Veteran journalist and former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has lauded elder statesman Ayo Adebanjo for his lifelong commitment to democracy and good governance. Speaking on Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, the ace journalist highlighted Adebanjo’s contributions to Nigeria’s democratic evolution and called for greater recognition of his efforts.
During the discussion, Akande praised Adebanjo as a pillar of democratic advocacy, emphasizing his unwavering stance on political justice, transparency, and national unity. He described the elder statesman as a significant figure in Nigeria’s political history, whose dedication to fairness and equity has shaped the nation’s governance landscape.
According to him, “Our condolences to his wife, children, family, associates, and everyone who is mourning his departure at this time all across this country. Pa Adebanjo was one of the last of the titans in the fight against military rule, a nationalist proper, and a consistent democratic advocate. For him, equity in the pursuit of the Nigerian experience trumps sectional interests. And that was grand. To have a notable Afenifere chief of his calibre throw his weight behind someone outside of his ethnicity even when his own kin was in the race in the 2023 presidential polls was an act of nobility and statesmanship.”
The former presidential aide also criticized the Canadian government’s decision to deny a visa to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa which he described the situation as “insult upon injury,” calling on the Federal Government to implement a policy of full and equal reciprocity in response.
“It’s bad enough that the Canadian embassy rejected a visa for Nigeria’s highest-ranking military officer—the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa. But worse is the explanation they have given after the news broke out a couple of days ago,” Akande remarked.
According to the verified Canadian High Commission’s handle in Nigeria on X (formerly Twitter), “The High Commission of Canada in Nigeria is aware of media reports related to planned travel to Canada by senior officials. However, for privacy reasons, we are unable to provide any comment on the status of the visa application of specific individuals.” Akande condemned this response, describing it as dismissive and disrespectful.
“Imagine that kind of an explanation? In Yoruba language, it’s called agunla, loosely interpreted to mean ‘indifference’ or ‘we don’t care.’ The Canadians are calling our bluff. By the way, General Musa is a real gentleman, an outstanding officer who has won the hearts of many Nigerians with the way he does his job and with how he engages with the people with respect and decency. He’s a bad choice for the Canadians to treat this way,” Akande stated.
Akande also cited the reaction of a US-based Nigerian, Dr. Baba Gana Adam, who emailed him, saying, “If this is how the Canadians treat one of the most powerful Nigerian leaders, just imagine the plight of average Nigerians?”
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Akande urged the Federal Government to take a firm stance. “The Federal Government should not accept this kind of insult from the Canadians. Not anymore. We need a full and equal reciprocity. The NSA’s outburst over the matter is not the answer.”
