Former Minister of Education, Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, said, she alongside her husband, Pastor Chinedu, “just had to make sure we came home to honor the famed Exemplar of Principled Living whose truth-telling and courage of conviction endeared him to me for more than 3 decades of my life.”
She said, the “legendary” leader of Afenifere was “the true man of honor…… who stayed honorable unto death in a country where many now think that it is impossible to be honorable has left a huge vacuum”, adding, “his pained words on matters of Nigeria were often literally tear-soaked to the discerning”.
Ezekwesili wrote: “In the death of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the legendary leader of Afenifere, we personally lost not just a beloved Daddy but a genuine Father of our beleaguered Nation to which he dedicated his life until last breath at ninety-six.
“His pained words on matters of Nigeria were often literally tear-soaked to the discerning. We loved him much. We had to make an earlier return from Boston where I was teaching and head straight to the 30th April Tribute Night in Lagos. My husband, Pastor Chinedu and I just had to make sure we came home to honor the famed Exemplar of Principled Living whose truth-telling and courage of conviction endeared him to me for more than 3 decades of my life. Pa Adebanjo was never one to bother who agreed or disagreed with his views once he was persuaded it was based on Principles. He reminded me so much of the Non-negotiable Values of my own Dad and so we had a strong connection on matters of Principles.
“My written tribute and the one I delivered at the Tributes Night in Lagos could never adequately express my gratitude to an iconic nation-builder that I call “The Last of the Mohicans”. The true man of honor…… who stayed honorable unto death in a country where many now think that it is impossible to be honorable has left a huge vacuum. The realization that we no longer have his Voice of Conscience here with us made me tear up as I did his “dust-to-dust” at the country home in Ijebu Ode today after last night’s beautiful Service of Songs. The younger generations that with admiration caught on to his precious habit of living his values are now our hope. Standing on Pa Adebanjo’s shoulders will be the best honor to his lasting legacy.
“Hope maketh not ashamed.”
In the death of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the legendary leader of Afenifere, we personally lost not just a beloved Daddy but a genuine Father of our beleaguered Nation to which he dedicated his life until last breath at ninety-six.
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) May 3, 2025
His pained words on matters of Nigeria were often… pic.twitter.com/XAMr6xl2dA
