Founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, is dead.
Senior Special Adviser on Media to Fasehun, Mr Adeoye Jolaosho, disclosed this in Lagos, on Saturday.
He said the OPC chieftain died about 1a.m. on Saturday at the intensive care unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja (LASUTH).
“Baba took ill on Wednesday and was rushed to the intensive care unit of LASUTH.
”He died early hours of today. We are all devastated,” he said.
Fasehun was an active member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).
He was born in Ondo on September 25, 1938.
He began his education late, entering primary school at the age of 13 at Saint Matthews Roman Catholic School, Ondo.
He later moved to Saint Peter’s Teacher’s Training College, Akure, also in Ondo State. But he was expelled from school, because of his non-conformity with Catholicism. Fasehun was then admitted to Ondo Boys High School, where he completed his secondary education in less than three years, with a Grade One distinction.
His brother offered him a scholarship to study science at Blackburn College in the UK. He furthered his education at Aberdeen University College of Medicine. He also studied at the Liverpool Postgraduate School after which he had a Fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons.
In 1976, he studied acupuncture in China under a joint World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations (UN) Development Scholarship Programme.
On his return in 1977, he set up an Acupuncture Unit at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
He resigned in 1978 and immediately set up the Besthope Hospital and Acupuncture Centre in Lagos.
His Acupuncture Centre once earned a reputation as Africa’s first for the Chinese medical practice.
Meanwhile, the Aare Ona Kakanfo, Iba Gani Adams, has described the death as a great loss to the Yoruba race, Nigeria and the world at large, pointing out that Fasehun left behind a worthy legacy.
Adams, in a condolence letter he wrote to commiserate with the family of the OPC founding father, pointed out that he received the news of the death with shock and disbelief.
‘It was with shock that I received the sad news of the passing of our Papa and founding father of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) which occurred today, December 1, 2018. This, no doubt, is a moment of great grief for entire family of OPC, Yoruba nation, Nigeria and the world at large
“But it is also clear that the deep sense of loss over the demise of our beloved leader is shared by many like me. I hasten, therefore, to address this statement to commiserate with the immediate family over this painful bereavement”.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo added further that the deceased, in his life time, made outstanding contributions to the progress of the nation in many capacities, and no doubt left behind a worthy legacy through his careers as a renowned medical doctor and politician, among other
He emphasized further that the late Fasehun was one of the good doctors trained in China as an acupuncturist.
“A former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 90s, I see him as a father, and I passed through him for a period of five years.
“Baba deserves all respect because he acquitted himself so diligently, and will also be remembered as a distinguished leader in all ramifications, and one that was greatly admired by the general public and his peers as a straight forward and complete gentleman”.
Adams pointed out that the deceased deserves all the tributes having had the privilege of close association with him as a leader, father and confidant for many years, adding that he can affirm his democrat lifestyle nature.
‘He demonstrated wisdom, honesty and good leadership, established friendship, harmony and accommodation across board. He was as a community leader and a prominent patriot, which was no doubt a testimony to.
“Baba exhibited very good leadership qualities, wisdom and wealth of experience which indeed he put to use in the discharge of his responsibility, as well as upholding the institution’s tradition of excellence, while alive.
“He will also be remembered for his invaluable contributions to building a better society. He will be surely missed by all of us. I extend on behalf of my family, the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) our sincere condolences on the transition of our beloved leader and father and pray that the Almighty God grant the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
“Until his death, Baba was the Founding father and Spiritual Leader of Oodua People’s Congress based the peace resolutions perfected by the former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel on March 7, 2005, which led to my emergence as the National Coordinator of Oodua Peoples Congress”.
