“The Alliance for Democracy( AD) is like a Nominal Director in the Nigeria Company who will partake in the sharing of dividends”. These were the deep undying words of Pa Adebanjo as election results were announced in 1999 and his party the AD had won about five states, many Senators, House of Representatives and had actually overwhelmingly cleared the elections in the South West. AD had won governorship in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and Ekiti. I was thinking what the old political war horse meant by that statement. I think he meant that people who did not put much money in the elections aside from the Yoruba Nationalism message have won governments and will preside over the states in the next four years.
TRUE!
What was their contribution to the Nigerian company? The message of True Yoruba Nationalism encapsulates: free education, health for all, youth and women mobilization and sensitisation, integrated agriculture, technology, etc. These were verbertim delivery of Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo’s five point agenda of the Action Group and Unity Party of Nigeria manifesto. As Awoists, they carried that message down from the fifties into the seventies and nineties. The Yoruba ethnic group imbibed it and always voted for that manifesto as a trajectory for southwest and national development. Amongst the key players who carried that message far and wide were: Chief Micheal Ajasin, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Lam Adesina, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Bisi Akande, Chief Segun Osoba, Chief MCK Ajuluchukwu, Chief Faroutimi et al.
The first time i read and heard about True Nationalism was when erstwhile Orlu Political Consultative Assembly President General late Dr. Samfo Nwankwi( Owuru Izuogu) floated the group National Union of True Igbo Movement( NUTIM). I started to ask myself does it mean that there is a difference between ( adigboloja) fake and true nationalism? i found the answers in the life and times of Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
Ayo Adebanjo passed on some five days ago at the ripe old age of ninety six. At ninety four, he was still strong, mounting the soap box at political rallies to preach his message of True Nationalism. He said “hoha” that Nigerians should vote for Peter Obi( Omo Ibo) and Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election. He also said Nigerians should not vote for Tinubu because if they did, they would suffer. Those statements are trending, since, he passed on. There is nothing more to say because his statements truly speaks volume, about who he is.
This national icon stood his grounds and adopted Peter Obi as presidential candidate and best for the office of president against the ethnic tide of his Yoruba people. He was a top chieftain of NADECO pushing and asking the military to return to the barracks all the nineties. It was achieved when the military returned to the barracks in 1999. All his life, he stood for good and progress, disregarding ethnic biases. He was service personified and remained married to his convictions without seeking for, any elective position until he passed on.
However, the death of Ayo Adebanjo has intrigued me and brought to the fore the question of tribal longevity in Nigerian in a record period such as this time around. Ayo Adebanjo died at 96years. Olusegun Obasanjo is 91, Afe Babalola is 97, Faroutimi is 98, Wole Soyinka is 90, Pastor Kumuyi is 90. I can not find this longevity in Eastern Nigeria of many persons, nor can i find it in the north. Apart from Tanko Yakassai, IBM Haruna, and Buhari, it is no, where to be found in the north. In the East, apart from Chief Edwin Clark (may his soul rest in peace), and Chief Jim Nwobodo; none! What is the secret. Adeniji, my friend in Lagos, has an answer. They drink ‘agbo’ the local medicines itinerant Yoruba lady vendors carry around for sale. It may be equivocal. It could be challengeable but highly intriguing.
Adieu The doyen of True Nationalism In Nigeria- Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
Dr. Batos Nwadike( Oyi of Igboland), former presidential candidate of People’s Mandate Party( PMP) in 2011 in Nigeria.
