Afenifere, Tinubu, others extol Debo Akande's virtues
By Idowu Ajanaku
ACROSS-SECTION of Nigerians has continued to react to the death in London at the weekend of Chief Debo Akande (SAN).
In varied forms, the reactions to the death of the leading prosecutor in the celebrated trial of the suspected murderers of the late Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, came from Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu; Director of Publicity of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Mr. Yinka Odunakin; and a chieftain of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Chief Ayo Adebanjo.
Tinubu, in a personally signed statement, said the demise of Chief Akande was shocking and unexpected.
To him, Chief Akande's death left a bitter taste in the mouth because it came at a time when more than ever before, this country needed men of his kind with an unblemished record of character, courage and integrity.
The Lagos State governor noted that Chief Akande was consistent and stood on the podium of progressive values throughout his life-time.
Accordingly, Tinubu said the late notable lawyer was a steadfast member of both the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the Second Republic and the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in this dispensation.
He added that the late Akande was a principled politician for whom politics was about offering selfless service for the common good.
His words: "This perfect gentleman was an embodiment of modesty despite his outstanding intellectual, professional and social attainments. He was gentle as a dove but bold as a lion. Here was a man who had the courage to quit his job as scribe despite his outstanding intellectual (service) in the Constitutional Review Committee during the Abacha administration once he detected the insincerity of the regime's transition project."
Speaking on behalf of the leader of Afenifere, Senator Abraham Adesanya, Odumakin said Nigerians and the Yoruba would never forget the doggedness with which he prosecuted the celebrated case of Chief Ige.
"I know that since he could not find justice to the case, one day justice will be done," he said.
Odumakin further described the late advocate as a courageous man who stood on the part of the people at a difficult time of a different time.
"He was a committed member of the Awolowo political family. He will be missed by all," he said.
Chief Adebanjo described his death as a political and moral colossal waste to the Yoruba and Nigeria.
He saluted Akande for using his legal career to champion social justice, adding: "I have no doubt that the strain of that social injustice must have taken a heavy toll on him."
