Politics
CHEIF Supo Shonibare, a chieftain of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, says late Chief Ayo Adebanjo anticipated and agitated for a better Nigeria till his last breath.
Shonibare, an active member of the defunct National Democratic Coalition(NADECO) ,disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on late Friday evening in Lagos.
He spoke at the residence of late Adebanjo at Lekki Phase I during a condolence visit to the family of the late elder statesman.
Shonibare said that Adebanjo, was a leader with a high level of integrity and one who lived for the interest of all.
According to him, Adebanjo has over the decades shunned bitter politics.
Shonibare said: “He (Adebanjo) was a man who put integrity and needs to evolve a better society at the front burner of all the decision-making process he had been part of throughout his life.
“He had been preparing us for this day for the past year, since he became slightly unwell.
“He said that before his passing, Adebanjo saw that the struggle ahead would be turbulent and would require people reading through the tenets and covenant Chief Obafemi Awolowo has left as the basis of evolving a better society.
“He was an apostle of the thoughts and the political persuasion of Chief Awolowo and kept on that track throughout his lifetime.”
He said that every leader needed to take a cue from the the strong values and beliefs Adebanjo held so dearly.
“All of us need to take a cue from that and try to see what we can to participate in politics with honour and integrity.
“We must concentrate on having to evolve a better society and a devolved Nigeria.
“So, devolution of powers (restructuring) was something that was quite close to his heart,” he said.
NAN reports that by 8:00 p.m. on Friday, friends and family members were still visiting Adebanjo’s Lekki residence.
Adebanjo, an Afenifere chieftain, died on Friday in Lagos at the age of 96. (NAN)
15th February, 2025.
C.E.
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