Buhari, Ambode, others mourn
Second Republic Politician, Dr Tunji
Braithwaite is dead. He died yesterday, aged 82 after a brief illness. His son,
Olumide, said the legal icon and activist politician fell ill in the early
hours of yesterday and was rushed to St. Nicholas Hospital where he died at 5.55
am.
Family sources said that Dr
Braithwaite fell from a thread mill a few weeks ago and had been ill since
then. The illness was said to have worsened yesterday morning when he had
breathing problems prompting his being rushed to the hospital, the source
added.
Olumide, who is yet to reconcile
himself with the fact that his dad is no more said the family was sad about the
death of his father but they are also happy about what he stood for while he
was alive.
His words: “I believe if Nigeria has
a minimum of 10 fearless personalities who are fighting for the masses like my
father did all his life, Nigeria would have been a better country today. “My
father stood for integrity, steadfastness, uprightness, courage, bravery and
the voice for the masses of Nigeria.
In his early 40’s, he contested
against the known names in the political annals of this country which include,
Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the great Zik and Shehu Shagari. I can say without being
immodest that his name also opened a lot of goodwill for the children and
family anywhere we found ourselves.”
Braithwaite’s regrets
Asked if his father had any regrets,
Olumide said: “Anybody who knows my father knew that he was an enigmatic
personality and he had so much hope for this country and that was why he
sacrificed all he had and was never seen being bought over throughout his
entire struggles.
“His greatest regret in life was
that after fighting all these battles, the masses in Nigeria are yet to be free
and emancipated from the political shackles of this country.”
Indeed, if his mien and the thoughts
he shared with Vanguard during his last interview with the national newspaper
are anything to go by, the late Second Republic politician, lawyer and
philanthropist died with one major regret and an unfinished assignment.
Braithwaite had not completed the
book he was writing on the politics of Second Republic, to capture the men and
factors that shaped that era as well as the politico-legal and social relations
between him and the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
He made eradication of corruption
(clearing rats, mosquitoes and cockroaches) the fulcrum of his presidential
campaign in 1983 when he ran on the platform of the Nigeria Advance Party, NAP,
he founded.
Born on September 13, 1933 as the
youngest son of eight children, Braithwaite was educated at the C.M.S Grammar
School, entering the school’s Preparatory Section in 1946 and completing his
education in 1953. He proceeded to sit for his A Levels at the London
University at Kennington College in 1955 and enrolled in 1957/58 as a Law
student at the Council of Legal Education, London. He was admitted into
Lincoln’s Inn that same year and graduated as a barrister in 1960.
As a lawyer, Braithwaite made his
mark in company law. He was also one of the lawyers, who stood behind Chief
Obafemi Awolowo during his travails in the early 60s.
Buhari mourns
President Muhammadu Buhari has
commiserated with the immediate family, friends, professional colleagues and
political allies of the elder statesman and pro-democracy activist, Tunji
Braithwaite, who passed away yesterday.
The President believes the passing
away of the lawyer, author and politician came at a time his wisdom,
intellectual depth, vast knowledge and experience were sorely needed by the
country.
Lagos has lost a great son— Ambode
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode, expressed shock and sadness over the demise of Dr. Tunji Braithwaite.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, Ambode said
Braithwaite’s demise was a great loss to both the state and the nation.
Ambode, who described the late
nationalist as a detribalized individual whose example was worthy of emulation,
said Braithwaite was a man of the people, a typical Nigerian who was consistent
in saying things the way they were, not caring whose ox was gored.
He fought for a progressive
Nigeria—Adebanjo
A chieftain of the Pan-Yoruba
socio-economic organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo said: ‘’His death is
a very big loss to Nigeria. He was one of those who fought for an independent
Nigeria and a restructured nation along progressive lines. We were both at the
National Confab and he stuck his neck out to make sure that most of the resolutions
were taken.”
Alegeh, Uranta
Nigerian Bar Association, NBA
President, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, said: “The Bar mourns one of the legal icons
in the country. He has gone but we are consoled that he has gone to a better
place. His name would be written in gold for the good work he did and he would
be remembered.”
Executive Secretary of the Nigerian
National Summit Group, NNSG, Mr Tony Uranta said: “The NNSG mourns the passage
of one of its Guiding Lights, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite! Dr. Braithwaite was a key
actor in Nigeria’s political history of the last half a century and more. We
pray that Nigeria will soon become the dreamland that he and his ilks have
strived to see it become.”
Source: Vanguard News
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