Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and governors from key South-West states gathered on Saturday to honour the life and legacy of late Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
Also present were Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, alongside other dignitaries who paid their respects at the burial ceremony held in Isanya Ogbo, Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Late Pa Ayo Adebanjo, a revered lawyer, politician, and one of the last close associates of the late sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo, passed away in Lagos on February 14, 2025, at the age of 96.
A Lifetime of Service and Advocacy
At the funeral service held at St. Philip Anglican Church, Isanya Ogbo, Governor Abiodun paid tribute to the late statesman, describing him as a “titan of integrity and justice” and a relentless advocate for true federalism in Nigeria.
“Chief Adebanjo was a dogged fighter for true federalism. He persistently argued that Nigeria’s over-centralised system of government bred economic imbalance and ethnic tension,” Abiodun said.
He further highlighted Adebanjo’s leadership in reviving Afenifere, the Pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, transforming it into a strong voice for regional integration, restructuring, and devolution of power.
“Beyond politics, he was deeply committed to preserving the rich Yoruba culture. He denounced nepotism, corruption, and impunity whenever they reared their ugly heads, becoming a moral compass for all,” he added.
Clerics, Leaders Reflect on a Life of Purpose
In his sermon titled “The Purpose of a Glorious Life”, drawn from John 18:37–38, Bishop Michael Fape, Archbishop of the Lagos Ecclesiastical Province and Bishop of the Remo Diocese, urged Nigerians to emulate Adebanjo’s legacy of selflessness and purpose.
Fape emphasized that like Jesus, who lived to fulfill a divine mission, Adebanjo dedicated his life to the causes of democracy, equity, justice, and good governance.
“The country would fare better if both leaders and citizens became more selfless and committed to national greatness,” he said.
Who Attended the Ayo Adebanjo Burial?
Other notable attendees at the funeral ceremony included:
- Former Ogun State Governors Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun
- Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso
- Former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Senator Adegbenga Kaka
- Elder statesman Chief Ayo Opadokun
Their presence underscored the national significance of Pa Adebanjo’s passing and the void left in Nigeria’s sociopolitical space.
