Adesanya, Afenifere Leader, Dies At 85 April 30, 2008 | posted by Mobolaji Aluko (Archives)

 

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Adesanya, Afenifere Leader, Dies At 85

This Day (Lagos)

NEWS
28 April 2008
Posted to the web 28 April 2008

By Ademola Adeyemo
Lagos

Frontline nationalist and Leader of Afenifere, the pan Yoruba political and cultural organisation, Chief Abraham Aderibigbe Adesanya, is dead.

He died yesterday in his Apapa, Lagos residence at 12.30pm according to family sources.

Before his death, Adesanya had withdrawn from public functions for about four years now as a result of illness associated with old age.

Sources said the late Afenifere leader did not betray any sign that his death was due as he woke up yesterday as he was said to be fine and even cracked jokes with family members.

He later requested for his breakfast but THISDAY learnt that he had hardly finished his meal when he began to complain of stomach upset.

It was gathered that as he was being given medical attention, Adesanya breathed his last.

Another account said the late Afenifere leader died in the arm of his wife, Rosaline.

As soon as the news of his death filtered out, dignitaries began to storm the No 15, Abraham Adesanya Street, Apapa to offer their condolences.

They were received by the deceased daughter, Mrs. Dupe Adelaja, who is also the Director-General of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDA).

While formally announcing the death of Adesanya, Afenifere, in a release signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the Second Republic Senator died peacefully at 83 in his Lagos residence.

According to the release, "Leader of Afenifere and NADECO and Second Republic Senator, Chief Abraham Adesanya is dead. The biggest Iroko has fallen. Adesanya served the Yoruba nation and Nigeria with loyalty, courage, steadfastness and commitment.

"A man of integrity, character and uncommon devotion to serving humanity, his death is a blow to the Yoruba nation."

Among the early callers at late Adesanya's residence yesterday were Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State, his predecessor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, first civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun State, his predecessor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, and Chief Supo Shonibare.

Others included Chief Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olawale Oshin, Senator Bode Olajumoke, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, and Odumakin.

There were also delegations of the Igbo and Hausa communities in Lagos State

In his tribute, Tinubu described the late Adesanya as an advocate of the poor, "as a lawyer he was a defender of the rule of law, a man of courage, a leader who meant so much to the people, not just the South-west but Nigeria as a whole, he also fought for national unity, we will surely miss his words of wisdom and good character."

On the possible successor to the late Afenifere leader, Tinubu said it was too early to discuss the issue of successor.

"But don't forget that he has left behind the likes of Fasanmi, Justice Kayode Eso and other credible leaders. Let us celebrate and appreciate him first before we can talk of succession," he said.

Daniel described Adesanya as a honest and a man of integrity who lived a good and proud life.

According to him, Adesanya was miles ahead of the current generation, adding that today's leaders do not possess his qualities.

"For us in Ogun State, this is another loss. Loss of one of the last titans. We will never find another Awolowo; we cannot find another Adekunle Ajasin. So we will never find another Abraham Adesanya But it is possible to find a committed, selfless, courageous leader, though it appears that such leaders are thinning out but I am convinced that there are still credible leaders who can give good accounts of themselves."

In his tribute, Fashola described the late Adesanya as a nationalist and a patriot while former Ogun State governor, Osoba, wrote in the condolence register thus: "You fought a good fight, you fought for democracy and you conquered."

Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, described the late Adesanya as a fearless leader who provided dynamic leadership during the military dictatorship

Also, the leader of Pro National Conference Organisations (PRONACO), Chief Anthony Enahoro, in his condolence message described the late NADECO chieftain as the hero of the current democracy in Nigeria.

Enahoro said the death of Adesanya, who was the "numero uno of NADECO, Nigeria during the darkest period of the military junta of Sani Abacha, is an irreplaceable minus to the Nigerian progressive movement.

"As one of the pillars of the Nigerian political movement, he will be significantly missed in the current effort of PRONACO to reform the decadent Nigerian polity.

"Chief Abraham Adesanya will be immortalised by PRONACO for his outstanding contributions to the progressive movement in a special way to create a model for future generations of progressives."

Meanwhile, Bayo, the eldest son of the late Adesanya, said yesterday that his father deserved to be immortalised by the Federal government

According to him, "Nigeria should immortalise him because he was a dogged fighter who fought for the democracy the country enjoys at present."

He described his father as a national leader and a quintessential leader of the Yoruba race.

"My father was a father among fathers who will be missed by his wife and the four children he left behind," Bayo said.

