By Kola Johnson/
It was a particularly bright morning in December 1996, during the totalitarian rule of Abacha’s misgovernance. The venue was the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, on the highbrow Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Political dignitaries of considerable gravitas had gathered. They included Senator Abraham Adesanya, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola, Chief Olu Falae, Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu, Ambassador Dapo Fafowora, Chief Matthew Mbu, and Chief Bola Ige, whose book, People, Politics and History of Nigeria, was to be launched that day. Also present was his delectably beautiful wife, Justice Atinuke Ige.
A good number of the guests were still engaged in hearty conversations around the premises while organizers made final preparations. Then, an ominous piece of news circulated—Senator Biyi Durojaiye had just been arrested by Abacha’s security operatives.
Within minutes, the atmosphere became tense. Morale nosedived as guests reacted in dismay to the distressing news. Anxiety mounted, with attendees fearing for the senator’s safety. Given the ruthless nature of the Abacha regime, this was unsurprising. That government was universally acknowledged for its brutality.
Just as the guests were trying to shake off the tension and settle down for the book launch, a group of six men suddenly appeared, introducing themselves as State Security operatives. They declared the gathering illegal and ordered it to be disbanded, wielding the infamous “order from above.”
A spell of eerie silence pervaded the space. It was fleeting yet felt like an eternity. Then, as if awakening from a trance, attendees burst into impassioned pleas, trying to reason with the security operatives. Senator Abraham Adesanya and other prominent figures did their best to persuade them. Justice Atinuke Ige, dark, fairly tall, and strikingly beautiful, spoke fervently, urging the officers to at least observe the proceedings if they doubted their assurances that the event was not politically motivated. I recall her precise words that day—a mix of Yoruba and English: “After all, discretion is the better part of valor; Haba, ta a ba ran ni nise eru, a fi tomo je.”
Among the attendees, many expected Alhaji Azeez Arisekola to use his influence as a known ally of the Abacha regime to intervene. However, he remained noncommittal, engaging only in behind-the-scenes mutterings in his native Ibadan dialect. The most surprising figure, however, was Chief Bola Ige. Renowned for his fearless combativeness, he seemed uncharacteristically subdued, acquiescing without resistance.
Amidst all this, one man stood out—Pa Ayo Adebanjo. Unlike the others, he was unyielding, openly defying the security operatives. A relentless rebel at heart, he railed against the intrusion, insisting that the event must go on. In an era when the fear of Abacha was the beginning of wisdom, Pa Adebanjo’s courage was remarkable. He did not whisper; he spoke boldly to the faces of Abacha’s enforcers. I vividly recall how he paced back and forth, urging Bola Ige, his wife, and Senator Adesanya to stand their ground.
Unfortunately, his spirited resistance failed to sway the crowd. He stood alone, a lone voice of defiance in an atmosphere of fear and submission.
That day marked my first personal encounter with Pa Adebanjo. His daring stance left an indelible impression on me and cemented my professional relationship with him. Over the years, I maintained close contact with him, as well as with Chief Ganiyu Dawodu and Senator Abraham Adesanya. Their offices, all in close proximity at Western House near the General Hospital and Simpson Street, became frequent stops in my journalistic pursuits.
I followed their political exploits, especially during the NADECO struggle against Abacha’s dictatorship. Those were dark days, reminiscent of Kwame Nkrumah’s Dark Days in Ghana. Life had become cheap; assassinations were rampant. Even literary icons like Wole Soyinka had to flee into exile.
Despite the dangers, Pa Adebanjo, Senator Adesanya, and Chief Dawodu stood firm, refusing to flee. They endured arrests, harassment, and imprisonment under trumped-up charges. Senator Adesanya narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, further highlighting the perilous nature of their resistance.
After Abacha’s demise, Pa Adebanjo played a key role in forming the Alliance for Democracy (AD), which propelled the likes of Bola Tinubu, Segun Osoba, and Niyi Adebayo to gubernatorial victories. However, AD’s inability to maintain political relevance was partly due to the inflexible leadership style of its elders, including Pa Adebanjo. Their rigid, gerontocratic approach alienated younger politicians who were also significant forces in the evolving political landscape. Unlike Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who balanced generational inclusivity with ideological discipline, the Afenifere leadership struggled to adapt.
The exclusion of figures like Lateef Jakande from Afenifere underscored the group’s overbearing rigidity. This inflexibility weakened the Yoruba socio-political bloc, setting it apart from more cohesive groups like Arewa and Ohaneze Ndigbo, which maintained relative unity and credibility as representatives of their people.
A striking example of this dynamic emerged recently with the passing of Ijaw leader Pa Edwin Clarke. On Arise TV, a PANDEF leader noted Clarke’s deep bond with Pa Adebanjo but revealed a key area of disagreement—Tinubu. Clarke viewed Tinubu’s administration as inheriting Nigeria’s economic crises, while Adebanjo laid all the blame squarely at Tinubu’s feet. This difference in perspective speaks volumes about leadership approaches.
There is an old Yoruba proverb: Agba ti o binu, l’omo e npo—“An elder who leads with patience and love earns more followers.” Pa Clarke exemplified this principle, commanding respect beyond ethnic lines. True leadership aligns with the aspirations of the people, not personal sentiments.
Awo was never a narcissist. Leaders must periodically reassess their goals and strategies to remain relevant. They must ask: What are my objectives? Whose interests am I serving? Am I on the right path? Such self-examination is crucial, particularly for a leader of Pa Adebanjo’s stature.
While his defiance and courage are worthy of admiration, his legacy would have been even greater had he embraced strategic flexibility. Nevertheless, Pa Adebanjo remains an unforgettable political titan, whose fearless commitment to justice will forever be etched in history.
Kola Johnson is a writer and journalist.
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