The Igbo intellectual group, Aka Ikenga, has called on Nigerians to uphold the principles of truth, integrity, and justice in honour of the late Pa Ayo Adebanjo, a towering figure in the fight for democracy and good governance.
In a statement signed by its president, Agbalanze Chike Madueke, and secretary general, Ogbueshi Mark-Anthony Nduka-Eze, the group described Adebanjo as a “grapevine of conscience” whose unwavering stance on national unity, equity, and justice must not be forgotten.
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“In every death, humanity is diminished, but in Pa Adebanjo’s permanent sleep, Nigeria has lost a grapevine of conscience, planted on the banks of integrity and standing like an oak above every shrub,” the statement read. “His roots of courage and irrepressible stamina for justice, equity, and fairness are so deep that even his adversaries could not ignore them.”
Adebanjo, a stalwart of the Afenifere socio-political group and a key figure in the pro-democracy movement NADECO passed away on February 14, 2025, at the age of 96. His passing has been met with an outpouring of tributes across Nigeria’s political and civil society spectrum.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Aka Ikenga’s director of publicity and communications, Collins Steve Ugwu, highlighted Adebanjo’s fearless advocacy, describing him as a “lion of principled convictions and a tiger of sophisticated activism.”
“High Chief Adebanjo deployed his brilliance and intellect to suffocate the litters of deceit and the heaps of dishonesty that have haunted our nationhood,” Ugwu stated. “Whether as the unmatched leader of Afenifere or a general of NADECO, he fought relentlessly for a better Nigeria.”
Despite his decades-long battle for justice, Aka Ikenga lamented that Adebanjo’s lifelong dream of a truly equitable Nigeria remained unrealised at the time of his passing.
“No one can question his recall at a good old age, but Nigeria should pause to reflect: Why did a man who fought since pre-independence, survived military persecutions, and remained on the frontline through the First to the Fourth Republic still leave this world unfulfilled?” the statement asked.
Aka Ikenga urged Nigerians not to let Adebanjo’s sacrifices go in vain, insisting that his legacy must be actively preserved as a model for national healing and moral rebirth.
“As Nigerians mourn him loudly and deservedly, his compelling monument and reverence as a beacon of character, truth, and honesty must be writ large,” the group stated. “Such pearls of credentials are rare in our national history and must not be allowed to evaporate.”
The group also extended its solidarity to Adebanjo’s family, particularly his wife, Lady Christina Modupe Adebanjo, praying for strength and comfort in this moment of loss.
“Nigeria has lost one of its bravest voices, but his message must continue to echo,” the statement concluded.