Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, on Monday, expressed shock and sadness over the demise of a foremost nationalist and prominent lawyer, Dr Tunji Braithwaite.
Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Habib Aruna, said Braithwaite’s demise was a great loss to both the state and the nation.
Braithwaite died in a Lagos hospital on Monday at 82.
Ambode described the late nationalist as a detribalised individual whose example was worthy of emulation.
He said that 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.
“During the military era, especially that of the late Gen. Sanni Abacha, when politicians were afraid to come out and contest, Braithwaite dared the odds and came out to contest against Abacha at the risk of his life.
“He was very consistent in fighting for what he believed was right and fair to every human being, regardless of their ethnic leaning or creed.
“He was not one to shy away from taking a position that he strongly believed in.
“He was always consistent in creating independent platforms to fight for the interest of the common man,” Ambode said.
The governor said that as a lawyer, Braithwaite stood tall among his peers, which earned him respect, not only in Nigeria, but across the globe.
“He was one of the very best of lawyers this country has ever produced; he was consistent in the struggle to see the rebirth of a new Nigeria.
“At over 80 years, he came out to protest on the streets with the likes of Prof. Ben Nwabueze and other activists, against the economic policies of the then Federal Government,” he said.
Ambode, while commiserating with the family of the late legal luminary, urged them to uphold the ideals he stood and fought for, saying that the nation would continue to draw inspiration from his life and times.
“He was a pride to all Lagosians and we will surely miss him,” Ambode said.
The Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, also mourned the passing away of Braithwaite, describing him as an iconoclastic political leader and social activist.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Yinka Odumakin, National Publicity Secretary of the group, in Lagos.
The statement said that the deceased was known for his principled stance on national issues and consistent defence of the rights of the oppressed people of Nigeria throughout his lifetime.
“His last major outing was his membership of the 2014 National Conference where he stoutly canvassed a confederal arrangement as the best constitutional order for Nigeria.
“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,” it stated.
Similarly, the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commiserated with the Braithwaite family.
A statement by Mr Taofik Gani, Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Lagos State Chapter, described the late Braithwaite as a patriot, fearless speaker, astute politician and an intelligent lawyer.
“May his revolutionary soul rest in peace, as we pray that the Lord should give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
“Dr Braithwaite has done his part and his legacy is rich enough for us to emulate and improve upon.
“He has lived a fulfilled life and his contributions to nation building should win him a posthumous national award. Indeed, the Federal Government should participate in the burial of the late sage,’’ the statement said.
In another condolence message, Dr Kayode Ajulo, a former National Secretary of the Labour Party, also described the late Braithwaite as a great and gifted lawyer, with rare technicalities.
Ajulo who is also the Chairman, Egalitarian Mission Africa, said that the Braithwaite family had contributed significantly to the socio-political, spiritual and economic development of Nigeria and Africa.
“I was privileged to have appeared against the senior lawyer at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
“In spite of my fierce opposition during our arguments that went personal, after the court session, he extended a hand of fellowship to me.
“He offered words of advice and heartily commended me. He was a good man.
“Dr Tunji Braithwaite was a scion of the popular Braithwaite family. The family has contributed significantly to the socio-political, spiritual and economic development of Nigeria and Africa.
“May the Lord comfort and strengthen his family,’’ the statement said.
Born in 1933, as the youngest son of eight children of his parents, Braithwaite was educated at the CMS Grammar School, Lagos, completing his education there in 1953.
He attended Advanced Level at the London University at Kennington College in 1955 and enrolled in 1957/58 as a Law student at the Council of Legal Education, London.
Braithwaite was admitted into Lincoln’s Inn that same year and graduated as a Barrister in 1960.
The late Braithwaite married his childhood sweetheart, Grace Falade, in 1956, while they were undergraduates. They had five children and many grand grandchildren.
He was the founder of the defunct Nigeria Advanced Party (NAP) and he contested the 1983 presidential election on the platform of the party.
Former governor of Abia State, Dr. 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, 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 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.
“He demonstrated selflessness and forthrightness in his legal and political endeavours.
“Dr. Braithwaite’s memories will linger forever in the minds of Nigerians.
“As we mourn him, our hearts and prayers are with the deceased’s family at this mournful period”
The former governor admonished the Braithwaite family to sustain the good legacy their patriarch left behind.
Kalu, while commiserating with the Braithwaite family, prayed God to grant the deceased a blissful rest.
National Coordinator of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, said Braithwaite’s death “marks a closure in another chapter in the history of our great country Nigeria”.
He said in a statement: “Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, though died at a ripe age of 82, but his death at this point of our political life has robbed Nigerians of the opportunity to drink from his rich pot of wisdom.
“As the last man standing from the political titans of the Second Republic, during which he founded the Nigerian Advance Party, NAP, Dr. Braithwaite surely contributed his quota to the growth of his fatherland. I saw him from close range as a delegate at the 2014 National Conference, during which he canvassed for a confederal constitution.
“His robust contributions to deliberations and discussions on the floor of conference contributed in no small measures to the success of the National Conference.
“With his death, let those in authority go back to his advise that the Conference must be as much a development conference as a constitutional one.
“I will urge the Federal Government to set to work the machinery to immortalise this great nationalist. May his soul rest in perfect peace
Also, the Nigerian National Summit Group (NNSG) mourned the death of Braithwaite, saying that the nation has lost a rare gem.
The Executive Secretary of the NNSG, Mr Tony Uranta, told newsmen at the house of the late Braithwaite that words could not describe his pains at the loss of the man he described as a nationalist and selfless Nigerian.
According to Uranta, Braithwait was a father figure who always had the nation’s interest at heart.
“The late Braithwaite was like a father to me. A man whose memory I will never live down. He fought for the masses and was always there to advise. I urge Nigeria to immortalise him,” he said.
In the same vein, founder of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, described the demise of Braithwaite as a personal loss.
Fasehun said that the former presidential candidate of the National Advance Party (NAP) was a “personal friend and a fellow democrat.”
He said that Braithwaite had an unparalleled passion for the development of Yorubaland and people in particular, and Nigeria in general.
“He was a legal luminary, human rights gladiator, constructive commentator and selfless philanthropist
“He should not have died at this time of Nigeria’s political history, when the country is in need of patriots, zealots and visionaries like him”.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Change and Women Arise for Change Initiative has described the death of Braithwaite as a huge loss to the country.
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, president of the initiative, said in Lagos that the late Braithwaite was a foremost nationalist and activist of repute.
“We receive with shock, the demise this morning of a foremost nationalist and activist, Dr Tunji Braithwaite. This is no doubt a huge loss to Nigeria as a Nation.
“The gap created by the demise of Dr Braithwaite to us, would be near impossible to fill, as an organisation and as Nigerians’’.
She said that Braithwaite made immeasurable contributions to national development, through participation in politics with his National Advance Party, and activism, “to which he dedicated an unquantifiable number of his life and times”.
Similarly, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, founder, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) said that Braithwaite was an honest and faithful lawyer, activist and politician, who would be sadly missed.
“Even when he joined politics, his attitude and opinion to upholding social justice, good governance, truth and protection of human rights never changed.
“Dr Braithwaite will be forever remembered for his contributions to the socio- economic and political development of the country.
“It is a call to the younger generation to emulate this great man by contributing our quota to the development of our country,” she said.
