Prominent Nigerians, including President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, Aremo Segun Osoba, Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, Chief Wole Olanipekun and Chief Afe Babalola, have mourned former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide, who passed on yesterday in Ibadan. He was aged 88 years.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State over the passing of their illustrious son.
He also condoled with the 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 the Judicial Systems Sub-committee of the Constitutional Drafting Committee of 1975-1977.”
He joined the Olubadan of Ibadan Court, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the entire judiciary in mourning the legal luminary, affirming that he used his rich experience and knowledge in serving the country and humanity.
In his condolences, Lawan said the deceased lived a fulfilled life and carved a niche for himself as a “walking encyclopedia of the law profession having made his mark on the sand of time.”
He added that the erudite lawyer made great contributions to the legal profession as well as to the political and constitutional development of Nigeria.
Speaking in the same vein, chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Onofiok Luke, in a statement by his press secretary, Aniekan Udofia in Uyo, extolled the leadership virtues of the departed senior lawyer.
In a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, in Abeokuta, ex-President Obasanjo described the legal personality “as a nationalist and patriot, who built bridges of love, goodwill, unity and tolerance which are the necessary ingredients for the perpetuation of a cohesive, strong, and stable Nigerian nation.”
Also, a former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday described the death of Akinjide as a great loss to Nigeria.
Jonathan, in a condolence message to the Akinjide family and people of Oyo State, according to a statement by his Media Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, said, “I commiserate with the Akinjide family and the government and people of Oyo State on the death of elder statesman, Chief Richard Akinjide.
“He was a forthright jurist and politician who served Nigeria meritoriously as Minister of Education and Attorney General of the Federation at different political eras. As a patriot and legal icon, he worked to improve the nation’s jurisprudence.”
Similarly, a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, said Akinjide lived an impactful life.
Atiku, in his verified personal twitter handle, @atiku, wrote, “He lived an impactful life as a lawyer, politician, administrator and a family patriarch.
“On behalf of my family, I express my condolences to the Akinjide family.”
The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, in his comment, said Akinjide would be remembered for the dedication with which he served the country during the administration of the late President Shehu Shagari in the early 80s.
He said, “I commiserate with the family of the 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 extraordinarily brilliant lawyer and an undisputable giant in the legal profession.”
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has described the death of Akinjide as end of an era and a huge loss to the state, the legal profession, the nation and the world at large.
Makinde, who described his death as the loss of a gem and a shining light, said he was saddened at 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 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 show any sign of slowing down; he continued to lead intelligent and history-laden conversations, offer 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.”
He added, “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, 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.”
In his comment, a former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, described the late legal luminary as a pride of Ibadan in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
Ajimobi said in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, “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.”
In his tribute, a legal luminary and founder, Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola, described Akinjide as a professional to the core and a fervent believer in the rule of law.
The ABUAD founder, who spoke in a statement entitled, ‘Tribute to Chief Richard Osuolade Akinjide, stated, “I was shocked beyond description when I received the sad news of the departure of the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, the erudite and brilliant advocate, Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide, a minister in the Temple of Justice.
“I have seen the departed learned brother of the silk at close quarters. I have 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 is sold to hard work.
“But as traumatizing as the news is, I am consoled by the fact that the departed senior member of the Inner Bar lived a most fulfilled life and imparted his community, particularly the Judiciary, his primary constituency, thereby leaving his giant steps on the sand of judicial times.”
Also on Tuesday, the Nigerian Bar Association expressed sadness over the death of Akinjide.
In a statement by the NBA, through its National Assistant Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association, Akorede Lawal, lauded Akinjide’s contributions to the legal profession.
“It is with grave regret that the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, SAN received the news of the passing of Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN – an icon of the legal profession and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
“Chief Akinjide’s contributions to the Bar as President between 1970 and 1973 were immense. And until his demise, he was always on hand as the oldest member of the exclusive ‘Former NBA Presidents Group’ that the NBA President, Mr Paul Usoro, SAN often consulted.”
Yoruba Council of Eiders, also on Tuesday, described the late legal icon as a very patriotic Nigerian.
The Secretary-General of the YCE, Dr Kunle Olajide, in a statement on Tuesday said the group received the news of the death of Akinjide with shock and sadness.
The statement read, “The Senior Advocate of Nigeria was a founding member of the Yoruba Council of Ekders; he was in the good and able company of the very distinguished Yeye HID Awolowo; Archdeacon Emmanuel Alayande and the eminent jurist and author, Justice Adewale Thompson.
“Chief Akinjide was very passionate about the goal of the organisation which was 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 goal.”
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has said Akinjide lived a fulfilled life and “carved a niche for himself as an encyclopedia of the law profession having made his mark on the sand of time before his exit.”
The Senate President, in a statement, noted that Akinjide made “great contributions to the legal profession as well as to the political and constitutional development of Nigeria.”
The statement by Lawan’s Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, read, “He acknowledged Chief Akinjide’s contributions as minister of education under the late Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa in the First Republic; as Minister of Justice under the late President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic and as a leading light of the Constitution Drafting Committee of 1975-1977.”
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in a statement, said, “Akinjide was an embodiment of diligence and dedication to nationhood. He did not only live an exemplary life, he ensured that he used his knowledge and experience for the betterment of Nigeria.”
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji; and other leading personalities, on Tuesday, in Ibadan, mourned the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide, SAN.
In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday by Adeola Oloko, Media aide to Oba Adetunji, he described Akinjide’s passage as a monumental loss to the nation.
According to the statement, Akinjide, an Ibadan chief, was a patriot who displayed great love for his fatherland and its people.
The statement added that Oba Adetunji was not surprised when, in March, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes placed the late Akinjide’s picture among those etched on Ibadan’s Hall of Fame at Ibadan House, Oke Aremo at a colourful ceremony.
To Osoba, the deceased was a sound legal luminary who played a critical role during the Second Republic.
According to Babalola, Akinjide was an erudite and brilliant advocate.
In the words of Olanipekun, the late Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) made a success of every venture he embarked on. In its tributes, the NBA president, Paul Usoro, in a statement issued by the National Assistant Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, labelled the association’s ex-chief executive an iconic legal practitioner.
Meanwhile, the late erstwhile minister could not access medical services for the two days he was rushed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan when he copped up a health challenge prior to his exit yesterday. A family source said the octogenarian could not be attended on Friday and Saturday at the medical facility as the COVID-19 pandemic got prominence.
The Guardian/Punch
