By James Ogunnaike
THE pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday, described its National Leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, as ‘a true Awoist’, who epitomizes and personifies Afenifere the most.
Afenifere, in a congratulatory message, by its Deputy Leader and National Publicity Secretary, Oba Oladipo Olaitan and Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo respectively, on Adebanjo’s 96 birthday, noted that Adebanjo has been for many decades the exemplification of Awolowo’s dreams and mission of providing the “pathway for the progressives from all over the country to come together to achieve an egalitarian society.”
The statement reads: “Afenifere has never been and will never be an amorphous group of all comers. No. Afenifere is about those who believe in the doctrines, principles, writings and philosophies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Afenifere was and is never going to be a compromised group.
“Afenifere is a political party, right from its inception in 1951. All of these are the irreducible indices of the nobility and uniqueness of Afenifere, which Pa Ayo Adebanjo represents and only true Awoists can be Afenifere.
“It is not the first time that ultra-conservatives will attempt to steal the soul of Afenifere, but at each instance, such attempts have failed. Since 1962 through 2001, 2003, 2008, and now, 2024. It is a usual story, not unexpected where the lure of the lucre overcomes the notion of holding on to principles of equity and justice. Our leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo is a veteran, who has survived every attempt made to damage the Afenifere.
“Chief Obafemi Awolowo wrote 14 books and nowhere in those books did our founder, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, ever forsook the Afenifere lifelong quest of freedom for the people.
“Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s leadership has become a beacon for all successive Afenifere leaders, which has become more exemplified in the leadership of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, described as the one who epitomizes and personifies Afenifere the most.
“Pa Adebanjo looked Abacha straight in the eye and told him straight to his face, ‘Pick up your gun and shoot me yourself; I owe you only one Bullet.”
