Gani Adams Ponders: Who will fill the gap left by Adebanjo?

Aare Gani Adams, the Aare-Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, says Nigeria and Yoruba nation have lost an archive and deposit of history with the death of Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Chief Adebanjo died on Friday in his Lagos State residence at Lekki Phase I, aged 96.

Adams, on a condolence visit to Adebanjo’s family on Saturday in Lagos, expressed concern about the Yoruba leader who would fill the gap left by Adebanjo.

He said that Adebanjo was the closest sage to the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

He said: “We should thank God that Baba lived a very good life and he was a very good example for Nigerians.

“But who will fill the gap left by Baba? This is because Adebanjo was a rallying point to the entire Yoruba race.

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“One of the things we learnt from Baba is that you must not compromise your principles.

“Baba was someone that, if he believed in one thing, no one could easily shift him.”

He said that the crux of Adebanjo’s struggles was for the masses, describing him as an apostle of true federalism.

“The song in his mouth before passing was that ‘let Nigeria be restructured, let the federating units be.

“It is unfortunate that he couldn’t achieve this in his lifetime. Baba is gone and has left the battle for us to continue. We have lost an archive, a deposit of history,” he added.

Adams, who noted that he was very close to late Adebanjo and had held countless meetings in his residence, said that the nonagenarian’s legacies would remain indelible.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that among several other dignitaries at the residence of the Adebanjos on Saturday was Dr Sonny Kuku, a Master Physician and Endocrinologist.