Awo's associate, Professor Banji Akintoye defeats Tinubu, emerges as 4th Yoruba leader

Oredola Adeola |

Eighty-four- year- old elder statesman, celebrated historian and an associate of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo , Prof. Banji Akintoye, has emerged as the fourth Yoruba leader in an election conducted by the assembly of all Yoruba groups worldwide at an event held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Those who voted at the assembly are  Yoruba emancipation organisations across the world including religious, sociocultural and self- determination groups.

The first Yoruba leader to be elected by the assembly was Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, second was Late Chief Adékúnlé Ajasin, and third was Late Senator Abraham Adesanya.

The unwritten law did not allow the tow major nominees, Prof Banji Akintoye and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to be aware of their nomination and election.

The groups met on Thursday to nominate and vote for the two leaders in their absence, none pleaded nor bidded for the position, they were nominated in recognition of their sterling personalities.

Prof Banji Akintoye was born in the defunct Western Region of Nigeria in 1935. He had his secondary school education in Christ's School, Ado Ekiti and then proceeded to study history at the University College (Overseas College of the University of London), Ibadan , which he honourably completed in 1961.

His quest for more knowledge in the field made him to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Ibadan, where he was awarded a PhD in History in 1966.

He taught at the History Department at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where he was appointed full Professor of History and Director of the Institute of African Studies.

Prof. Akintoye has had an exemplary University teaching career spanning over decades both home and abroad. He taught African History in Universities in the United States including the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida; Montgomery County Community College, PA, and Eastern University, St. Davids, Pennsylvania.

As a renowned Professor, he has written several books, scholarly articles as well as Journals. His most recent publication, being his highly acclaimed major work, “A History of the Yoruba People”.

As a statesman, he served as a Senator from 1979 –1983, representing the old Ondo State during the Second Republic.

He has contributed significantly to the development of the Yoruba people at large. He retired and took to writing in the United States of America where he lived after several years of lecturing.