The Leader of Leaders, The Àrólé Awólọ́wọ̀, Chief Ayo Adebanjo at 96, and the Afẹ́nifẹ́re has this to say.
The Titan, the last of the Mohicans, the last of the original cast of 1951.
It is important that we of the Afẹ́nifẹ́re reiterate our principled stance that is 73 years old, that we will not compromise on these tested and trusted principles. The reason we are untainted, unbended, united under the leadership of Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
The Afẹ́nifẹ́re has never been and will never be an amorphous group of all comers. No.
Afẹ́nifẹ́re is about those who believe in the doctrines, principles, writings and philosophies of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Afẹ́nifẹ́re was and is never going to be a compromised group.
Afẹ́nifẹ́re is a political party, right from its inception in 1951.
All of these are the irreducible indices of the nobility and uniqueness of Afẹ́nifẹ́re which Pa Ayo Adebanjo represents and only true Awoists can thus be deemed to be Afẹ́nifẹ́re.
It is not the first time that ultra-conservatives will attempt to steal the soul of Afẹ́nifẹ́re, but at each instance, such attempts have failed. Since 1962 through 2001, 2003, 2008, and now, 2024... It is a usual story, not unexpected where the lure of the lucre overcome the notion of holding on to principles, to equity, to justice. Our Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo is a veteran, who has survived every attempt made to damage the Afẹ́nifẹ́re.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo wrote 14 books and nowhere in those books did our founder Chief Obafemi Awolowo ever forsake the Afẹ́nifẹ́re lifelong quest of freedom for the people.
Freedom from poverty ;
Freedom from oppression;
Freedom from all manners of insecurity ;
And finally to provide life more abundant to the people.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo's leadership has become a beacon for all successive Afẹ́nifẹ́re leaders, which has become more exemplified in the leadership of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, described as the one who epitomizes and personifies Afẹ́nifẹ́re the most.
Our Leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has been for many decades the examplification of Awolowo’s dreams and mission of providing the "pathway for the progressives from all over the country to come together to achieve an Egalitarian society".
Afẹ́nifẹ́re will only identify with evolved, progressive people from any of part of the country. Just as the words of our Late Sage Chief Obafemi Awolowo ring still into our conscience and consciousness, that, "It is a duty that we owe, to our great motherland, to enhance her, and to boost her in the eyes of the rest of the world, egalitarianism, is our national watchword, equality of good fortune must be to each, a sure reward. "These words are nothing more than what Afẹ́nifẹ́re has always stood for — Equity and Justice!
And on this very High and Superior Moral Ground, this terra firma, we stand with Papa Adebanjo as the Truest and Purest Awoist!
The man who looked Abacha straight in the eye and told him straight to his face — "Pick up your gun and shoot me yourself; I owe you only one bullet"!
Chief Ayo Adebanjo was not just a follower of Chief Awólọ́wọ̀'s, in the literary sense of the word, he was a fellow traveler in a journey long and torturous. Chief Ayo Adebanjo, traveled with Chief Awólọ́wọ̀ on that lonely path to jail.
Àwọn Baba mọ'ni mọ'ni, Àwọn Baba ṣòrọ̀ ṣòrọ̀, Ni wọ́n ní; Ìrírí ayé ni Baba ọgbọ́n; Àròjinlẹ́ ni Baba ìtàn, Bí ẹnìkan kò bá tíì rí Ìrírí ayé, tó bá r'erin ó lè pèé l'ẹṣin!
It is the saying of our fathers,
The wisdom of the elders,
In this tribute to our Leader, we of the Afẹ́nifẹ́re can only act as their mouthpiece and thus declare:
"That, experience is the pillar upon which knowledge is cast;
As deep thinking then becomes the pivot, upon which knowledge is acquired -
Otherwise, without experience, without exposure, anyone seeing an Elephant, can easily be mistaken into calling it a horse."
Ló d'ifa fun Baba wa Ayọ̀ Adebanjo, tí a fi ń fi ìtàn ba'lẹ̀...Ọgbọ́n, ìmọ̀, òye àti Ìrírí ayé ló papọ̀ tó di ọjọ́ ìbí wọn lónìí!
And that is why the Oracle was cast in the matter to which we are now addressed - That we of the Afẹ́nifẹ́re have decided to do our Leader, Chief Ayọ̀ Adebanjo, this definitive rectitude to put forward his varied but rich, vivid, yet factual experiences, garnered like trophies along the path of Life, even into his 96th very exemplary years of service to humanity!
Àwọn Baba mọni mọni, Baba ṣòrọ̀ ṣòrọ̀, Wọ́n ní; Ọmọọdẹ a máa nání apó; Ọmọ aṣẹ́gità a máa nání èèpo igi...Tí a bá wá rí, ẹni bí ẹni, èèyàn bí èèyàn tó bá ṣe oun rere, ẹ jẹ́ ká nání irú wọn!
And that is also the reason, the elders are wont to proffer always, that the hunter's son cherishes the hunter's gourd, likewise the son of the wood hewer would have serious interest in gathering wood splinters.
In essence, that is just what this testimonial is about - to appreciate our brilliant Leader, Chief Ayọ̀ Adebanjo on his birthday.
To The Leader of men, the Institution by which the progressives all over the country are defined;
Ikú kò níí p'oyin ká le r'óun mú s'afárá; ikú kò níí p'ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ ká le r'óun mú s'ẹ́wà létídò; Bí àwọn olórí wa, àwọn àgbà wa, kò bá kú, ká le máa fi ọlá wọn rìn ká le máa fi yan fanda ni!
Death will not claim the bee, so that we shall forever relish in the abundance of honey;
Death will not claim the Banana tree, such that the beauty of the riverbed will continue to delight.
When our outstanding leaders do not leave us to mourn, we become indeed the generation of the fortunate ones...
May the Almighty bless you and bless all your efforts, Leader Sir.
Your life has become all of The empirical, all of The critical, all of the imaginable successes, the ante and standard for aspiring leaders in Afẹ́nifẹ́re, in other groups, in our climate and beyond to espy, study, aspire and project unto their own.
You style of leadership shall also always be The reference point upon what it will take for anyone intending to lead to imbibe, to copy such an enviable and uncommon loyalty to the Nigerian cause.
Let all that desire to be like you among the Yorùbá, the ibiobio, the Hausa, the ìgbò, the Fulani, the Tiv, the Birom and all other Nationaliltes, work their own magic upon your template and dedication.
Happy Birthday, Chief Ayọ̀ Adébánjọ, The Leader of Leaders!
Signed on behalf of Afenifere:
Deputy Leader Afẹ́nifẹ́re, Ọba Ọládipọ̀ Ọláìtán.
National Publicity Secretary Afẹ́nifẹ́re, Mogaji Gboyega Adejumo.
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