Three birthdays and a nation
By Reuben Abati

THREE high profile birthday events in the last fortnight, involving three key national figures with different levels of popularity and historical significance, but of certainly comparable degrees of impact in their chosen fields of endeavour deserve some quick comments, as part of a necessary process of iconisation, and to remind ourselves of certain aspects of our recent past. Nothing signposts the direction that society should take or not take more than the content of individual lives.

Let me begin with the attainment of the age of 80, by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the well-known Yoruba statesman, Afenifere and NADECO chieftain, former journalist, legal practitioner and Awoist. He turned 80 on Thursday, April 10. Days before then, the newspapers and magazines were full of interviews with Chief Adebanjo, and he had used the opportunity to comment in a characteristically bold and confident manner on the governance process in Nigeria, the Obasanjo administration and Yoruba leadership and politics. It was as if the media houses were competing among themselves to be the first with the news about Chief Adebanjo's birthday. What they were celebrating about the man however was his example. And the old man well-schooled in the intricacies of the public domain, did not waste the opportunity.

Adebanjo is one of those old and original politicians for whom politics is about ideas, values and service. An ardent follower of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Adebanjo has remained fiercely loyal to Awo long after his death. He is in every sense a man of conviction who is at peace with his own choices. He summons to service at the slightest opportunity the courage to state those convictions without minding whose ox is gored. And yet for all his years in politics, Adebanjo had only served in public office once as a Councillor in the Ijebu division. He belongs to the thinking corner of the party, be it the Action Group, or the Unity Party of Nigeria or the Alliance for Democracy or the Afenifere. Because he is such a man who does not know how to hide his feelings, some later-day members of the progressive camp who for one reason or the other are now on the other side of the divided politics of the House of Oduduwa were absent at his birthday party and studiously silent about the event.

But Adebanjo has never been one to play to the gallery. He is made of such stuff that if he were to be the only one standing on an issue and he was convinced of the truthfulness of his choice, he would stand alone. He has been known to ignore certain events because he does not want to stand in the same room with a particular fellow or groups of persons whom he disagrees with. Ideologically, Adebanjo's worldview owes its origins and content to Awoism. He has been accused of rigidity, extremism and of fanaticism, if not stubbornness, but Adebanjo is quick to insist that he would never apologise for his convictions. He is a moralist of the deepest dye, his loyalty to Awo is perhaps without comparison. And this has brought him much criticism, especially from those who continue to argue that no follower of Awo has the right to insist on the sole ownership of the Awo legacy or the sole understanding of Awoism.

His 80th birthday church service and the party at his home town of Isanya-Ogbo, a village near Ijebu-Ode was attended by a broad spectrum of Nigerians: a reflection of his network of influence. In a political career spanning about sixty years, Adebanjo has witnessed and has been involved in some of the momentous events of his time. He is one of the most durable and more consistent politicians alive in Nigeria today. He joined the Egbe Omo Oduduwa and the Action Group early and was involved in the struggle for independence. He later became the Organising Secretary of the Action Group in the Remo division, that is the party leader's constituency.

During the famous Awo treasonable felony trial in 1962, Adebanjo was one of those who were advised to run away to Ghana so that there would be persons who would be free to speak for the party. On his return however, he was promptly sent to prison by the authorities, his name having featured originally on the list of accused persons. During the Second Republic, Adebanjo was back in action as one of the chieftains of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). In the heady days of Abacha misrule, Adebanjo naturally was one of the leaders of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).

He and Papa Abraham Adesanya, the late Chief Bola Ige, Sir Olaniwun Ajayi, together with the progressive camp led by Wole Soyinka, Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome Kuti and others and backed by an equally rebellious press, stood up to the military. Adebanjo is not a very easy opponent to have: he is unwavering where he feels principles are at stake. The military detained him along with other NADECO leaders, but this in no way affected the fire in his belly. At 80, the old man continues to engage the country of his birth with passion, although he and his other brothers must resolve the lingering dispute in Afenifere lest they expose themselves soon to open ridicule.

