“Pa Adebanjo looked Abacha straight in the eye and told him straight to his face, ‘Pick up your gun and shoot me yourself; I owe you only one Bullet.”
The esteemed pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has extended warm felicitations to its National Leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on the occasion of his 96th birthday, , describing him as ‘a true Awoist’.
In a heartfelt congratulatory message penned by its Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and National Publicity Secretary, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo, Afenifere lauded Adebanjo as true Awoist, embodying the core values and vision of the organization.
Afenifere’s message underscored Adebanjo’s unwavering commitment to the ideals espoused by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, emphasizing his pivotal role in advancing the mission of creating a progressive and egalitarian society.
The organization emphasized that Adebanjo has been a steadfast champion of Awolowo’s legacy, serving as a beacon for like-minded individuals across the nation.
The statement disclosed, “Afenifere has never been and will never be an amorphous group of all comers. No. Afenifere is about those who believe in the doctrines, principles, writings and philosophies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Afenifere was and is never going to be a compromised group.
“Afenifere is a political party, right from its inception in 1951. All of these are the irreducible indices of the nobility and uniqueness of Afenifere, which Pa Ayo Adebanjo represents and only true Awoists can be Afenifere.
“It is not the first time that ultra-conservatives will attempt to steal the soul of Afenifere, but at each instance, such attempts have failed. Since 1962 through 2001, 2003, 2008, and now, 2024. It is a usual story, not unexpected where the lure of the lucre overcomes the notion of holding on to principles of equity and justice. Our leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo is a veteran, who has survived every attempt made to damage the Afenifere.
“Chief Obafemi Awolowo wrote 14 books and nowhere in those books did our founder, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, ever forsook the Afenifere lifelong quest of freedom for the people.
“Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s leadership has become a beacon for all successive Afenifere leaders, which has become more exemplified in the leadership of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, described as the one who epitomizes and personifies Afenifere the most.
“Pa Adebanjo looked Abacha straight in the eye and told him straight to his face, ‘Pick up your gun and shoot me yourself; I owe you only one Bullet,” the statement added.
