The popular pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has dismissed widespread reports of the death of its leader Pa Ayo Adebanjo.

These rumors were debunked by the Secretary-General of the group, Chief Sola Ebiseni, who added that the Elder statesman is hale and hearty.

In a statement, he clarified that the leader of the apex group was mistaken for a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Ayo Banjo, whose death at the age of 90 was reported on Friday.

Ebiseni stated: “Baba (Adebanjo) is alive. The attention of Afenifere, the apex Yoruba Socio-Political Organization, has been drawn to a statement circulating, particularly in the media, that our leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, is dead.

“Afenifere wishes to say that Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Leader of the Afenifere, whose 96th birthday was celebrated recently, is alive, hale and hearty.

“As a matter of fact Baba presided over a meeting till very late Saturday night where he received a report of a Committee of the Organisation led by Balogun Akin Osuntokun and other eminent Yoruba personalities.

“It is however not unlikely that the rumoured death might not 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.”