The family members and residents of Ilarowo Ogbo, the country home of the late Afenifere leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, in Odogbolu Local Government Area of Ogun State are in a state of mourning, following the demise of the politician who they described as a great family man, irreplaceable community leader and a dependable fighter for the common good of the people.
The family members and residents of the agrarian communities spoke to our correspondent on Saturday, during a visit to the country home of Adebanjo who died in Lagos on Friday at 96.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Baale of Abariwoye, Ilarowo Ogbo, Chief Samuel Tale, said that the death of Adebanjo was an irreplaceable loss to the 18 communities in the environment.
Tale said, “Baba Adebanjo was a great leader whose commitment to the development of our communities remains unparalleled.
‘We have 18 villages under this Ogbo. He was always preaching love and unity because his conviction was that if we love each other there will be development.
“The roads, the schools and hospitals that we have here were facilitated by him. His death is a great loss to us. Nigerians should learn to be forthright, we must prioritise truth above everything to move the nation forward. Baba lived for the truth and that is what we should also learn from his life and time.”
Abosede Adekoya, a cousin to the late Afenifere leader described him as being fearless, courageous, and a great family man who fought for the common good of the masses till he died.
She said, “We are going to miss Baba for he was known to be fearless, always fighting for the common good of Nigerians, and he was a disciplinarian.
“It is a big loss to the family because of being a great pillar of support and source of encouragement.
“He was unpretentious, truthful to a fault, so the leadership of this country should learn how to be truthful and serve the nation well, that has always been the demand of Baba Adebanjo to the point of death.”
Taiwo Sofuye, an in-law to the late politician said the news of Pa Adebanjo’s death was shocking and devastating.
“Given the special breed that Baba Adebanjo was, if it is possible to keep him alive forever, we would have done that.
“We shall miss his disciplinarian stance, his integrity, his principle on good governance. He will even not hesitate to tell his own party whenever it is wrong. He was in his own class and a very disciplined politician who took the name of this community and etched it on the global map”, Sofuye concluded.
