Gov. Ambode, others mourn Tunji Braithwaite
(Nigeria) Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday
expressed shock and sadness over the demise of a foremost nationalist and
prominent lawyer, Dr Tunji Braithwaite.
Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr
Habib Aruna, said Braithwaite’s demise was a great loss to both the state and
the nation.
Braithwaite died in a Lagos hospital on Monday at the age of
82.
Ambode described the late nationalist as a detribalized
individual whose example was worthy of emulation.
He said that 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.
"During the military era, especially that of the late
Gen. Sanni Abacha, when politicians were afraid to come out and contest,
Braithwaite dared the odds and came out to contest against Abacha at the risk
of his life.
“He was very consistent in fighting for what he believed was
right and fair to every human being, regardless of their ethnic leaning or
creed. He was not one to shy away from
taking a position that he strongly believed in.
“He was always consistent in creating independent platforms
to fight for the interest of the common man,” Ambode said.
The governor said that as a lawyer, Braithwaite stood tall
among his peers, which earned him respect, not only in Nigeria, but across the
globe.
“He was one of the very best of lawyers this country has
ever produced; he was consistent in the struggle to see the rebirth of a new
Nigeria. At over 80 years, he came out
to protest on the streets with the likes of Prof. Ben Nwabueze and other activists,
against the economic policies of the then Federal Government,” he said.
Ambode, while commiserating with the family of the late
legal luminary, urged them to uphold the ideals he stood and fought for, saying
that the nation would continue to draw inspiration from his life and times.
"He was a pride to all Lagosians and we will surely
miss him,” Ambode said.
Also, the Nigerian National Summit Group, NNSG, on Monday
mourned the death of Braithwaite, saying that the nation has lost a rare gem.
The Executive Secretary of the NNSG, Mr Tony Uranta told
newsmen at the house of the late Braithwaite that words could not describe his
pains at the loss of the man he described as a nationalist and selfless
Nigerian.
According to Uranta, Braithwait was a father figure who
always had the nation's interest at heart.
"The late Braithwaite was like a father to me. A Man
whose memory I will never live down. He fought for the masses and was always
there to advice. I urge Nigeria to immortalise him," he said.
In the same vein, the founder of the Oodua People’s Congress,
OPC, Dr Frederick Fasehun, described the demise of Braithwaite as a personal
loss.
Fasehun said that the former presidential candidate of the
National Advance Party, NAP, was a “personal friend and a fellow democrat.”
He said that Braithwaite had an unparalleled passion for the
development of Yorubaland and people in particular, and Nigeria in general.
"He was a legal luminary, human rights gladiator,
constructive commentator and selfless philanthropist. He should not have died at this time of
Nigeria’s political history, when the country is in need of patriots, zealots
and visionaries like him.”
Meanwhile, the Centre for Change and Women Arise for Change
Initiative has described the death of Braithwaite as a huge loss to the
country.
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, president of the initiative, said in
Lagos that the late Braithwaite was a foremost nationalist and activist of
repute.
"We receive with shock, the demise this morning of a
foremost nationalist and activist, Dr Tunji Braithwaite. This is no doubt a
huge loss to Nigeria as a Nation. The gap created by the demise of Dr
Braithwaite to us, would be near impossible to fill, as an organisation and as
Nigerians’’.
She said that Braithwaite made immeasurable contributions to
national development, through participation in politics with his National
Advance Party, and activism, “to which he dedicated an unquantifiable number of
his life and times”.
Similarly, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, founder, Women Advocates
Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) said that Braithwaite was an honest
and faithful lawyer, activist and politician, who would be sadly missed.
"Even when he joined politics, his attitude and opinion
to upholding social justice, good governance, truth and protection of human
rights never changed. Dr Braithwaite will be forever remembered for his
contributions to the socio- economic and political development of the country.
"It is a call to the younger generation to emulate this
great man by contributing our quota to the development of our country,"
she said.
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