Adieu, Akinjide, legal interpreter of 12 2/3

By Ayodele  Fagbohun
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“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones…”

-Shakespearean Julius Caesar

The above emotion laden, inspiring and valedictory speech emanated from Caesar’s trusted aide, Mark Anthony marking the brutal murder of the potentate, the Roman Emperor.

This barbaric incident could also be likened to or reminiscent of the unprecedented and bizarre legal interpretation introduced by the fallen hero, Chief Richard Osuolale Akinjide (SAN), leading counsel in the Election Petition Tribunal that gave victory to Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the defunct National Party of Nigeria in the very controversial 1979 presidential elections.

The Second Republic Politics (1979-1983) fell on evil days; came to grief finally abrupt and tragic end.

No thanks to dubious and self serving legal fireworks engendered by Chief Akinjide, on the queer interpretation of two thirds (2/3) of nineteen (19) states to decide the outcome of 1979 presidential election, which was deadlocked.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, SAN, of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, a legal luminary and second runner’s up to the NPN standard bearer, Alhaji Shehu Shagari in the ill fated presidential polls was in the Tribunal calling for re-run as no candidate met the requirement of scoring one quarter of total votes cast in the two thirds of the existing nineteen (19) states which was thirteen (13) states as expressly canvassed by the Enlightenment/Publicity Committee of the defunct Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) headed by a veteran journalist, the late Chief Alade Odunewu.

Then ensured the most vile, diabolical and rancorous controversy among the elite class and the man-of-street over a simple arithmetic round figure of 2/3 of 19 states which is 13. But out of plain mischief, tenacity in office to hold on to power “sine die”, the conservative politicians worked in concert with some foreign partners and the local quislings to truncate good vision of Awolowo for democratic socialist, panacea for life more abundant for the people of Nigeria.

No doubt, Akinjide was a consummate politician of the ultra-conservative “Tory” bent, the Yoruba nation and indeed some Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry. He loomed large in the court room as a forensic advocate and astute senior lawyer to become by dint of hardwork and personal sacrifice one of the few earliest set of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs.

However, he cleverly and adroitly propounded nebulous legal mathematic doctrine devoid of common sense and logic merely on mundane political considerations on self interest to perpetuate the sordid ancient regime of the brazen conservatives holding the country’s hostage.

The arithmetic joke pricked the conscience of the discerning world and stirred up hornet’s nest in the camp of some erudite scholars and academicians. Professor Chike Obi, emeritus professor in Mathematics who volunteered as star witness for Awolowo in the celebrated case in the election Petition Tribunal to clarify and prove that 2/3 of the 19 states could never be 122/3. In this instance, a state is a legal body that cannot be fractionalize without inflicting an irreparable damage to the body.

However, going by the antecedent and political pedigree of the late elderstatesman, Richard Osuolale Akinjide, who hailed from Ibadan, a youthful intellectual of 27 was publicity secretary of the NCNC-Mobolafe Grand Alliance of Ibadan.

He was a rising National Council of Nigerian citizens (NCNC) politician in the Western Region.

Ideologically, Akinjide and Awolowo, leader of Action Group/Premier of Western Region were poles apart, not necessarily as a result of the age long rivalry, envy intrigues and suspicion between the Ijebu where Awolowo hailed from and Ibadan to which Akinjide belonged.

Notwithstanding, Awolowo/his party AG would still muster appreciable votes in Ibadan metropolis to win; and formed the government of the day due to the activities of some frontline member of AG in Ibadan notably Chief Meredith Adisa Akinloye, Lawyer, Minister of Agriculture in Western Region and honorable member of House of Representatives (MHR) representing Ibadan.

To his credit, Chief Akinjide remain as constant as Northern star fully committed to the ideals of his party NCNC led by former president of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Akinjide, later renounced following his political hero and mentor Azikiwe in the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP) in the second Republic where Akinjide did the hatchet job of 122/3 to rob Awolowo/UPN of the well deserved electoral victory based on the hardwork, better preparedness and general acceptance of Obafemi Awolowo for the 1979 presidency.

Although, his new found political friends and God-fathers in the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) rewarded him with Attorney-General/Federal Minister of Justice under President Shehu Shagari’s short-lived administration. An office he held as a budding youth in the first Republic politics under the Northern People’s Congress (NPC)/NCNC Alliance Federal Government.

Perhaps, if Akinjide had boldly and courageously trodden the path of his old colleagues in the NCNC like Chief Theophilus Benzon and some old political bigwigs chosen to reconcile with Obafemi Awolowo after the collapse of First Republic, the story would have been different.

These titans vigorously championed his cause and relentlessly canvassed for Awolowo’s presidency in 1979 for a new political dawn and fresh lease of life in post military ear.

However, in the evening of his life, it is on record that Akinjide as elderstatesman enrolled with membership of Yoruba Council of Elders. An organisation that Chief Richard Akinjide would have shown aversion for, in his active political day in the NCNC and NPN. He would not have normally or freely identified with Yoruba Council of Elders out of morbid fear and obsequiousness in total deference to his masterful Hausa/Fulani oligarchy.

It was and still amazing that in his twilight, Chief Richard Akinjide paid glowing tribute to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo for founding television house in Ibadan , first in Africa in 1959, first in Africa and prior to France, an advanced and industrial nation.

All the accolade is tantamount to locking the stable door after the horse has bolted.

Adiue! Papa Richard Osuolale Akinjide, SAN, may the good Lord Jesus Christ forgive your human foibles and grant you eternal rest!!