Fasehun’s residence in sober mood as Buhari, Tinubu, Bode George, Ajimobi, others mourn

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The demise of Dr Frederick Fasehun, the founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), on Saturday, has thrown his residence in Okota-Isolo, Lagos in mourning mood as friends thronged in to grief with the family.
No fewer than 70 mourners have signed the condolence register as at 7 p.m. on Saturday, opened at his residence.
Family members and some friends formed the majority of early comers that signed the registers.
One of the early callers, who came to grief with the family, included Mr Olawale Oshun, a former federal lawmaker in the state.
Only few family members and friends were seen around the compound, discussing the death of the former presidential aspirant and medical doctor.
One of the sons of the octogenarian, Mr Bankole Fasehun, said the late OPC leader stood for the masses and the downtrodden in his life time.
Bankole said that his father would be missed greatly because he had left a very big vacuum with his examplary life and leadership as well as deep passion for the poor.
“He was a loving man, a kind man and a good man. He was someone who stood for the masses and average Nigerians.
“He embodied the agitation for the emancipation of the masses and we can see this in various organisations he established like OPC, Oodua Resource Centre and various others.
“He tried to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian masses in anyway he could. He did his best and he would be surely missed. He empowered the masses. His legacy will not fall apart.”
He said that Fasehun’s legacies would be sustained because all he built were for the public.
The OPC chieftain died about 1 a.m on Saturday at the intensive care unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja (LASUTH).
Fasehun, who was born in Ondo on September 25, 1938, Ondo State, was an active member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
He also founded Frederick Isiotan Fasehun Foundation (FIFF), a non-governmental organization, which has security, unity and health as its core mandate.
Fasehun was educated at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and graduated as a medical professional, after obtaining his first degree.
He was a specialist in four branches of medicine: Anesthesiology, Acupuncture, Medicine and Surgery, thus becoming West Africa’s first acupuncturist.
He worked for many years at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where he rose through the ranks to become an authority in the medical profession. He was later awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree.
Amongst his many other endeavours, Fasehun was the founder of Besthope Hospitals and Century Hotels, Lagos.
He was active in the Nigerian political space for many years and was one of the founding fathers of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on which platform he became a presidential aspirant.
Fasehun was a renowned freedom fighter and an icon for social justice, a stance that earned him 19 months of solitary confinement at the Intercentre (a prison facility built in the Ikoyi Cemetery) under the former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha in 1996.
He later served in other prison facilities across the country including the Kuje Prison, Abuja, and a few other detention centres.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Yoruba nation over the passing of Fasehun.
The President, in a condolence message by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Saturday, also condoled with the family of the medical practitioner and the government and people of Ondo State.
Buhari recalled the prominent role Fasehun played as a member of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which campaigned against military rule in the country.
The President prayed that almighty God would comfort all those who mourned the octogenarian and grant peace to his soul.

Fasehun’s residence in sober mood as Buhari, Tinubu, Bode George, Ajimobi, others mourn
Fasehun’s residence in sober mood as Buhari, Tinubu, Bode George, Ajimobi, others mourn

