Lifestyle

Ayo Adebanjo: A mighty Iroko has fallen – Makinde

By Web News 258

By Iyabo Adebisi

Oyo State Governor, Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde, has compared the passing of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, a prominent leader of the pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group Afenifere, to the fall of a mighty Iroko tree in the forest.

Governor Makinde described Pa Adebanjo’s death as marking the end of an era, praising him as a dedicated nationalist, federalist, patriot, and true democrat who devoted his life to making Nigeria a better nation.

Referring to Adebanjo as a father figure to all, Governor Makinde extended his condolences to the late Afenifere leader’s immediate family, the Afenifere organization, the government and people of Ogun State, and the entire South-West region.

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Lifestyle

Prominent Afenifere Leader, Ayo Adebanjo, Passes Away at 96

By Web News 385

A revered nationalist, elder statesman, and leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has died at the age of 96.

The prominent figure passed away peacefully at his residence in Lekki, Lagos State, on the morning of Friday, February 14, 2025.

In a statement released to the press on Friday, the Adebanjo family confirmed the demise of the influential leader.

“With hearts full of gratitude for a selfless life dedicated to the service of God, the nation, and humanity, we announce the passing of our beloved patriarch, Chief Samuel Ayodele Adebanjo,” the statement read.

“He died peacefully this morning, Friday, February 14, 2025, at his home in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, at the age of 96”.

Chief Adebanjo is survived by his 94-year-old wife, Chief Christy Ayo-Adebanjo, as well as children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The family paid tribute to his lifelong dedication to justice, equity, and truth, stating, “We will forever cherish his unwavering commitment to fighting for truth, equity, and justice. His belief in and struggle for a truly independent and progressive Nigeria was unwavering, and he pursued this cause until his final breath.”

The family also revealed that they are in consultation with Adebanjo’s friends, associates, and various interest groups across Nigeria and beyond to finalize arrangements for a befitting funeral.Further details, they noted, will be communicated in due course.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo’s legacy as a tireless advocate for democracy, good governance, and the rights of the Yoruba people and Nigerians at large leaves an indelible mark on the nation’s history.

His passing marks the end of an era for Afenifere and the broader Nigerian socio-political landscape.

Channels/Maxwell Oyekunle

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Politics

Zone Presidency to the South – Southern Leaders Charge Parties

By Web News 526

The leaders of the major southern socio-political organisations under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum have reiterated that Nigeria’s collective future depends largely on the decision of the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, amongst others, to zone its presidential ticket to the South.

They warned that if the principle of zoning and rotation of power between North and South was scrapped by the parties, the country should ‘‘go back to what we were before the amalgamation of 1914.’’

This was made known in a communiqué titled ‘Do not jettison zoning, SMBLF cautions PDP’, jointly signed by the leader of the forum, Chief Edwin Clark; the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Pogu Bitrus; and the National Leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and made available to The PUNCH on Monday.

The leaders further stressed that any attempt to “perpetuate a northern presidency through unnecessary intrigues and conspiracies after the eight years of Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), because of a hypothetical majority, would no doubt heighten the dissension in the country.”

The communiqué read, “The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum is dismayed by the purported recommendation of the 37-member PDP Zoning Committee to throw the party’s 2023 presidential ticket open to all parts of the country and the justifications afterwards.

“The said conclusion of the Governor (Samuel) Ortom-led Zoning Committee is unfair and unacceptable.”

Accordingly, SMBLF urges the National Executive Committee of the PDP to reject outright the recommendation.

 “SMBLF cautions the PDP not to violate its principle of zoning and rotation of power between the North and the South, noting that the founding fathers of the party and the framers of its constitution, in cognisance of the nation’s diversity, and in line with the federal character principle, rightly provided under Section 7, Sub-section 3C, that there should be a rotation of party offices and elective offices, not only to promote equity, fairness and justice but equally to avoid the preponderance of persons from any particular section or ethnic group of the country in the running of the affairs of the party and the government of Nigeria as we have today.

The Punch