President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, elder statesman and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Emeka Anyaoku, among others, yesterday, paid tributes to the late Afenifere Leader, Ayo Adebanjo, who passed away on February 14, 2025, in Lagos.

Also in attendance were former Governors of Sokoto, Ekiti, Ogun and Osun states, Olusegun Osoba, Aminu Tambuwal, Kayode Fayemi, Gbenga Daniel and Rauf Aregbesola, and the wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Bamidele Abiodun, among others.

In his tribute, Tinubu said that Adebanjo’s regular interventions in national affairs, which enriched the country’s political discourse, would be missed.

Obasanjo, who was represented by the former governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, described the deceased’s transition as a huge loss to the country, saying that he was a great man, a committed nationalist and an effective representative of his people.

On his part, Anyaoku said that Adebanjo was a champion in the campaign for true federalism, who paid the price of imprisonment during the country’s turbulent post-Independence period.

According to him, Adebanjo had an unshakable belief in the capacity of Nigeria’s different ethnic groups to live together in one united country if their diversity is constructively addressed in the country’s constitution.

“This belief led him to become a leading member of The Patriots, a group promoting a national constitution that will achieve equity and inclusiveness,” he said.