‘He was a friend of Ndigbo’ — south-east bishops, traditional rulers mourn Ayo Adebanjo

The joint body of south-east bishops, archbishops and traditional rulers says Ayo Adebanjo, the factional leader of Afenifere, fought for the actualisation of an Igbo presidency until his passing. 

Adebanjo died on February 14 at his residence in Lekki, Lagos, aged 96.

In a statement, the group’s leadership described Adebanjo as a bold and courageous leader who spoke, stood and fought for the truth.

The statement was signed by Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha; Chibuzo Opoko, methodist archbishop of Umuahia; LOC Agubuzo, chairman of Enugu state traditional rulers council; and Valerian Okeke, catholic archbishop of Onitsha.

The body said Adebanjo insisted that a “flawed Nigerian constitution” cannot deliver the dividends of democracy, adding that the late Awoist spent many years canvassing for true federalism and restructuring.

“In the last two decades of his life, chief Adebanjo was a feisty advocate for reform in Nigeria’s constitutional configuration. He was consistent in his position that the Nigerian constitution was flawed and that this was the foundation of the country’s problems,” the statement reads.

“And so, he argued that the constitution had to be changed. Many years were spent campaigning for true federalism and restructuring.

“Though he did not live to see Nigeria restructured, he was unyielding till the end in his position that nothing good could come out of the constitution as it was. He never buckled on his view that restructuring was the sure way out of the doldrums for Nigeria.”

The group also praised the late elder statesman for advocating for a shift in power from the north to the south-east, “a region that has historically been excluded from the presidency”.

“He was unabashed in his support of Peter Obi because he believed that Obi would open the door for the reforms necessary to make Nigeria work,” the statement added.