Adesanya passes at 85

A prominent Yoruba leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya, passed away around noon on Monday the 28th. Reports say that it happened just after Adesanya finished a meal, but the two events are unrelated. Adesanya, who survived an assassination attempt in 1996, was 85 and would have celebrated his birthday on July 24th. He is survived by his four children and a widow.

Adesanya hailed from Ogun State, a region known for rearing many Nigerian leaders and musicians; another famous resident is former president, Olusegun Obasanjo. He was one of the few living links to Nigeria’s government in the days under the rule of Britain. In the days since, he has worked for democracy in the country. He was a major figure in the Yoruba community, heading the Pan-Yoruba group, Egbe Afenifere.

Adesanya’s lifetime worked affected and influenced many, and they quickly came to his family’s side after hearing the news. Former president Obasanjo had this to say, "Baba Adesanya was the link between the pre-independence and post-independence era of our nation particularly in the South-West. His place will be difficult to fill and he will be sorely missed."

Former Senate President Ken Nnamani lamented, "Baba Adesanya was one of those political icons who showed purpose and action. He brought integrity into all he did. He will be sorely missed, especially at this time when we need men of integrity and purpose in our nation."

Former World Court Judge, Prince Bola Ajibola, also sorrowfully cried out because of the loss, "O o o! Abraham Adesanya ti ku? (Abraham Adesanya has died?) O ma se o (It is a pity). That is the end of a great generation. He fought gallantly for Nigeria's democracy. He was a great man, a great lawyer, a great politician, a great fighter and nationalist of the first order. He will definitely be missed by everybody and lovers of freedom and democracy.”

Dr Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, stated that Adesanya's passing created a "big vacuum" in the leadership of the Yoruba nation, "The nation has lost a formidable and patriotic leader. He was a very selfless political leader as a senator who served the nation without a tarnished image. I do hope that this tragic loss will prepare the Yoruba nation to rally round and find a credible replacement for the late great leader."

Many more leaders lined up to pay their own respects and echoed the sentiments of those that were mentioned