Chief Ayo Adebanjo, feisty Afenifere chief, at 95

All roads led to the idyllic, rural village of Isanya-Ogbo, close to Ijebu-Ode , Ogun state on Monday, tenth April, 2023 because the chief of Afenifere, the pan Yoruba socio-cultural cum political group, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, marked his ninety fifth birthday with a church service.

Chief Adebanjo, who requested a particular music – ‘ Ope lo ye o, Baba olore, iyin loye o, olorun oba … ( thanks, praises and gratitude are resulting from you, Lord ) when the celebrant’s dance was known as, danced with a lot vigour to the amazement and applause of household , buddies and the Afenifere members on the occasion.

In his appreciation of those that honoured him with their presence, he prayed that they too will dwell lengthy and in good well being and likewise be celebrated. Continue Reading…

Nevertheless, it was not a shock that Chief Adebanjo turned his remarks into political exposition, and the rostrum a political pulpit on the state of the nation which he described as disappointing. Then , a rationalization : he defined that it was as a result of Nigeria has not lived as much as the good expectations of these of them who fought for independence that has compelled him to stay in political trenches at his superior age.

“This combat will not be for me. I’m not on the lookout for something however we owe it an obligation to succeeding generations of Nigerians to bequeath a united nation primarily based on justice, fairness, equity and good governance’’, he instructed the congregation.

He famous that Afenifere’s help for the presidential candidacy of Peter Obi of the Labour Celebration was primarily based on this doctrine of fairness and equity, contemplating that of the three southern zones, the Southwest and the South-South have produced presidents – Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, respectively – on rotational understanding, leaving out the Southeast as the one zone but to supply a president.

The Southwest presently additionally has the vice chairman.
Chief Adebanjo had assumed the management of Afenifere in 2021, when the then incumbent, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, relinquished the workplace at age 95. He had indicated that he took the bow because of failing well being, resulting from outdated age.

Many had puzzled why a 95 yr outdated could be handing over to a 93 yr outdated as at the moment, with some contending that it amounted to entrenching gerontocracy on the apex of Afenifere management. This view was not misplaced on Chief Adebanjo who argued that management of the group, for the reason that loss of life of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, its founding chief, had been primarily based on lengthy and constant service to the group.
Chief Awolowo had been succeeded by Chief Adekunle Ajasin, a former governor of outdated Ondo state, who was succeeded by Senator Abraham Adesanya, after whom the mantle of management fell on Pa Fasoranti. It’s attention-grabbing to notice that the management of Afenifere has oscillated between Ogun and Ondo states and between two professions – Legislation and Instructing : Awolowo, Adesanya and Adebanjo, all attorneys , from Ogun state and Ajasin and Fasoranti, educationists and former faculty principals from Ondo state.

They belong to the devoted elite. Chief Adebanjo alluded to this when he identified that Afenifere management is neither on the market to the nouveau wealthy nor out there for hijack by impatient, younger upstarts, with out pedigree. Some younger Turks who joined the group by the point Pa Fasoranti was assuming leadersip, who have been apparently not able to be on a management queue, broke ranks with the outdated guard to type of a breakaway group, named Afenifere Renewal Group ( ARG ) led by Wale Oshun, a former commissioner within the Lagos state authorities.

Nevertheless, the Oshun-led ARG, based extra on hype than critical planning, quickly misplaced gravitas and fizzled out, leaving the Oldies nonetheless standing. Afenifere have additionally needed to cope with numerous political tendencies in its ranks, one other burden inherited by Chief Adebanjo. Resolving these inside dissents have been compounded and aggravated by the simply concluded 2023 normal elections, given the attendant virulent marketing campaign in opposition to Afenifere’s selection of help for a presidential candidate exterior the Yoruba orbit.

