Victor Ezeja
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has mourned the passing of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, national leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, describing him as a man who lived a life of honesty and purpose.
Adebanjo, aged 96, died on Friday, 14 February at his residence in the Lekki area of Lagos, according to a statement issued by his family.
HURIWA said Chief Adebanjo was easily the most frank, honest, truthful, and patriotic statesman to have emerged out of Nigeria, adding that this was reflected in the persistence and consistency with which he spoke truth to power.
The rights group in a statement by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, asserted that by his consistency in speaking truth to power, the late nonagenarian could be credited with having the role of a mentor to most of the credible civil rights and pro-democracy activists in Nigeria.
HURIWA lamented that the departure of Chief Adebanjo means a lot to Nigeria because, according to the group, it marks the end of a glorious chapter going by the fact that public officeholders would no longer have the privilege to gain from his wealth of knowledge as a political, legal and social tactician and a believer in equity, equality of opportunities and social justice.
“We in the civil rights advocacy organisations have indeed lost a great mentor and father figure who was an embodiment of truthfulness, justice, and good governance. Chief Ayo-Adebanjo loved Nigeria and his departure on the day the world marks Saint Valentine’s Day shows that he was one of the very few who truly loved Nigeria and unfortunately, there is no evidence that his type are many anymore,” HURIWA stated.
