AYO ADEBANJO EXIT: THE END OF A REMARKABLE ERA OF A RARE PATRIOT! | Prestige News

….The Patriots To Immortalise Adebanjo’s Legacies

…. Commiserate with Adebanjo’s Family and The People’s Nigeria

The demise of Chief Ayo ADEBANJO today at 96 years of age is received by The Patriots, an eminent group of leaders of thought, statesmen and women in Nigeria led by Chief Emeka Anyoku, GCON, with a heavy heart.

Nevertheless, we are proud to be associated with the exemplary life of a major political era in Nigeria lived by the National Leader of Afenifere, who was also a leading light and one of the founders of The Patriots.

The Patriots are also glad to relish with pride Chief Adebanjo’s forthrightness and consistency in speaking truth to power in his lifetime, especially since his emergence as the organising secretary of the Action Group, AG in the 40’s under the revered leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory.

Adebanjo, as a progressive politician in the 70s was quite outstanding, especially in the formation of the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN led by the great Awo, just as he was quite an invaluable inspiration to the formation of the Alliance for Democracy, AD under the indefatigable leadership of Chief Abraham Adesanya of blessed memory in 1998 following a major popular battle and victory over military rule in Nigeria

Before then, Ayo ADEBANJO, as the one of the key Leaders of the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, which was in the fore front of the struggle against military rule in Nigeria under the indomitable leadership of Chief Anthony Enahoro, was quite distinguished and courageous in his contribution to the restoration of Nigeria’s current democracy, staying back in Nigeria to lead mass protest against the military.

Again, Ayo Adebanjo, as an eminent leader of thought was very instrumental and supportive in the formation of The Patriots towards the democratic constitutional political restructuring of Nigeria under the visionary leadership of Chief Rotimi Williams and later Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN both of blessed memory. He was later to become one of the leading voices of the 2014 National Confab set up by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan towards setting the pace for Nigeria’s political cohesion and stability, following the trend of the Pro National Conference Organisation, PRONACO led by Chief Tony Enahoro and Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka between 2004 and 2007.

Adebanjo, in the light of his illustrious life of service to Nigeria and humanity, will be greatly missed by The Patriots and the people’s of Nigeria that he lived and died for. Therefore, The Patriots as his immediate constituency shall therefore be setting up an immortalisation committee in the succeeding period, as its culture, to work out how best to immortalise the legacies of the Eminent Patriot.

The Patriots however wish to commiserate with his beloved wife, children and family members, praying that the good Lord will give them the fortitude to bear this great loss to the country and humanity in general.

Signed
Olawale Okunniyi
Secretary General,
The Patriots