He was a foremost Yoruba nationalist and moral authority
Pa Adesanya rose to become one of the most respected Yoruba leaders of his generation, especially after the death of Pa Adekunle Ajasin, when he was widely acknowledged as the leader of the Yoruba race.
He came from a powerful traditional background
He was the son of Oloye Ezekiel Adesanya (Baba Obu’keagbo), a renowned and influential traditional healer (Babalawo), linking him to deep Yoruba spiritual and cultural roots.
He excelled academically despite humble beginnings
At Ijebu-Ode Grammar School (1942–1944), he distinguished himself with outstanding academic results, laying the foundation for his later intellectual and political life.
He began his career as a teacher before becoming a lawyer
Pa Adesanya first worked as a teacher before travelling to the United Kingdom in 1958 to study law at Holborn College of Law, demonstrating his commitment to self-improvement.
He was a devoted disciple of Chief Obafemi Awolowo
A staunch Awoist, he joined the Action Group (AG) and served in the Western House of Representatives, fully aligning himself with Awolowo’s ideology of federalism, free education, and regional development.
He played a key role in defending Awolowo during the 1962 treason trial
Pa Adesanya assisted Victor Durand QC and other lawyers in defending Chief Awolowo against treason charges brought by the Federal Government, a defining moment in Nigeria’s political history.
He was a Senator in the Second Republic
He was elected to the Nigerian Senate under the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), continuing his legislative service and advocacy for democratic governance.
He was a frontline fighter against military dictatorship
During General Sani Abacha’s regime, Pa Adesanya served as Deputy Leader of NADECO, one of the most influential pro-democracy movements resisting military tyranny in Nigeria.
He survived a notorious assassination attempt in 1997
On January 14, 1997, his car was riddled with bullets by Abacha’s hit squad, yet he survived without injury, earning the iconic nickname “Apa Maku” (Killed but didn’t die).
He led Afenifere with unmatched authority and integrity
As leader of Afenifere, his voice carried immense weight across South-West Nigeria, symbolising discipline, principle, and resistance to injustice until his death in 2008.
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