The funeral service for the late Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, was held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Isanya-Ogbo, Ijebu, in the Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The burial was attended by many dignitaries including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, immediate-past Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo; presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, Nigeria’s immediate past High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Others present were the former governors of the state, Gbenga Daniel and Senator Ibikunle Amosun; the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Yemi Cardoso; the former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, among others.
Adebanjo died on the morning of Friday, February 14, at his residence in Lekki, Lagos State.
The late leader of pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Pa Samuel Ayo Adebanjo, was on Saturday remembered as a dedicated advocate for Nigeria who tirelessly championed a true federal state founded on equity, fairness, and justice.
The Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, The Most Rev’d Dr Olusina Fape, who is also the Bishop of the Diocese of Remo, noted that the late Bajulaiye of Ile Ife was a politician of unwavering conviction, unlike many of current politicians who frequently switch allegiances between political parties.
He observed that the late Baba Ijo of St. Phillip’s Anglican Church was courageous and steadfast in his commitment to honesty, integrity, and truth, mirroring his mentor, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He added, “He was an unrepentant Awoist. What this means is that Chief Adebanjo lived and operated with clearly defined goals and ideology, just like his mentor: Chief Obafemi Awolowo”.
Speaking on the theme, “The Glory of a Purposeful Life,” Bishop Fape said, “As we celebrate the purposeful life of Chief Ayo Adebanjo today, a progressive democrat per excellence, it is very sad that his exit, in addition to the earlier exit of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, would further decrease the Fourth Republic’s progressive party, the Alliance for Democracy (AD), of which Chief Ayo Adebanjo was a founding member in 1999. He had been very consistent. Chief Ayo Adebanjo was not like many politicians of our days, who are mere chameleons and fair-weather politicians jumping from one party to another.
“It is very sad for somebody to have been part of an administration or government for 16 years, and because he has lost out to another political party in an election, to now be describing his former political party as corrupt, reckless or irresponsible.
“How come that they have quickly forgotten that they were part of the corruption, recklessness and rottenness of the past administrations? It is only in Nigeria this can happen, where people have no sense of shame and are only out for personal monetary gain and not to serve the overall good of their country.”
Bishop Fape urged Nigerians to follow Adebanjo’s example by leading purposeful lives free from greed and corruption.