The late Adesanya, a distinguished lawyer and politician, was born on July 24, 1922.

He hailed from Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State.

He attended St. John's Anglican School, Oke-Agbo from 1933 to 1935; Ojowo United Primary School, Ijebu-Igbo 1936-38; Methodist School, Osogbo 1939 and Ijebu-Igbo Grammar School 1941-1944.

In 1958, Adesanya enrolled in Holborn College of Law, London and graduated in 1960.

He was called to the English Bar in 1961.

Adesanya was a member of the defunct Western State House of Assembly and a Senator in the Second Republic.

He was Afenifere Leader and Deputy-Chairman, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

Adesanya was a member of the team of lawyers that defended late Chief Obafemi Awolowo at the election tribunal in 1979.

He was a prominent member of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) and the Alliance for Democracy.

Adesanya survived an assassination attempt in 1996.

He is survived by his wife, Rosaline, and four children including Modupe Adelaja, Director-General, SMEDAN.

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TRIBUNE

 

Abraham Adesanya died having lunch - Son - OBJ, Buhari, govs, others mourn

Adewale Ajayi, Lagos - 28.04.2008

THE leader of Afenifere, Senator Abraham Adesanya, is dead. He died in his house in Apapa, Apapa Local Government Area of Lagos State on Sunday afternoon.

Senator Adesanya, who had been ill for about three years, died at the age of 85.

According to his eldest child, Mr. Bayo Adesanya, his father died around 12.20 p.m. when taking his lunch.

He said he was away to the church when he was called on the phone to come home immediately and that the way he said the second republic senator was lying on his bed, told him something was amiss. He said he shook him but he did not respond.

Mr. Adesanya said his father would have been 86 on July 24 and was already recuperating from his sickness when he died. He explained that in order to confirm that he was dead, a doctor was sent for at Apapa General Hospital who confirmed he was dead.

According to the nurse who was attending to him, Mrs. Christianah Oluwa-gbemi, who gave an account of his last moments, she was giving him his meal of custard and milk around 12.20 p.m. and suddenly, he returned the meal to her, and when she asked him what was wrong, he made no reply.

“When I gave him the food, he returned it to me, I asked: Are you not interested in the meal, he gave no reply, I shook his body, when I looked at his eyeballs, they had changed. I wanted to take his pulse, but the arm just dropped.

According to his son, the remains of the Afenifere leader had been deposited at the morgue of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Senator Adesanya was survived by four children. They are Mr. Bayo Adesanya, Mr. Segun Adesanya, Mrs. Dupe Adelaja and Mr. Femi Adesanya.

Among the early callers at Chief Adesanya’s residence were Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fasola; Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel; Sir Ola-niwun Ajayi, former governors of Ogun and Lagos State, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Senator Bola Tinubu.

Reacting to his death, Governor Fashola said he lived a good life and left a very worthy legacy, adding that he played so many roles in the advancement of democracy as a foremost advocate and one of the most distinguished senators the country had ever produced.

Chief Osoba, in his condolence comments, said, “Papa, you fought for democracy, a good fight, you conquered. You fought for democracy, you faced dictatorships, both in the uniform and those in mufti, and victory was yours always.”

Sir Olaniwun in the condolence register wrote: “One of the remaining titans and giants in the struggle for democracy and rule of law has passed on. Our great and dependable and consistent leader of stout courage left a legacy of deep sense of commitment and service for a just course.

“He, Senator Adesanya, left when the need for a great leader like him is crying. The vacuum left will be difficult to fill. For now, I pray that the merciful God, our creator, the good God of Oduduwa, Awolowo and Ajasin and the others will comfort the family and vouchsafe for Afenifere, Yoruba race and a valiant committed and consistent leader like our great Adesanya.”

In a telephone interview, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said that he was saddened by the news of the death of Adesanya.

He said: “Baba Adesanya was the link between the pre-independence and post-independence era of our nation particularly in the South-West.

“His place will be difficult to fill and he will be sorely missed.” In his reaction, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, said: “Baba Adesanya was one of those political icons who showed purpose and action.”

A former World Court Judge, Prince Bola Ajibola, expressed shock at the death of Adesanya.

Speaking on the telephone with NAN from London, the former Attorney-General of the Federation said that it was a pity that the “strong politician and great fighter” had to die at this time.

“O o o! Abraham Adesanya ti ku? (Abraham Adesanya has died?) O ma se o. (It is a pity). That is the end of a great generation.

“He fought gallantly for Nigeria’s democracy. He was a great man, a great lawyer, a great politician, a great fighter and nationalist of the first order.

