Former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have yesterday Sunday paid condolence visits to the family of late Afenifere Leader, Pa Chief Ayo Adebanjo. During the visit, Jonathan explained why his administration could not implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.
According to him, the political situation in the country at a time was too turbulent to accommodate presentation of the recommendations to other country men.
Recall,vigil360 reported that Pa Adebanjo died on Feb 14th, 2025 in his Lagos house at the age of 96.
The two former leaders were received at different times by the children of the late elder statesman led by Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo.
Other present members of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, and others were also present during the visits led by Oba Oladipo Olaitan.
Mr Jonathan was accompanied by other highly placed individuals like former Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma, former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, and other political stalwarts, arrived at Adebanjo’s Lekki residence at 1.57 p.m.
Similarly Mr Abubakar, who also arrived about 3.00 p.m. in accompany of some PDP chieftains, including Chief Dele Momodu and Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, the 2023 PDP Governorship Candidate for Lagos State.
While condoling with the children the duo described the deceased and members of Afenifere, Jonathan described Adebanjo as a Nigerian leader, not just an Afenifere leader.
Mr Jonathan said: “Our dear leader was not the leader of Afenifere alone. He was a leader of this country.
“He was a man with enormous wisdom, courage and willingness to do the right thing for this country.
“He believed in truth and justice. No nation can grow when there is no truth and when there is no justice.
“Those were the things he was known for. We are not surprised that he led the Afenifere credibly well.”
Mr Jonathan said that the 2014 National Conference would not have come up without the contributions of people such as the late Adebanjo.
“He meant the best for this country,” he added.
According to the bayelsa born politician, when a nation is not moving as expected, there is the need for a comprehensive dialogue.
He revealed he was pleased with all those who participated at the conference as men of impeacable characters.
Mr Jonathan said, “I gave them total authority to discuss what is good for this country.”
He said that a number of people had kept asking why he did not implement the recommendations of the conference.
Jonathan said, most Nigerians do not know that there was a lot of political turbulence in the country at that period.
He said that a key member of the legislature, who was in his party, mobilized against him and moved to another party to pitch tent.
Mr Jonathan added that some persons were ready to bring his administration down at that time.
“It was not the time we could present such a document.
“Thank God for everything. We believe that one day, one government will review it and take everything,” he said.
He recalled that the recommendations came from them whom he considered as credible Nigerians who were not politically influenced.
“We believe the outcomes are still very relevant for our society.”
In his remarks,, Mr Abubakar also described Adebanjo as a great leader.
He said that Adebanjo’s death has left a huge space that will be difficult to fill in the gap especially by his immediate family and those who admired him.
“It is quite true that this house has hosted me a couple of times. I took away from this house virtues that Pa Adebanjo stood for and preached all his life.
“It is a matter of honour that after his demise, we should come and pay respect for his contributions to the unity and peaceful co-existence of this country.
“It is my singular honour and privilege to identify with his immediate family at this difficult time. We thank God that he lived a worthy life.
“We are here to condole with the family to let them know that we share in the loss because he was also a father to us. He was an adviser and a guide in what we are set to do for this country,” Mr Abubakar said.
According to him, the late Afenifere leader always told the truth.
He said that his team would continue to honour Adebanjo and stand by his family.
“We will continue to work together so that the dreams and aspirations of the late Papa will continue to flourish,” he added.
Responding during Jonathan’s visit, the son of the deceased, Mr Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo, responded: “Baba was very grateful to you (Jonathan) for your courage to constitute the 2014 National Conference and for him being part of it.
“He always celebrated you (Jonathan) for being the one that had the courage and wisdom to put that together.
“He was also very happy when you said the blood of a single Nigerian was not worth your ambition.
“All those things resonated with Baba. I want to welcome you for coming to condole with us,” he said.
Mr Ayo-Adebanjo also commiserated with Jonathan over the death of Chief Edwin Clark, a prominent Ijaw leader who passed away three days before the Adebanjo.
Responding during Abubakar’s visit, one of the daughters of the deceased, Dr Sade Ayo-Adebanjo, commended the former vice-president for identifying with the family.
Meanwhile, the Acting Leader of Afenifere, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, applauded Jonathan for simplicity and humility.
“You (Jonathan) are a special specie. You are uncommon,” Olaitan concluded.
NAN