The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has paid a tribute to Dr. Tunji Braithwaite describing him as a Nationalist, a consistent and persistent fighter against all forms of oppression and repression, a supporter and motivator of our Coalition in the war against corruption. His passage represents a colossal loss to the activist and revolutionary community.
In a statement signed by Wale Salami, CACOL media coordinator said Braithwaite monumental contributions to the struggle for an egalitarian society were immeasurable and invaluable.
The statement further read, “He lived and died for the struggle to liberate the poor and oppressed in spite of his ‘privileged’ background.
“As far back as 1978, he formed the National Advance Party, NAP, a political party with the mission of prioritizing the welfare of people; he was of the ‘Awoist’ school of thought, an ardent and outspoken defender of the voiceless and the poor. He believed in Awo’s policies and Fela’s philosophy which led to him volunteering to be lawyer to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, late Fela Anikulapo Kuti and several others in law courts against military dictatorship.
“His passage is particularly painful for us in CACOL, for the roles he played in supporting actively the activities of our coalition including being the Chairman of our past 5 Annual General Meetings; intellectual support and guidance.
“A strong advocate for the restructuring of Nigeria Federation, defender of women and human rights; Dr. Tunji dared and confronted the military with every ability he had, until the Khaki boys were kicked out of power and remained intolerable to civilian dictatorship afterwards, especially during the Olusegun Obasanjo regime; this informed his active participation in foiling the illegal and infamous third-term bid of the retired General.
“A rare kind and in a class of his own; comparable to Fela Kuti, Beko RansomeKuti, Gani Fawehinmi, Alao Aka-Bashorun etc. who were his ideological soul-mates and like them, he cannot die, for revolutionaries don’t die!”
In the same vein, the Founder and President of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr.
Frederick Fasehun, also eulogized the late legal luminary describing the demise as a personal loss.
Explaining that the former Presidential Candidate of the National Advance Party (NAP) was a “personal friend and fellow democrat,” Fasehun said Braithwaite had an unparalleled passion for the development of Yoruba land and people in particular and Nigeria in general.
“He was a legal luminary, human rights gladiator, constructive
commentator and selfless philanthropist,” said Fasehun, who is also, National Chairman of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). “In Braithwaite’s death I have lost a fellow soldier,” Fasehun said, adding, “His death is a sad and painful death. He should not have died
at this time of Nigeria’s political history, when the country needs patriots, zealots and visionaries like him. People like Braithwaite have the patriotic zeal and vision capable of moving the nation forward. “We wish the family the strength to bear this monumental loss.”