National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, described Fasehun as a renowned pro-democracy and good governance activist who left behind fine legacies.
In a statement by his Media Officer, Mr Tunde Rahman, in Lagos, Tinubu said that Fasehun was a committed democrat, tested political player and Yoruba nationalist.
He charged the Fasehun family and other associates of the late leader not to allow his fine legacies to die.
”Dr Fasehun was a renowned pro-democracy and good governance activist, committed democrat, tested political player and Yoruba nationalist.
” I say all of that because I knew him well. We related very closely.
”He was known for his Yoruba nationalistic fervor. Like an Afenifere chieftain that he was, he fought stridently for the Yoruba cause.
” He canvassed true federalism and political restructuring. He fought as well for the cause of the Nigerian nation.
”The good thing about Baba is there was never a time that he sat on the fence,” he said.
Tinubu said that though the late Fasehun was a trained medical doctor, he was very active politically.
“He founded the Oodua Peoples Congress to actualise June 12 but espoused non-violence.
”Nonetheless, he remained a thorn in the flesh of the military. It was therefore no surprise that Dr Fasehun was imprisoned for 19 months from December 1996 to June 1998 by the Gen. Sani Abacha regime, ”Tinubu said.
The APC Leader said that late Fasehun participated actively in politics when democracy fully returned to the country.
” From being an Alliance for Democracy sympathiser in 1999 to 2003, he moved to the front stage.
”Perhaps, one of his last political acts was an attempt at reviving the Unity Party of Nigeria formed by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, by giving the same name to the party he later formed.
‘There was also something remarkable about Baba: his love for Lagos. Though born in Ondo in Ondo State, he spent the most part of his life in Lagos.
”It was here that he situated his medical hospital, the Besthope Hospital and Acupuncture Centre, and his hotel business – the Century Hotel,” he said.
Tinubu said that Fasehun would be greatly missed.
”He was an extremely humble and modest man. I will miss him dearly. The Southwest, particularly Lagos and Ondo states, will miss him. Nigeria will miss him also.
”I commiserate with the government and people of Ondo State. My sympathy and condolences particularly go to the Fasehun family at this moment.
” I hope and pray that God Almighty imbue them with the courage and strength to carry on.
” I enjoin them to continue with the fine legacies left behind by Baba. May Almighty grant Baba eternal rest,” Tinubu said.
Pro National Conference Organisation (PRONACO), the umbrella platform for a people’s driven National Constitutional Conference in Nigeria, says it is shocked by news of the death.
Mr Olawale Okuniyi, PRONACO spokesperson, said in Lagos that Fasehun’s sudden demise was a big blow to Nigeria.
“To us, another unfortunate political vacuum has been created in Nigeria by the sudden demise of a Yoruba nationalist, Dr Fasheun.
“However, we take serious consolation in the fact that posterity, in our humble estimation, shall be very kind to him, for rising up to lead millions of Nigerians out of the military regime.
“Fasehun led Pro democracy activists in association with other compatriots to confront military autocracy in Nigeria, when it was most dangerous to do so.
“PRONACO, Project Nigeria, Movement of Eminent Leaders of thought in Nigeria mourn the demise of Fasehun today. Adieu!, “ he said.
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Chief Olabode George, also said he was devastated by the death of Fasehun.
George made the statement in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Prince Uthman Shodipe-Dosunmu.
George said Fasehun’s death was unfortunate as he lived a good life and did so much for the downtrodden and the Yoruba culture.
He said Fasehun was a man with a good heart who was always unruffled even in the face of provocations.
George said the OPC founder would be sorely missed where honesty was cherished ,and prayed for the repose of his soul.
“Dr Fredrick Fasehun was a quintessential embodiment of principled and unswerving advocate of the protector of the weak and the defender of the trampled.
“He was a Yoruba elder with the complete attributes of the Omoluabi culture.
“ But he was also a Nigerian patriot who fought for justice, truth, fairness and the democratic ethos.
“He was a restless and fearless activist who lived a simple and incorruptible life, pursuing his mission with balanced commitment, with the purity of heart’s affection and with a broad nobility of character.
“He was a good man; effortlessly friendly, always calm and unruffled even amid the greatest provocations.
“He will be sorely missed wherever honesty is cherished , wherever honour, kindness and sincerity of purpose are treasured. May he find solace in the bosom of his Lord”, he said.
Mr Jimi Agbaje, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for Lagos State, described the death as a huge loss to Nigeria, especially the Yoruba race.
 
Describing Fasehun as a historical figure and a foremost father of the country’s Fourth Republic democracy, Agbaje said his transition at this time in the country’s political history was personally painful to him.
Agbaje extolled the virtues of Fasehun in a statement signed by his campaign spokesperson, Mr Felix Oboagwina on Saturday in Lagos.
 
“Not only was Baba an icon of Nigeria’s democratic struggle, but to me, he stood as a father figure with whom I enjoyed a personal relationship,” Agbaje said.
Agbaje, a pharmacist, said that Fasehun’s role as a medical doctor, Nigeria’s first acupuncturist and Founder of OPC, marked him as a historical figure.
 
“We thank God for a life well spent. And we pray that God will grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
 
“My family, my campaign team and I stand with OPC and the family at this moment,” Agbaje said.
 
Recalling the epoch role Fasehun played in the struggle for June 12 and the Fourth Republic, Agbaje described him as a stuff of which legends were made.
 
“Dr. Fasehun left his comfort zone as a wealthy medical doctor to join the proletariats, the commoners and pro-democratic groups on street demonstrations for the military to cede power to civilians.
 
“In this cause, he suffered all kinds of assaults and detentions from the oppressors, but he remained undeterred and unwavering,” Agbaje said.
Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, described Fasehun as a Yoruba irredentist who lived and died for the collective interest of the race.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, on Saturday, the governor said he received the news of the death of the elder statesman with utter disbelief.
While describing the incident as unfortunate and disheartening, he said that it has left a vacuum within the Yoruba nation, which would be very difficult to fill.
Ajimobi said, “Dr. Fasehun’s exit is indeed a monumental loss; not only to the Yoruba nation but to the country as a whole. He was a bridge builder and patriot who dedicated his entire life to the unity of Nigeria.
“No doubt, his exit has created a vacuum which will be very difficult to fill. He lived and breathed his last for the unity of the Yoruba race and the promotion of an egalitarian society.
“As the Founder of OPC, the late elder statesman rallied his fellow compatriots for the emancipation of the Yoruba nation and ensured that the race was given its pride of place in the political matrix of the country.
“Papa Fasehun was fearless and irrepressible. Even at the most difficult period in the history of this country, he remained committed to a united and indivisible Nigeria as well as the enthronement of democracy.”
For several years, Ajimobi said that Fasehun was an active member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), an organisation that was established in 1994 to lead a mass resistance against military rule.
Together with the NADECO patriots, the governor said that Fasehun fought for the inauguration of Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, as the President of Nigeria.  
While commiserating with the family, friends, associates, members of OPC, the Yoruba race and the entire nation on the demise of Fasehun, the governor said that the late elder statesman should be celebrated and not mourned for living a fulfilled life.

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