Family, friends, political associates and legal luminaries monday thronged the Teslim Elias residence of the late fiery lawyer, politician and human rights activist, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, 82, who died at 5.55 am monday.
The second son of the deceased, Olumide Braithwaite, said his late father suffered a stroke and heart failure.
However, online news website, The Cable, said Braithwaite died one week after losing consciousness while working out on his treadmill at home.
He was said to have been rushed to St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, but never regained consciousness.
Born in 1933, the celebrated lawyer was born into a family of many firsts, the Braithwaite family in Lagos. In 1880, Rev. I. Braithwaite led the first Anglican missionary expedition, which introduced the gospel to the Ijebu province in today’s Ogun State.
In 1894, the reverend built St. Michael’s, the first church in Epe in today’s Lagos State, after which his efforts led to the growth of church attendance. There is now a second Anglican church – the Reverend Braithwaite Memorial Anglican Church – named after him in Papa Epe.
Talabi, Tunji’s elder brother, was one of the pioneers of the insurance industry in Africa. In fact, he emerged the first chartered insurer from Africa when he became an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London in 1951.
He set up T.A. Braithwaite (Insurance Brokers) & Co. Ltd. in April 1958, the first indigenous insurance broking company in Nigeria.
Tunji, the last of eight children, was educated at C.M.S Grammar School from 1946 to 1953. He did his A’levels at London University at Kennington College in 1955. In 1957, he enrolled at the Council of Legal Education, London. He was admitted into Lincoln’s Inn that same year and graduated as a barrister in 1960.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Grace, in 1956 and they had five children and several grandchildren.
But many older Nigerians will remember the late Braithwaite as a presidential candidate in the 1983 elections, whose party, the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), was the only one registered by the electoral commission to join the five existing ones approved by the military government in 1979.
Braithwaite was not alone in NAP, though. He had intellectuals with him such as Professor Wole Soyinka before he became a Nobel laureate.
Soyinka, ahead of the elections, recorded a song which almost replaced the national anthem: “I love Nigeria I no go lie/Na inside am I go live and die…” Those lines became a sing song as the song became a monster hit.
But Braithwaite left Nigerians with more memorable lines in his presidential campaign as the flag bearer of NAP in the ill-fated election – and his TV commercial was an instant hit.
“I will kill all the rats, cockroaches and mosquitoes,” he would say to the camera, in marketing his anti-corruption ideas to the electorate. It was a message that was too coded for the ordinary voter to understand.
But much more difficult to understand, and even hilarious, was his promise to move residents of Mushin to Victoria Island, and residents of Victoria Island to Mushin.
Unknown to the masses, he was only propagating his socialist ideals of addressing the inequalities in the Nigerian society, with Victoria Island representing the bourgeois class and Mushin the commoners. He would redistribute the wealth and make everybody equal in the society, he said in poetic language.
Needless to say that his campaign did not resonate with the people he wanted to help: he came last in the presidential election with 271,000 votes. Shehu Shagari, the sitting president, had 12 million. Violence ensued thereafter and the military overthrew Shagari a few months later.
Braithwaite returned to politics with NAP but with less colour in 2003 and his party was removed from the register by the electoral commission in 2012 for not winning a seat at any level.
Some of the earliest callers who signed the condolence register at his residence friday were Venerable and Mrs. Odubena of St. Paul’s Church, Breadfruit Street, Lagos, Dr. Kayode Okeowo, Mr. Kayode Lambo, Mr. Olaotan Ajose-Adeogun, Mrs. Amaka Egbosimber, Mr. Segun Ajakaiye (DPO V/I), Adeola Braithwaite, Mr. Olusosun Falade, Dr. Alli Balogun Bola, Hon. Justice and Mrs. S.O Honponu-Wusa, Sir Tony Uranta, and Tele and Lanre Aina, among others.
Reacting to his demise, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday commiserated with the immediate family, friends, professional colleagues and political allies of the late Dr. Braithwaite.
The president, in a statement issued in Abuja by his media adviser, Mr. Garba Shehu, said he believed the passing away of the lawyer, author and politician came at a time when his wisdom, intellectual depth, vast knowledge and experience were sorely needed by the country.
Buhari recalled the immeasurable contributions of the late sage to the development of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in Nigeria.
He assured his family and friends that the political history of the country would be incomplete without capturing his roles.
The president urged political leaders to emulate the virtues of the founder of NAP during the Second Republic, who perceived politics as a platform for honest service to the nation rather than an opportunity to make money.
Buhari noted that the elder statesman was quintessentially selfless, patriotic and committed to national development as his passion to serve the people never waned despite not winning in the presidential elections.
The president prayed that the Almighty God would grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his loved ones.
In another condolence message, the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, described Braithwaite as an iconoclastic political leader and social activist.
The National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, who signed the condolence message on behalf of his group, noted that at his last major outing as a member of the 2014 National Conference, “He (Braithwaite) had stoutly canvassed a confederate arrangement as the best constitutional order for Nigeria.”
He added: “His death has brought a closure to a rich era of political sagacity and social crusading. He would always be remembered for his consistency, tenacity and intellectual fecundity.
“It is our prayer that God Almighty will protect the family he has left behind. May his great soul rest in perfect peace!”
