Atiku pays tribute to late Afenifere leader, Adebanjo, says his death monumental loss

Abdullateef Fowewe

Former Vice President and the People Democratic Party’s presidential candidate in the last General election, Atiku Abubakar has described the passing of Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, as a monumental loss to Nigeria.

During a condolence visit to Adebanjo’s family on Sunday, Atiku praised the late leader’s virtues and commitment to national unity.

This condolence visit was made known in a video shared by Atiku via his social media handle on Sunday.

Atiku underscored Adebanjo’s role as a mentor and advisor, noting that his legacy would be honoured by those who admired him.

He thereby acknowledged the Afenifere leader’s contributions to peace and unity in Nigeria and expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved family.

He said, “It is quite true that I have been to this house, I have been into this home a couple of times. What did I take away from this house? The virtues that Pa Adebanjo lived and pleaded for all his life.

“So it is matter of honour and respect that after his demise, we should come and pay respect to him, his life is worthy, his contributions to the country’s peaceful coexistence is quite worthy of emulation.

“His loss is a monumental loss to his immediate family, and to those of us that have tried to emulate his kind of life and his belief in the unity of this country.

“Therefore, it is my singular honour and privilege to identify with his immediate family on this irreparable loss which has affected the family. We all have to go one day.

“Baba lived a rare worthy life, the life that cannot really be compared with any other. Therefore, on behalf of the entourage that accompanied me to this place, we are here to condole with the family and to let them know that we shared in the loss because he was a father to us. He was not only a father, he was an adviser, he was a guide, he has a goal for this country, he has always told the truth and nothing but the truth.

“So we would continue to honour him, we would stand by the family he left behind and continue to work with them so that the dream and aspirations he left behind would continue to flourish.”

Other dignitaries, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, and Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have earlier paid their condolence visit to the Adebanjo’s family.

Dailyeconomy reported that Adebanjo passed away at his home in Lekki, Lagos, on February 14, 2025, at the age of 96.