Tribute To Pa Adesanya

Last week, I recalled how these great men of valour started their struggle for democratic values in their early thirties; Young Wole Soyinka was at that age when he confronted the Akintola Government of Western Nigeria and as a Master Pyrate pirated the tape of the supposed live broadcast of the Premier.

Wole Soyinka wrote The Lion And The Jewel in his 30s. Things Fall Apart whose fiftieth anniversary we are celebrating was written by Chinua Achebe in his 30s. The great columnists whose thunderous articles opened the gates for independence, and boldly confronted the native imperialists who took over from the white lords, were in their thirties. These columnists include Peter Pam, Ebenezer Williams, Dan Nugotaf, Omo Oye, John West, Sad Sam, Allah De, Ajuluchuku and such other young men, imbued with a patriotic vision of a great Nigeria. Dapo Falase was under 30 when he led University of Ibadan students to confront the government, and secured a revocation of Anglo-Nigeria Defence Pact. The young intellectuals-Sam Aluko, Kalu Ezera, Hezekiah Oluwasanmi, Banji Akintoye, Akin Mabogunje, Tunji Aboyade, etc, were in their 30s when they ably provided the intellectual, energy-giving drips to the various political parties.

As at that time, Nigerian politicians had not become anti-intellectual political artisans. Even the great trio of Awolowo, Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello were in their late 30s and early 40s when they took over the leadership of democratic, political and socio-economic emancipation of the people. Even their great compatriots, Aminu Kano, Ribadu, Maitama Sule, Kashim Ibrahim, K.O. Mbadiwe Mike Okpara, Dennis Osadebay, Adegoke Adelabu, Rotimi Williams, TOS Benson, D.S. Adegbenro, M.A Ajasin, S.O. Awokoya and others were also of that age group. You can imagine Tony Enahoro’s age when he first moved the motion for Nigeria’s independence.

You can imagine Ladoke Akintola’s age when he moved the final motion that led to Nigeria’s independence. As we salute the titans, we must ask what has happened that their race is dwindling fast. What happened to young Nigerians like Yakubu Gowon, Muhammad Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha- who had the opportunity to occupy the political centre-state, and yet failed to become titans. What happened that made Yakubu Gowon believe that a march towards democracy in 1976 was unrealistic? Love of power, love of self, or capture of other young persons who were powerful military governors?

What was it that made Muhammad Buhari believe that a return to civil rule programme was not a priority in Nigeria? Love of power? Love of self? Or an imagined messianic belief in his role? What made amiable Ibrahim Babangida to shift the political goals from 1990 to 1992, then to 1993, only to step aside for a political contraption designed to fail? What made an otherwise great tactician to find himself in the 1993 confusion? How could a man who loudly proclaimed his willingness to sacrifice his today for our tomorrow get enmeshed in the peculiar mess? Love of power? Love of self?
A presumed messianic duty? What made Sani Abacha, the Khalifa under Babangida, believe there should be no other Khalifa as he laboured to establish a perpetual succession for himself?

How can an Abacha who started as a toast of pro-democracy groups renege on the provision of an autonomous constitution, and become the abattoir for pro-democrats? Love of Power? Love of self? Love of money? An over- bloated ego fuelled by psychophants? When you consider all these, and you find a great man like Pa Abraham Adesanya you are happy to salute him either in life or death. First, you like to salute his commitment to the eternalisation of democracy in Nigeria. If you are not old enough to recall his anti-fascism role in the 1960s in the treasonable felony trials, or the Coker Inquiry, if you are not aware of his role as UPN distinguished senator of the Second Republic, you will recall his role, as a leading light of NADECCO in its titanic struggle against the forces of dark-goggled Abacha. You will also recall his narrow escape from the murderous hands of Abacha’s goon.

Secondly, you like to salute Pa Adesanya for his loyalty to principles and leadership. He was unflinching in his commitment to the people-centred principles of Awolowo, and un-wavering in his devotion to Awolowo. This type of loyalty you don’t find these days as people criss-cross without shame across the political parties.

Thirdly, you like to say gbosa to this committed traditionalist. He was not ashamed to patronise the local herbs, even before the worldwide movement towards herbal-based drugs. I understand that out of his love for our culture, he was not against our traditional religion. If you followed his campaigns for Alliance for Democracy governors in Ondo, Ekiti, Osun, Oyo and Ogun States, you will see his enormous understanding of the traditional religion.

Before I end this salute, there is an important point to make. When we all assembled in Premier Hotel, we elected Pa Abraham Adesanya as Leader of the Yorubas. Present at that meeting were all political leaders and elders of various shades and hues, after Abacha’s death. All of us agreed that he would speak on behalf of the Yorubas. Pa Adesanya was, like his leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, elected by all as the Asiwaju of the Yorubas. I don’t remember Pa Ajasin being similarly elected. It was all right for Pa Ajasin to operate as leader of Afenifere. Pa Adesanya was more than a leader of Afenifere. He was the leader of the Yorubas. As the leader of the Yorubas, I xpect all the six South-West governors to participate in his burial rituals.

To a great leader, Pa Abraham Adesanya, Asiwaju of Yoruba, I say goodnight.