Posted by From JAMES OJO, Abuja and SUSAN NWANGANGA AGWU, Lagos on
Tributes to the late Afenifere leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya continued yesterday at an open air interdenominational service at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos as the funeral rites of the late NADECO chieftain entered its third day.
Tributes to the late Afenifere leader, Chief Abraham Adesanya continued yesterday at an open air interdenominational service at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos as the funeral rites of the late NADECO chieftain entered its third day.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd), former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, as well as other eminent Nigerians continued to pour encomiums on the late politician for the quality of leadership he gave to the Yoruba race and Nigeria.
This is even as the House of Representatives described him as a true compatriot whose spartan life and commitment to genuine democracy should be recognized and rewarded.
Speaking at the service, Fashola, who described the late Yoruba leader as a truly great man, contended that no man should be called great until he has ended his work on earth, adding that from the tributes and the out-pouring of messages since his passage, there was no doubt that the late Pa Adesanya ended up on the great side of history.
'The lesson for all of us is to ask ourselves on what side of history are we, on what side of history do we want to end up," Fashola asked rhetorically, adding that the late Pa Adesanya had the opportunity to compromise his leadership in the face of tyrannical rule but he chose not to.
According to the governor, some potential leaders have fallen from grace to grass by employing leadership of self but Pa Adesanya has ended up on the side of his people and on the path of greatness.
'As a Yoruba, I dare say there is a vacuum of leadership. His Grace, Most Rev. Abiodun Adetiloye, earlier prayed that God would bring a man that would provide good and quality leadership for the Yoruba race. I identify myself with that prayer," the governor said adding, 'courage, truth, dependability and selfless service is what is required. A leader of the people is their servant. The Yoruba will pick their leader from those who truly serve them."
Earlier in his testimony, General Gowon described the late Pa Adesanya as a great leader of the Yoruba race who was stoutly loyal to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, adding that the late Afenifere leader took up the leadership entrusted to him after the death of Awolowo.
Recalling that he first met Pa Adesanya after his release of Chief Awolowo from prison, Gen. Gowon declared, 'But he (Adesanya) remained a loyal follower of Chief Awolowo and later became a great leader of the Yoruba himself."
'Let us celebrate this great patriot who has served not only the Yoruba race but also Nigeria in fighting for the political stability of our country," the former head of state urged, pointing out that it was because of the quality leadership he provided for them that the Yoruba have turned out in their large numbers to mourn him.