Akinjide: Buhari, Tinubu, Makinde, Afe Babalola, Ajimobi mourn

President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the demise of former Attorney-General of Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister, Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide (SAN).
In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State over the passing of an illustrious son.
“President Buhari condoles with family members, friends, professional and political associates of the legal icon, who made remarkable impact on the country as Minister of Education in the First Republic, Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the Second Republic, and member of Judicial Systems Sub-committee of the Constitutional Drafting Committee of 1975-1977.
“The President joins the Olubadan of Ibadan Court, Nigerian Bar Association and entire Judiciary in mourning the legal luminary, affirming that he used his rich experience and knowledge in serving the country and humanity.
“President Buhari prays that the almighty God will grant the departed eternal rest, and comfort his family”.
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has sent his commiseration to the family of Akinjide, the government and people of Oyo State over his passing on Tuesday.
In the condolence message issued by his Media Office in Lagos and signed by Mr. Tunde Rahman, Asiwaju Tinubu said: “I commiserate with the family of Second Republic Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the federation, Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide, over his passing early on Tuesday.  
“Chief Akinjide was an extra-ordinarily brilliant lawyer and an undisputable giant in the legal profession.  Whichever side of the political spectrum anyone belonged to in that 1979-83 era, it was never in doubt that Chief Akinjide served the country and the government of late President Shehu Shagari with dedication, commitment and with all his deep legal knowledge and immense skills.
“He had a passion for service and even deeper obsession with matters of the law. Chief Akinjide will not be forgotten in a hurry for his was a powerful voice not only in matters of law and jurisprudence but also in national affairs, wherein he made many important interventions at critical periods.
“My condolences also go to the government and people of Oyo State over the loss of their outstanding son. May God Almighty grant his soul eternal rest and comfort his family and all those he left behind.”
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State described the demise of Akinjide as the end of an era and a huge loss to the state, the legal profession, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and indeed, the world at large.
Makinde, who also described the demise as the loss of a gem and a shining light, said that he was saddened by the demise of the foremost legal luminary.
The governor, in a condolence message made available through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, described Akinjide as a legal luminary who served his state and country to the best of his ability.
He maintained that the former minister’s death came at a period that his wealth of experience and robust versatility in history, politics and law was needed to offer direction to the current generation of Nigerian leaders.
The governor said: “The news of the death of our father, leader and one of the last men standing among the foremost politicians of the country, Chief Richard Akinjide, came to us as a shock.
“This is because Baba, for those who know him or has seen him in recent time, did not shown any sign of slowing down; he continued to lead intelligent and history-laden conversations, offered golden advice on governance and leadership and remained a great pillar of experience in politics and law.
“His death, no doubt, is a huge loss to Oyo State, Nigeria and indeed, the world, because he was an exemplary indigene of Ibadan and Oyo State; a detribalised Nigerian, who served the country to the best of his ability and a citizen of the world.
“We have lost a gem and a shining light in Baba Akinjide. I commiserate with my sister and chieftain of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and the rest of Baba’s biological and political children.
“I condole with all indigenes of Oyo State and Nigerians on the exit of a giant of Akinjide’s standing.”
Eminent lawyer, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), described the late Akinjide as a legal colossus and a professional who was a fervent believer in the rule of law.
He said this in Ado-Ekiti in his tribute.
Babalola, who personally signed the tribute, also described the former minister as an erudite and brilliant advocate.
“I have seen the departed learned Brother of the Silk at close quarters, seen him at work and I have also seen him at play.
“I interacted with him in the court and outside the court and found him to be a genial and humble person who was sold to hard work.
“But as traumatising as the news is, I am consoled by the fact that the departed senior member of the Inner Bar, who was well known for his mastery of the English Language and his dexterity in court, lived a most fulfilled life,” he said.
Babalola further said the deceased impacted on  his community, ” particularly the judiciary, his primary constituency, thereby leaving his giant steps on the sand of judicial times.”
“A professional to the core, the departed legal colossus was a fervent believer in the rule of law.
“His acclaimed brilliance and the very professional ways he conducted himself both within and outside the Bar will remain indelible in our psyche.
“The Bar and the Bench will certainly miss him, particularly his fine legal analysis.
“He was a man, who was loved and respected by all members of the Bar which he was fortunate to lead at some point in his beautiful career as the National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
“I thank the Almighty God for granting him the enviable grace of being able to make his marks before being called home to rest in His bosom.
“It is my fervent prayer that all he worked for whilst still with us on planet earth will stand him in good stead before The Maker of all things.
“It is given for all mortals to leave one day, we will all leave one day after the other.
” One of the greatest ways God has demonstrated his almightiness is that no one knows when, where and how he will die.
“While wishing him a most-deserved rest, I pray that the Almighty God will grant the entire Akinjide dynasty and the judiciary where he served meritoriously the grace and the equanimity to bear the irreparable loss,” Babalola said.
APC Deputy National Chairman (South) and former Oyo governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, described the death as a great loss to the legal profession.
Ajimobi said this in a statement he personally signed in Ibadan.
Ajimobi said that he received the news of Akinjide’s passage with great sadness, describing him as an illustrious son of Ibadanland.
“Though he died at an advanced age of 88, his death still came as a rude shock to me and to many other Nigerians who heard about it.
“As a legal icon, he was the pride of Ibadan and the Nigerian society, proving his worth at different legal fora.
“As a nationalist, he gave his best to the world of legal practice and the best came back to him in terms of recognition,” he said.
The former governor said that Akinjide was indisputably recognised as a brilliant jurist and was deservedly accorded honour.
According to him, “He was Queen’s Counsel (QC), Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a life bencher, who brought his wealth of experience to the Nigerian bar.
“As a statesman, he served his country diligently, being Minister of Education in the First Republic and in the Second Republic, he was the country’s Chief Legal Officer.”
He said that the deceased would forever be remembered for his contributions to the body of knowledge in the legal profession, with some prominent lawyers passing through him for tutelage.
“As we fervently pray for the repose of his soul, we are consoled by the fact that his legacies of good works will continue to live after him.
“In the words of former American President, Abraham Lincoln, ‘In the end, it is not the years in your life that count, it is the life in your years’,” Ajimobi said.
He prayed God to grant the family fortitude to bear the loss and that the soul of the departed find rest in the bosom of the Almighty.