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By Samuel Adegoke
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Yoruba Council of Elders, Afenifere and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have paid glowing tributes to the former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN).
The legal luminary died on Tuesday morning in his Idi-Ishin, Ibadan home. He was certified dead at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
In a statement, Oyo PDP said Akinjide’s contributions to the building of Nigeria, the growth of PDP in Oyo State and his excellent marks in legal practice will be remembered for a long time.
The statement, which was co-signed by State Chairman Alh. Kunmi Mustapha and Publicity Secretary Mr Akeem Olatunji, described the late Akinjide as a staunch party faithful and one of the founding fathers of the PDP in Nigeria. It added that the deceased was a great pillar of the party in Oyo State.
The party further described his death as a big blow to the entire PDP family in Oyo State and Nigeria at large, stressing that regardless of his very old age, the party always relied on his wealth of wisdom and experience in managing state and national affairs within the party.
In his own statement, Oba Adetunji described Akinjide’s demise as a monumental loss to the nation.
The monarch noted that the late Chief Akinjide as an accomplished lawyer and politician, gave a very good account of himself as First Republic Minister of State in Education and Second Republic Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation with his robust exchange of ideas.
According to him, Akinjide, who also served as a chieftain in the Olubadan of Ibadan’s court of clan nobles, was a patriot who displayed great love for his fatherland and her people.
He recalled that the legendary lawyer who made Grade 1 Distinction (aggregate 6) in his senior school certificate examinations in the early 1950s, used to be a reference point and mentor to generations of youths who imbibed hard work, diligence and dedication to duty.
Oba Adetunji stated that he was not surprised when on March 8 this year, the Yemi Soladoye-led Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) put the late Akinjide’s picture among those etched in Ibadan’s Hall of Fame at Ibadan House, Oke Aremo in an impressive ceremony.
While praying God to give his family and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Olubadan posited that the vacuum left by Akinjide’s exit would be hard to fill.
In its own statement, YCE noted that Akinjide was a brilliant intellectual, lawyer and a patriot who was one of the founding fathers of Nigeria and the YCE.
The statement by its Secretary General, Dr Kunle Olajide said: “The legal luminary,Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was a founding member of the Yoruba Council of Elders. He was in the good and able company of very distinguished Nigerian Patriot, Chief Mrs. HID Awolowo, Archdeacon Emmanuel Alayande and eminent jurist and author, Justice Adewale Thompson all of blessed memory . Baba Alayande at over 90 years, was the founding President, Mrs Awolowo was the Matron and Justice Thompson was the Secretary General. My humble self was the Assistant Secretary General.
“Chief Akinjide was very passionate about the primary goal of the organization and still remains the protection and promotion of Yoruba interest in a United progressive Federal Republic of Nigeria until his death. He remained committed to the Council’s goal.”
“Chief Akinjide was a very successful politician who began his career as a member of the Federal Parliament at the age of 27.”
“He was a successful legal practitioner at that time. He later became Federal Minister of Education where he would always be remembered for righting the wrongs and reversing the injustice of the Federal Scholarship Awards at that time in 1965.
“He demonstrated courage and confidence in making merit the basis of the scholarship awards . Later in the Second Republic ,he was Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Alh. Shehu Shagari’s governnment.
“He is more remembered by most Nigerians for his role in propounding the 12 2/3 theory.
“The sole basis of dismissing Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s efforts in the Supreme Court to nullify Shehu Shagari’s election . Chief Akinjide was a brilliant intellectual , successful Attorney General, a patriotic Nigerian and a family man. He left indelible footprints in the sand of time.
“He will long be remembered as one of the founding fathers of the Nigerian nation.