By Samuel Adesanya
Chief Abraham Adesanya’s 10th death anniversary is a time to remember and a time to reflect. The elder statesman and pro-democracy activist died at 85 on April 27, 2008. It is fitting that a symposium on “Leadership and the future of Nigeria” to mark the remembrance will take place on May 2 at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos. A statement by the chairman of the publicity committee, Prof Adebayo Williams, described Adesanya as “a great Nigerian nationalist, exemplary Yoruba patriot and leader, statesman, philosopher, moral avatar and illustrious chairman of the Afenifere and National Democratic Coalition (NADECO).”
Interestingly, the remembrance will be spiced with a book of tributes ”from the public as well as friends, associates, acquaintances, admirers, well-wishers and fellow travellers of Senator Abraham Adesanya.” These tributes to Adesanya are like pictures that capture not only his life and times but also significant parts of Nigeria’s political history in which he played historic roles. When democratic rule was restored in 1999 after a 16-year period of military domination, there was no doubt that Adesanya was qualified to be named among the heroes of democracy. He was a giant who made a gigantic contribution to the efforts that won the battle for democracy.
Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, underlined the value of the book of tributes, saying, “The story of his life and the colour and fragrance of his politics are worth memorialising.” Osoba said in his tribute: “I am sure there are records of Chief Adesanya’s many speeches and writings on the subject of restructuring that can guide the honest scholar and politician on the way forward… I have lamented the dearth of published works on the political philosophies and experiences of our political leaders. I would have been happy to read first-hand while Chief Adesanya was alive some of his experiences in politics especially in the days of resistance to military rule when he led NADECO.” He added: “It would have been thrilling to hear from him how he escaped the assassin’s bullets when his car was shot at in broad daylight in the dark days of Abacha dictatorship on January 14, 1997. What was his experience like in detention at Divisional Police Headquarters, Club Road, Ikoyi, and at the Police Medical Centre Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi? It would have been great to hear from him his encounters with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo whilst in office in the early days of the Fourth Republic.”
Talking of how Adesanya survived a gun attack that defined his importance as a progressive combatant, Yinka Odumakin, National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere, told an interesting story in his tribute: ”I once heard from him the story of native doctor in Ijebu-Igbo who used to call people to death. His modus operandi was pouring water in a calabash, placing a stick in the hands of a virgin girl. Once he calls the name of his victim and the head appears in the calabash, the girl will hit with the stick. The person died instantly. But he got more than what he bargained for the day he was to practice his act on Abraham Adesanya .The girl was ready with his stick as the man called “Abraham Adesanya.” The virgin told him she could see two heads in the calabash, including the Babalawo’s, and asked which one to hit. He told her not to touch any! His escape from Abacha bullets earned him the sobriquet Apamaku (The one you kill that doesn’t die).”
Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Commonwealth Secretary-General (1990- 2000), said in his tribute: “Here, I would recall a personal anecdote of his powerful statement in defence of me in the Senate in 1983 when some members of the Senate Screening Committee, for questionable reasons, tried to mess me up during the Ministerial confirmation hearing that preceded my appointment by President Shagari as Nigeria’s Foreign Minister. Significantly, Senator Adesanya’s stout defence of me occurred even before he met me in person.”
It is thought-provoking that this celebration of Adesanya, his ideas and ideals, is coming at a time when the meaning of progressivism has been corrupted and the definition of a progressive has been degraded. What would Adesanya have thought of today’s self-defined progressives who pay lip service to the noble pursuit of progress?
Adesanya played exemplary leadership roles in Afenifere and NADECO that should inspire the leaders of today. But the times have changed and things have changed. Afenifere, the Yoruba organisation that was known for its progressive essence, is essentially now a shadow of its former self. NADECO, the patriotic pro-democracy movement that was known for its punching power, was ironically a casualty of democracy and has failed to rise from the ashes.
Ten years after Adesanya’s death, Nigeria is still grappling with the national question and structural issues. Recollections of his life and times should inspire reflections on the nexus between progressive leadership and the progress of Nigeria. The ultimate tribute to the giant from Ijebu-Igbo is that his legacy is still relevant.