The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has described the National Leader of the apex socio-cultural organisation for the Yoruba, the Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo as the prophet who stands for justice, equity and peace of Nigeria, in the face of wide criticisms.
Ohanaeze said this to celebrate Adebanjo who
has turned 95 years of age, adding, “When the accounts of how to reposition
Nigeria for prosperity will be written, some tainted names will be inevitable,
some others will appear as footnotes while several chapters will be devoted to
Pa Ayo Adebanjo.”
In a statement by its National Publicity
Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia on Thursday, Ohanaeze said, “Pa Ayo Adebanjo has
established a rich-resource bank, an inestimable social capital that even his
great grand-children cannot exhaust.”
The statement read, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Worldwide joins millions of admirers both at home and in the Diaspora to
felicitate a dogged fighter, upright man, visionary leader, democracy archetype,
inter-ethnic consensus builder, fire-brand Awoist, venerated icon and one of
the most patriotic Nigerians, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the National Leader of the
apex socio-cultural organization for the Yoruba, the Afenifere as he clocks 95
years.
“Dr Chuba Okadigbo (1941 – 2003) had stated:
“If you are emotionally attached to your tribe, religion or political leaning
to the point that truth and justice become secondary considerations, your
education is useless. Your exposure is useless. If you cannot reason beyond
petty sentiments, you are a liability to mankind” The bane of Africa is rooted
in the above remarks by Okadigbo and only a few amongst Nigerians reason beyond
the sentiments of ethnicity and religion. Pa Adebanjo belongs to this few.
“With a life of principles, courage, truth,
integrity and character, Pa Ayo Adebanjo has established a rich-resource bank,
an inestimable social capital that even his great grand-children cannot
exhaust. This logic flows from age-long views expressed by Bernice King who admonished
before he passed on: “Continue to speak out against all forms of injustice to
yourselves and others, and you will set a mighty example for your children and
for future generations.
“Adebanjo has insisted that since Nigerian
democratic culture has entrenched rotation and zoning of presidency amongst the
six zones, justice and equity demand that the South East should be given the
opportunity to produce a president for Nigeria…The legendary Martin Luther King
Jr. had cautioned that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Luther King added that “we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,
tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all
indirectly.” In other words, what affects the Igbo directly affects entire
Nigeria indirectly.
“It is important to note that Pa Adebanjo has received some mundane attacks from some ethnic bigots and chauvinists in recent times because of his stand on the 2023 general elections, but I make bold to inform that when the accounts of how to reposition Nigeria for prosperity will be written, some tainted names will be inevitable, some others will appear as footnotes while several chapters will be devoted to Pa Ayo Adebanjo.
"To this end, history will always vindicate
the just. History will acquit Pa Adebanjo, the prophet, who stands for justice,
equity, peace, unity and sustainable national development; an enwisdomizer and
pathfinder who like the “best president Nigeria never had”, Chief Obafemi
Awolowo was pointing to a direction which unfortunately, only a few initiated
could understand.
“The Chairman, Council of Elders, Ohanaeze
Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Dr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, (Ahaejiagamba), members of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo and indeed Ndigbo, in general, are very glad that you are as
fit as a fiddle at 95. We look forward to many more years in stable body, mind
and soul.”
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