Written by Olasunkanmi Akoni & Emmanuel Aziken with agency reports
Monday, 28 April 2008
*Obasanjo, Mark, Fashola, others mourn
LEADER of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Egbe Afenifere, Chief Abraham Adesanya, died yesterday, provoking a nationwide mourning. Had would have been 86 years old on July 24.
He died peacefully at about 12:30 pm in is Apapa, Lagos residence after having his breakfast.
As news of his death broke, political associates and friends converged on his residence to condole with his family.
One of the early callers was former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who said Chief Adesanya had a peaceful passage.
Chief Osoba said he saw the deceased last two weeks ago, and was “quite physically strong.” He said Nigeria had indeed lost a great leader.
Chief Adesanya’s daughter, Mrs. Modupe Adelaja, said he would be remembered for his contribution to democracy.
The Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) who broke down in tears on arriving her father’s residence in Apapa, said he stood on the side of the masses, even when it was not convenient.
“It is left to the people on how best they want to immortalise him,” she said, adding: “He will be remembered for his dogged and self-less service to the people.” Adelaja said her father had been ill for about four years.
Obasanjo mourns
In a telephone interview, former President Olusegun Obasanjo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) 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.”
Nnamani too
In his reaction, former Senate President Ken Nnamani told NAN: “Baba Adesanya was one of those political icons who showed purpose and action. He brought integrity into all he did. He will be sorely missed, especially at this time when we need men of integrity and purpose in our nation.”
Bola Ajibola expresses shock
Former World Court Judge, Prince Bola Ajibola, expressed shock at the death of Adesanya.
Speaking on 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.
Big vacuum created —Adegbite
Dr Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, said 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 said.
Mark, Uba Ahmed, others mourn
President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, lamented the death of Adesanya, saying the late nationalist left his footprints on the sand of time.
A colleague of Pa Adesanya in the Second Republic Senate, Alhaji Uba Ahmed, who often squared up with him, described him as a highly principled Senator, remembering him as an effective legislator who often laced his oratorical rendition with unbelievable humour.
Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Iyiola Omisore (PDP, Osun) and former Senator Mojisola Akinfenwa were others who mourned the late Senator Adesanya yesterday.
Recalling the contributions of the late Adesanya, Senator Mark in a statement noted his contribution to the enthronement of democracy for which he suffered physical assault.
He said Adesanya’s contributions to democracy would stand in the sand of time.
Senator Ekweremadu, praising the late Adesanya as a man of principle said:
“Adesanya’s public life is a study in service and leadership. He earned the respect of the Yoruba nation and inspired a host of admirers all over the country. A man of courage who looked at power and spoke the truth.
He will be remembered for his fearless struggle for the restoration of democracy in Nigeria.”
Senator Ahmed, a former National Secretary of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) said: “One thing I admired in him for was that he was a very highly principled politician. Once he convinces himself that he was on a firm and high ground, he never yielded. With all his fiery oratory, he had room for humour.”
Senator Omisore in his own reaction said: “Baba Adesanya was a foremost democrat. He stood for fairness and probity. He was the last of the titans and may his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
Senator Akinfenwa, National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, said: “He was a great patriot, a defender of the downtrodden, courageous, outspoken and forthright. Afenifere and all Nigerians have lost a great and highly valued treasure.”
He should be immortalised —Son
Mr Bayo Adesanya, eldest son of the late Chief Adesanya, said his father deserved to be immortalised by the Federal Government.
“Nigeria should immortalise him because he was a dogged fighter, who fought for the democracy the country enjoys at present,” Bayo said and described his father as a national leader and a quintessential leader of the Yoruba race.
He said there was no sign that his father was going to pass on when he spoke with him early yesterday.
“My father was a father among fathers, who will be missed by his wife and the four children he left behind,” Bayo said. He said the death was “old-age related.”
Fashola promises state burial
Meanwhile, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State pledged that the state government would give the late Pa Adesanya a befitting state burial, describing the Afenifere leader as one of the country’s greatest nationalists.
Fashola arrived the place at about 3. 20 pm and went straight to meet the bereaved family.
According to the governor, Lagos State government would ensure that the late icon was given a befitting state burial, adding that Pa Adesanya deserved more than that.
“He was a very courageous man, a man who risked everything to fight tyranny in those very dirty days of dictatorship. It is the work that people like him did, the courage they showed, the faith they showed in this country that midwifed democracy we are privileged to hold on to today,” he told newsmen.
The condolence message of Fashola reads: “A true nationalist, patriot and democrat takes a bow. A founding father, ebullient Senator and father of our modern democracy, we thank you for your courage in the face of tyranny. We are the beneficiaries of your struggles.
You did not labour in vain. We shall deliver the Nigeria of your dreams and other founding fathers. We will keep the faith. Rest in Perfect Peace, Papa.”
The nurse who attended to him, Mrs Christianah Oluwagbemi, who gave an account of his last moment, said he was having his meal of custard and milk around 12.20 pm and suddenly, he returned the meal to her, and when she asked him what was wrong, he never gave any 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 eye balls they had changed. I wanted to take his pulse but his arm just dropped.”
Also reacting to his death, the leader of Afenifere in Lagos State, Chief Supo Shonibare, said Nigeria had lost a brave and courageous fighter and worshipper of democracy.
Other callers were former Governors of Lagos, Bola Tinubu and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, and Senator Bode Olajumoke.
The late Chief Adesanya was a member of the defunct Western Region House of Assembly and a Senator in the Second Republic.
A distinguished lawyer, he was part of the legal team that took up the election petition of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo following the 1979 presidential election.
He survived an assassination attempt in 1996. He is survived by a widow and four children
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