Former National Secretary, lawyer and chairman, Egalitarian Mission Africa, Dr. Kayode Ajulo also showered encomium on the late Braithwaite, describing him as an example of a great lawyer.
“I was privileged to appeared against the senior lawyer at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja where he represented Mrs. Maiden Alex-Ibru while my humble self represented E.K. Clark, Ambassador A. B. Clark and Prof. J. P. Clark.
“He was full of wits and gifted with rare technicalities, his dressing was sartorially elegant even with the traditional wig and gown but I was surprised that he wore a slip-on black shoes instead of a formal Oxford shoes.
“Despite my fierce opposition during our arguments that went personal, after the court session, he extended a hand of fellowship to me, offered words of advice and heartily commended me. He was a good man,” Ajulo said.
In his condolence message, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar said the death of Nigeria’s veteran lawyer and politician has robbed the country of one of its greatest giants not only in the field of law, but also in politics.
Atiku, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said he particularly admired the late Braithwaite because of his unwavering commitment to constitutional reforms, especially his agitation for restructuring of the country.
The former vice-president noted that he shared in Braithwaite’s passion for creating a fairer federal system that would reduce the fear of too much power and resources concentrated at the centre at the expense of the federating units.
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun also described as “a great loss,” the death of Dr. Braithwaite.
Amosun said: “He will be remembered, not just for his contributions to the legal profession, but also to the development of the democratic ethos in Nigeria.”
The Ogun State governor recalled how Dr. Braithwaite founded NAP in 1983 and over the years, remained faithful to the Nigerian cause through his words and deeds.
Similarly, Amosun’s counterpart in Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko described the Braithwaite’s death as a great loss, submitting that the deceased showed love and genuine concern for the downtrodden.
“Dr. Braithwaite’s death came to me as a rude shock because it was never envisaged that he was going to transit to the great beyond at this critical time in our nation’s history, given his concern for the nation and commitment to the general wellbeing of the masses.”
Mimiko said it is on record that the political and legal icon devoted his entire adult life to the emancipation of the common man in Nigeria through various platforms including his NAP, which he founded from his days as a student.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode aslo expressed shock and sadness over the demise of foremost nationalist and prominent lawyer.
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.
Describing the late nationalist as a detribalised individual whose example was worthy of emulation, Ambode 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 recalled that during the military era, especially that of the late General Sanni Abacha’s administration, when politicians were afraid to come out and contest, Braithwaite dared the odds and came out to contest against the late general at the risk to his life.
The former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi who also marvelled at his knowledge of Braithwaite’s Jurisprudence, described him as one of the pillars of democracy in Nigeria.
He also said that Nigerians would continue to cherish the virtues of hard work, consistency and strong character traits associated with him that would, for a long time, provide guidance to Nigerians at all times.
In the same vein, the former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, expressed sadness over the demise of the famous lawyer and activist, adding that the deceased was a patriotic Nigerian, whose contributions to the social and political advancement of the country will not be easily forgotten.
According to the former governor, Dr. Braithwaite was an accomplished legal luminary, an astute politician and a resolute activist, who used his intellectual endowment in fighting for a just and equitable society.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Kunle Oyewumi, Kalu said: “The passing of Dr. Tunji Braithwaite is painful as he died at a time the country needed his counsel on national issues. He was an outstanding statesman by all standards.”
Also, fellow lawyer and rights activist, Mr. Festus Keyamo, described the late Braithwaite as a “true and thorough revolutionary”.
He used his revolutionary ideas to challenge the status quo and all anti-people policies of all regimes.
“I came into close contact with him many times when we planned various protests in his house in Victoria Island. The last notable one was the fuel subsidy protest in January 2012, which we coordinated from his residence.
“Nigeria has lost a loud voice against oppression, against bad government and against the status quo,” Keyamo said.
In a statement, the Nigerian Leaders of Conscience, under the aegis of Project Nigeria (Nigeria Consensus Group), Pro National Conference Organization (PRONACO) and the National Action Movement (NAM) said they had once again been outsmarted by the sudden exit of Braithwaite, whom they termed a “key pillar of Nigeria’s revolutionary march”.
The group in a statement by the spokesman of PRONACO, said his demise was indeed shocking and unevisaged by his associates, coming at a very important moment of the country’s transition into formidable progressive change under the able watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, his long-standing political ally in various democratic trenches
“We are hereby compelled to note that Tunji Braithwaite, a foremost revolutionary advocate during his life time has inspired and led various popular movements of the Nigerian peoples and masses.
“He will be especially remembered for initiating and leading the Nigerian Advance Party founded in 1978 among several other progressive democratic platforms which he co-founded with other progressive leaders of Nigeria.
“While mourning the sudden vacuum created by his departure, we wish to proudly salute his innumerable heroic effort and interventions towards revolutionary change in the country, especially on the national democratic platforms such as PRONACO led by Chief Anthony Enahoro of blessed memory, Nigerians Unite for Democracy (NUD) jointly initiated by Icons like GMB, now PMB, the late Odimegwu Ojukwu and Alhaji Balarabe Musa, among other progressive associates of Braithwaite.”
In his message, former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu expressed sadness at the passing away of Braithwaite.
A statement by his media office said the death has left a vacuum in the political firmament of Nigeria, adding: “But though dead, he lives behind a robust political legacy and his vibrant intellectual contributions to the polity will remain relevant for a long time to come.
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