible to achieve democracy as the military had to hand over power to a civilian government. Thus, it is safe to say that without people like Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the democracy we all savour today would not have been attained. While it is sad that the majority of those who turned out to be the beneficiaries of the struggles for democracy led by Pa Adebanjo are those who actually worked for the military and against the democratic aspirations of Nigerians, the struggles of these leaders are not in vain as the liberty guaranteed by a civil rule can never be allowed under a military junta. To figures like this we owe a lot of gratitude no matter the political and ideological differences.
Born on 10 April, 1928, he had his early education in the territory later known as Lagos State. He later worked as a clerical officer in the health ministry of Lagos. His radical activism did not go unnoticed by the colonial authorities in the 1950s when he joined in the struggle for independence of Nigeria as a result of which he lost his job to dismissal. In 1953, he moved to the UK and studied law and was later admitted to the English Bar in 1961. His orientation fell in line with the popular Zikist Movement when Adebanjo joined politics through the platform being led by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe for Nigeria’s independence. Adebanjo later left the Zikist Movement and worked as a journalist with the Nigerian Tribune by which he joined the youth wing of the Action Group, a political party that transformed from Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a student movement established by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Ayo Adebanjo rose to leadership position in Action Group when he became the Organizing Secretary of the party.
His followership of Obafemi Awolowo was dotted by trials, tribulations and detentions which ultimately led to his incarceration with the late sage and others following the treasonable felony trial in 1963. He was one of those who stoically endured loss of personal freedom for their belief in Nigeria and the attainment of social justice for all. Adebanjo, a fiery lawyer and brilliant politician, fought relentlessly for the unity of Nigeria at all times without losing sight of dignity. While his political choices might not resonate with the preferences of many others, Pa Adebanjo was an unwavering fighter with absolute commitment to whatever he considered right. His unflinching commitment to his ideals proved that he was a man worth his opinions. He never ceased to condemn whatever he considered wrong but his assessment might not represent a fair conclusion to many.
The latter weakness is one attributable to all humans as it is only God that is perfect. While alive, he was a champion of the oppressed and a mobilizer of the masses for political struggles towards egalitarianism and social justice. To Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, for whom Pa Adebanjo had a lot of negative assessment as President, “His (Pa Adebanjo) thoughts went beyond partisanship. His dream of a restructured Nigeria still lights the path forward.” Former President Jonathan considered him “a man of principle and courage who stood for democracy and the rights of ordinary Nigerians,” and whose “passing is a great loss to the nation.” Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar considered Pa Adebanjo “a fearless elder statesman and one of Nigeria’s last true nationalists” who “spent his youth fighting colonialism, his middle years opposing military rule, and his later life championing democracy and good governance.
He was a tireless force for justice.” According to another ardent subject of Pa Adebanjo’s criticisms, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with whom Pa Adebanjo fell out in the course of their political sojourn following 1999 victory of the Alliance for Democracy, the political party they both contributed to its founding, a father figure had been lost. In his words, “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. All who knew Baba Adebanjo drew from his boundless wisdom and cherished the democratic ideals he tirelessly campaigned for.”
Notwithstanding his unsparing criticism of the President, the glowing ideals of Pa Adebanjo could not be denied as Asiwaju echoed: “His principled voice, which resonated through decades of political activism, will be deeply missed. As a nation, we will miss his regular interventions in national affairs, which enriched our political discourse. Though we mourn his departure, we are also grateful to God for blessing him with a long, remarkable, purposeful life—96 years of unrelenting advocacy for progress and equity.” That is the stuff the man was made of. To the Awolowo family, the family has lost another patriarch. In the text issued on behalf of the family by Chief Tokunbo Dosunmu-Awolowo, “Chief Adebanjo’s relationship with our family spanned more than 70 years—a bond forged in trust, loyalty, and shared ideals.
In peace and in struggle, he stood shoulder to shoulder with Papa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and Yeye Odua H.I.D. Awolowo, embodying their principles with unwavering devotion. Even decades after Papa’s transition, he remained a steadfast champion of his leader’s ideals and of the political family they shared.” No doubt, with a measurement of depth for which Chief Obafemi Awolowo was and is still ever characterized, Chief Awolowo’s family echoed what the late sage would have said about his ever-loving and loyal disciple, Adebanjo, when, as if talking on behalf of their father, the family said of Adebanjo that “A paragon of integrity and consistency, Chief Adebanjo spent his long years of public service advocating for justice, equity, and the rights of all Nigerians.
As a leader of Afenifere, he stood firm against oppression and tyranny, building bridges across regions, religions, and ethnic divides.” If a man is this worthy in the sight of his fellow men for his ideals and beliefs for which he dedicated himself, it is gratifying to conclude that he must be floating among the saints triumphant celebrating the greatness of the Almighty. For this, we shall not mourn; we shall not grieve at the departure of this meteoric colossus but shall rejoice in his transition to join his fellow compatriots of glowing nobility in the world beyond. I once again commensurate with the family , friends, associates and the Nation at large over the departure of this great enigma. Pa Ayo Adebanjo, adieu, a great hero of our country.