Nigeria Bids Farewell to Pa Ayo Adebanjo: Obasanjo, Osinbajo, Obi Lead Tributes at Statesman’s Burial
Nigeria’s Political Heavyweights Gather to Honor Pa Ayo Adebanjo In a solemn gathering reflecting unity across political divides, Nigeria’s elite paid their final respects to Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the late Afenifere leader and titan of Yoruba politics, during his burial in Isanya Ogbo, Ogun State, on Saturday. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, and governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) led dignitaries in celebrating the life of the 96-year-old statesman, who passed away in February 2025. A Life of Principle: Adebanjo’s Legacy of Federalism and Justice Governor Abiodun, in his tribute, hailed Adebanjo as a “moral compass” and fearless advocate for true federalism, recalling his decades-long fight against military dictatorship and Nigeria’s centralized governance. “Chief Adebanjo persistently argued that Nigeria’s over-centralized system bred imbalance. Under his leadership, Afenifere became a beacon for restructuring, regional integration, and Yoruba cultural pride.” […]