The exit of a titan

The fiery and erstwhile leader of the Pan-Yoruba culture association Afenifere is gone. Pa Adesanya, perhaps more than anybody alive today in political scene of Nigeria, is the one that made it possible for democracy to see the light of day toad through his activities as Afenifere and NADECO chieftain and leader.

The case of the famous Sergeant Rogers and the shooting of Papa’s car without a cartridge of the gun entering his car when Papa’s life was to be eliminated by Abacha’s Junta are very fresh. Along with the likes of Rtd. Lit. General Alani Akinrinade, Late Bola Ige, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Segun Osoba, Lam Adesina, Olu Falae, Senator Okuronmu and Fasanmi and other human rights activists across the country, the despotic rule of Sanni Abacha was brought to a standstill.

Pa Adesanya is an epitome of courage and political sagacity. He was one of the few remaining Aworist that was committed to Awoism. We will not forget to mention that Adesanya was one of those charged with treasonable felony during the first republic including the late sage – Obafemi Awolowo.

Adesanya was fulfilled in life and death. While alive, he was a successful lawyer, a distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a team player and one who used the umbrella of the Afenifere to put forward the need to restructure Nigeria under federalism with a weaker centre and strong component states.

Like his principal, Obafemi Awolowo, he believed that a Yoruba person cannot be a good Nigeria without being a committed Yoruba man. The political community to which he belonged, the remaining Afenifere and the entire Nigeria will for ever remember this man for a long time.