The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has refuted reports claiming the death of Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

Chief Sola Ebiseni, the Secretary General of Afenifere, confirmed that Pa Adebanjo is hale and hearty.

In a statement, Ebiseni clarified that the confusion arose due to a mistaken identity. It was actually Professor Ayo Banjo, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, who passed away at the age of 90 on Friday.

“Baba (Adebanjo) is alive. The attention of Afenifere, the apex Yoruba socio-political organisation, has been drawn to a statement making the rounds, particularly in the media, that our leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, is dead,” Ebiseni stated. “Afenifere wishes to say that Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader of Afenifere, whose 96th birthday was celebrated recently, is alive, hale and hearty.”

Ebiseni added that Pa Adebanjo was actively engaged as recently as Saturday night, presiding over a meeting where he received a report from a committee led by Balogun Akin Osuntokun and other prominent Yoruba figures.

“It is however not unlikely that the rumoured death might have been a mistaken identity for another distinguished Yoruba son and former Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Ayo Banjo, whose death at the age of 90 years was reported on Friday,” Ebiseni concluded.