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Fasanmi’s alliance with Tinubu did not diminish him – Adebanjo
BY NICHOLAS ABE
One of Afenifere chieftains, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has said that the crisis between the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Afenifere that led to loss of confidence between and among members of the two groups did not diminish the achievement of Pa Ayo Fasanmi who died Wednesday, July 30, at the age of 94.
Adebanjo, a contemporary of Pa Fasanmi, described the late elder statesman as one of those who fought for Nigeria’s independence, as a foot soldier of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the 1950s.
Adebanjo said Fasanmi was also vocal during the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12, 1993 mandate of the late MKO Abiola.
He recalled that in the mid-2000s, during the crisis of the Alliance for Democracy and Afenifere, Fasanmi chose to take sides with the then Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, and broke away from Afenifere.
The Afenifere chieftain told The Punch: “I didn’t know Fasanmi was dead until you told me. He was a good friend. May heaven be his reward. He was a great nationalist and we fought together for independence. He was one of the early foot soldiers of Chief Awolowo.
“He was also part of the struggle of June 12. He was among those who encouraged Tinubu to leave our group and he followed Tinubu but this doesn’t diminish his person. May his soul rest in peace.”
READ: Tinubu opens up on Amotekun in muffled voice
Adebanjo, however, stated that Fasanmi remains a great Nigerian and prayed for the repose of his soul.
Fasanmi, a pharmacist, died peacefully in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, on Wednesday night, according to a statement by his son, Afolabi.
He wrote in the statement, “With gratitude to the Almighty God for a life well spent, we wish to announce the demise of our father, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, at the ripe age of 94 years.”
Until his demise, Fasanmi, a Second Republic senator, was the leader of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Egbe Afenifere, and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He joined the Obafemi Awolowo-led Unity Party of Nigeria in 1978 and was a candidate in the Ondo State governorship primary election but lost to Adekunle Ajasin, the former governor of Ondo State.