Former President Goodluck Jonathan, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, and others, on Sunday, paid condolence visits to the family of late Afenifere Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
During Jonathan’s visit, he explained why his administration did not implement the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference.
Jonathan said that the political situation in Nigeria at the time was too turbulent to accommodate presentation of the recommendations.
Adebanjo died on February 14, 2025, in Lagos.
He was 96.
Jonathan, George and Abubakar were received at different times by the children of the late elder stateman led by Mr Obafemi Ayo-Adebanjo.
Members of the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, led by Oba Oladipo Olaitan, were also present during the visits.
Jonathan, accompanied by Sierra Leone’s ex-President, Ernest Bai Koroma, George, and other political stalwarts, arrived at Adebanjo’s Lekki residence at 1.57 p.m.
Abubakar, who arrived about 3 p.m. was also accompanied by some PDP chieftains, including Chief Dele Momodu and Dr Abdul-Azeez Adediran, the 2023 PDP Governorship Candidate for Lagos State.
At a meeting with the children of the deceased and members of Afenifere, Jonathan described Adebanjo as a Nigerian leader, not just an Afenifere leader.
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.”
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 former president, when a nation is not moving as expected, there is the need for a comprehensive dialogue.
He said that those who participated at the conference were credible.
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.
According to him, 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, mobilised against him and moved to another party.
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 said that the recommendations came from credible Nigerians who were not politically influenced.
“We believe the outcomes are still very relevant for our society.”
Speaking, Abubakar also described Adebanjo as a great leader.
He said that Adebanjo’s death was a huge loss to 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,” 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.
Ayo-Adebanjo also commiserated with Jonathan over the death of Chief Edwin Clark, a prominent Ijaw leader.
Clark died three days after Adebanjo’s death.
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.
Also speaking, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, the Acting Leader of Afenifere, applauded Jonathan for simplicity and humility.
“You (Jonathan) are a special specie. You are uncommon,” Olaitan said.