The second birthday that deserves attention is that of Chief Gani Fawehinmi who is being celebrated in absentia at home by a large community of admirers. He turned 70 on April 22. What Gani stands for needs no introduction. Like Adebanjo who is ten years older, Gani as he is simply known is also an extremely focussed social crusader. He is without doubt one of the makers of modern Nigeria. More than any other Nigerian of his time, Gani has used the law as a potent instrument of social change. A fearless and unrepentant critic of the governance process, Gani has given hell to every Nigerian government, where issues of human rights violations are concerned.

Gani says it as it is. His fanaticism in the expression of his views may have brought him into collision course with former friends and allies, but Gani stands out in terms of his consistency. The military establishment enjoyed sending him to prison. But so influential has he been, that a younger generation of lawyers have since emerged who owe their inspiration almost entirely to Gani. At great personal risk to his life and his legal practice, Gani continues to demonstrate the importance of courage, and the inviolability of the truth. He is a symbol of the values of hardwork and single-minded doggedness. Equally remarkable is Gani's contribution to legal scholarship. His documentation of case law in different aspects of the law remains easily the most authoritative reference materials in the legal profession. His Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR) in particular helped to open up the law, and made the work of lawyers much easier.

It is difficult to imagine what else Gani would have been if not a lawyer and a human rights crusader. Perhaps he would have ended up as a journalist, considering the facility with which he sheds light on some of the thorny issues of our time. Such is the measure of the man that the public is forever seeking his views on national issues. Gani's constituency is that of the masses, even if he is in terms of class and status, one of the elites. He is a generous spirit and a passionate philanthropist., always using his resources to provide scholarship for thousands of Nigerian children, and to defend the poor in the court of law.

Those who have worked with Gani report that the man is a slave driver; he expects from his associates the same level of tenacity, drive and self-sacrifice. International organisations have honoured him with awards including the Bruno Kreisky Prize (1993) and the Bernard Simmons Award (1998) but the award that defines Gani most poignantly is the reference to him as the Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM). Students union leaders, labour unionists, civil society activists and anyone who has been dealt a wrong hand by the state is forever sure of the solidarity of Gani. Founder of the National Conscience Party, he is never afraid to make a point, in order to challenge existing orthodoxies and to remind the people of the possibilities within their reach. This country would have been worse off without a Gani.

Our third birthday celebrant is 80 today. He is Papa Muhammed Adetoyi Mac Alabi, popularly known in the journalism profession as Mac Alabi. Not many Nigerians would know him, but among Nigerian journalists, he is an icon of the profession. Pa Alabi has been in the journalism profession for about 58 years and he is still highly regarded by younger journalists. He began his career with the Southern Nigerian Defender in 1951, in 1952, he joined the Nigerian Tribune in Ibadan and in 1960, he crossed over to the Daily Times where he spent 23 years. Alabi had to retire from the Daily Times in December 1983 after attaining the statutory retirement age of 55. But journalism is his life. He simply couldn't do anything else. In 1984, he took up appointment with The Guardian as Night Editor of the newspaper. He was in The Guardian for seven years and three months retiring a second time from active service in April 1991, after a total of about 40 years unbroken service as a journalist.

During this period, Mac Alabi served in virtually every capacity, as an all-rounder. At both the Daily Times and The Guardian, he helped to preserve standards, build a House Style and train generations of sub-editors and production hands. While at The Daily Times, all the boys who had worked under him called him "oga". By the time, he reached The Guardian, he was affectionately referred to as "Baba". He was the quality control points man who paid close attention to headlines, grammar, spellings and the overall presentation of a story.

Even in retirement, Baba Alabi has remained in touch with the newsroom offering advice and mentoring younger editors. Baba Alabi is respected for his fanatical devotion to standards in journalism. He loved the profession so much that he resisted the lure of other professions, particularly Nigerian politics which he deplores. At both the Daily Times and The Guardian, he found himself serving under the young boys who had worked under him on the sub-desk: Tony Momoh and Segun Osoba for example at Daily Times, and Lade Bonuola and Femi Kusa at The Guardian. He was happy to serve and to do so with all his heart.

There is a lot to be learnt from men such as these. May their tribe increase. To each and all three: happy birthday.

Robot  Villager

# 1 THREE high profile birthday events in the last fortnight, involving three key national figures - Ch...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 25.04.2008 06:36