The political opposition, primarily foot troopers of president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have earlier than, throughout and after the presidential election drawn the lengthy knives in assaults in opposition to Chief Ayo Adebanjo. Afenifere’s level that its place was primarily based on fairness and equity didn’t fly with the opposition who insists that Afenifere ought to have supported certainly one of its personal, the Yoruba candidate.

Nevertheless, despite the assaults on his particular person by political opponents, the outdated political warrior and the final man standing amongst Awo’s disciples, stays his ebullient and combative self.

The three core values of Afenifere to which he stays resolutely dedicated are restructuring of the governance of Nigeria to provide extra powers to constituent states and thereby speed up the tempo of growth ; one indivisible Nigeria and the restoration of the ‘ Omoluabi ’ tradition of respect and integrity among the many Yoruba. Based on him, Afenifere’s political dalliances have been predicated on help for candidates who espouse perception in restructuring. He has no apology that these candidates supported by Afenifere at numerous instances misplaced the elections – Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan on the time he misplaced re-election and Atiku Abubakar. Though the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has declared Bola Tinubu as winner of the presidential election, Afenifere has caught with Peter Obi of the Labour Celebration in his authorized problem of the election consequence, as a matter of precept.

Chief Adebanjo comes throughout as a combative and assertive character. Those that have angst in opposition to him additionally say he’s abrasive and domineering. Chief Segun Osoba, two time governor of Ogun state and former Afenifere chieftain, typifies these on this group.

He believes that Chief Adebanjo exploits his aged place to impose on youthful ones. Chief Osoba as soon as fumed : to speak down on individuals ? In addition they cost him with rigidity of place. He’s not simply persuaded. Perhaps these critics will not be totally fallacious on the chief’s assertiveness. Chief Adebanjo is clearly a ‘Take Cost’ chief. He additionally doesn’t brook ignorance. As an illustration, he wouldn’t hesitate to chop quick, in mid sentence, a speaker elevating points about an merchandise slated additional down within the agenda of a gathering. He believes accommodating such will disrupt orderly dialogue of points. Equally, he could be illiberal of a speaker elevating a difficulty that had been concluded in a earlier assembly at which the speaker was absent. Such speaker could be shot down throughout his speech.

In such conditions, many defer to him, primarily based on cultural dictates, however there are those that have held excessive political workplace, with consequent sense of self significance, who couldn’t be restrained by tradition and are tempted to reply with anger. Totally different strokes.

No matter could also be some individuals’s misgivings about his leaderdhip fashion, for Chief Ayo Adebanjo, to be in workplace is to be in authority and management !!!
Other than being an organizing secretary of the Motion Group within the Sixties and appearing nationwide chairman of Alliance for Democracy in 1999, Chief Adebanjo has not held any political workplace, which makes some against his management fashion to marvel how he has been capable of attain excessive political clout, until date.

I consider the reply lies within the drive of his character, supreme confidence, his articulate, fearless defence of any place held and his abiding dedication to Awoism.

Chief Ayo Adebanjo practices what could be described as paternalistic hegemony – a perception in giving deference to outdated age, embedded in Yoruba tradition. However like a disciplinarian father , Chief Adebanjo tasks as somebody who received’t abandon a baby, nonetheless recalcitrant, when the chips are down. He as soon as mentioned of Chief Osoba : I’ve no difficulty with Segun. About Bola Tinubu, his place is that political disagreement will not be a do or die affair – Ti a ba nja, ki se pe ka ku. This paternalistic angle will need to have knowledgeable his solidarity go to to Tinubu on his ( Tinubu’s ) return from medical remedy in the UK. It’s a disposition that divergent political inclination mustn’t engender enmity.
Chief Ayo Adebanjo has weathered buffeting political storms, therefore his thanksgiving church service.

At 95, Chief Ayo Adebanjo is at his vivacious and ebullient greatest when discussing politics and leaving individuals in awe when he offers copious political historic antecedents. Continue Reading…

He acknowledges the grace of God in his life and tells whoever cares to hear that he has paid his dues and prepared for his name as much as the good past, any time.