“He will definitely be missed by everybody and lovers of freedom and democracy. He was a very courageous man who dedicated his life to the service of his people and Nigeria as a whole.

Ajibola also praised the noble role of the late legal luminary as leader of the Afenifere, saying that he led the socio-cultural group creditably.

Also reacting, Dr Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said that Adesanya’s death had created a “big vacuum” in the leadership of the Yoruba nation.

“The nation has lost a formidable and patriotic leader. He was a very selfless political leader as a senator who served the nation without a tarnished image.

“I do hope that this tragic loss will prepare the Yoruba nation to rally round and find a credible replacement for the late great leader,” Adegbite told NAN.

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PUNCH

Abraham Adesanya, Yoruba leader, dies at 85

The Leader of pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Senator Abraham Adesanya, is dead.

Adesanya passed on at about 12.20pm on Sunday at his 15 Duala Street, Apapa, Lagos residence. He was 85.

His eldest son, Bayo, attributed the death of the renowned lawyer and nationalist to “old age.”

Bayo, who called on the Federal Government to immortalise the politician, said there was no sign that his father would die when he spoke with him early on Sunday.

“Nigeria should immortalise him because he was a dogged fighter. He fought for democracy that the country enjoys at present,‘‘ Bayo said.

He described his father as a national and quintessential leader of the Yoruba.

“My father was a father among fathers who will be missed by his wife and the four children he left behind,‘‘ he told journalists.

Bayo added that Adesanya’s remains had been deposited at the mortuary of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

Adesanya was the Deputy Leader of Afenifere, one of the major groups that formed the National Democratic Coalition, the arrowhead of the struggle for the revalidation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, at the time a former governor of Ondo State, the late Chief Adekunle Ajasin was the Afenifere leader.

He had withdrawn from active politics for over four years, as a result of ill health.

Early callers to the Adesanya residence included the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, two of his predecessors, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and a former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

Others were Afenifere chieftains, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olanihun Ajayi, Prince Supo Sonibare, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora, and Senator Bode Olajumoke.

The widow of the late Adesanya, Aarinola, and his eldest daughter, Mrs. Dupe Adelaja, received the visitors.

Adelaja told journalists that when she saw her father on Saturday, he could not communicate with her.

Adelaja, who took a few minutes off to shed some tears, before going ahead with the interview, however, said that she would miss her father‘s doggedness and sincerity.

In its comment, Afenifere said that the only way to immortalise the late leader was for all Yoruba to close ranks and work for the progress of their nation.

Odumakin, who is the National Publicity Secretary of the group said, ”Pa Adesanya fought for the unity and progress of the Yoruba nation and Nigeria in general. The only way to immortalise him is to use his death to reconcile all.

Jakande described Adesanya as ”a leader among leaders”.

Tinubu said the death of Adesanya was a loss to the Yoruba.

“He was a great tutor, who taught us courage, patience and aspiration to conquer fear. He was a true leader and father.”

Fashola wrote in the condolence register that he was one of the beneficiaries of the struggle against military rule.

Fashola wrote, ”A true democrat, patriot and nationalist takes a bow. A founding father of modern democracy; we thank you for your courage in years of tyranny. We are the beneficiaries of your struggle. You did not labour in vain.”

Osoba, on his part wrote, ”Papa, you fought a good fight. You conquered. You fought for democracy; you fought dictatorship both in uniform and those in agbada. And victory was yours always.”

An interesting scene at Adesanya‘s residence was the decision by Tinubu and Daniel to embrace each other.

Both Tinubu and Daniel had reportedly being in a cold war over their perceived individual aspiration for the leadership position of the Yoruba. The development had resulted in many verbal attacks by the two politicians and their supporters.

Tinubu, who had commiserated with the family members of Adesanya, was later joined by Daniel, accompanied by Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

He walked into the living room of the late Afenifere leader where he met Tinubu and the two had a long embrace. Tinubu and Adebanjo also embraced each other.

Addressing journalists after the encounter, Daniel described Adesanya as a leader who was many miles ahead of current generation of leaders, adding that it was a thing of regret that ”today‘s leaders lack the qualities of Adesanya.”

Daniel added that Adesanya‘s death would leave a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.

Afenifere, in announcing the death of its leader, in a statement by Odumakin said, “The biggest iroko has fallen and the forest is reverberating.”

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, described Adesanya‘s death as a monumental loss to the Yoruba people.

Bankole, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said that the death of the late politician would rob the country the benefit of his experience at a time the country was making giant strides.

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