If you only knew Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, the lawyer and activist, you never really knew him in his true colours. The latter-day Braithwaite, who died at St Nicolas Hospital, Lagos, on Monday, was less of a charming politician but more of a pro-democracy advocate.
Although the 82-year-old grandfather had been battling prostate cancer for a while, he was energetic until one early morning last week when he went for his daily exercise routine.
A family source said: “He woke up and was by his outward appearance healthy. But he decided to use the treadmill, which was part of his daily routine. The wife later went to check on him and found him unconscious. It appeared he fell down and it was suspected that he hit his head and had a concussion. But when he was taken to the hospital, all scans showed that he did not hit his head.”
He never regained consciousness, till he finally died Monday afternoon “despite the best efforts of the doctors”.
Many older Nigerians will remember Braithwaite the politician of the 1983 elections, whose party, Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), was the only one registered by the electoral commission to join the five existing ones earlier approved by the military government in 1979.
Braithwaite was not alone in NAP, though. He had intellectuals with him, with Wole Soyinka, the professor and future Nobel Laureate, being the most prominent. Soyinka, ahead of the elections, recorded a song which almost replaced the national anthem: “I love Nigeria I no go lie/Na inside am I go live and die…” Those lines made a monster hit.
MUSHIN AND VICTORIA ISLAND
But Braithwaite left Nigerians with more memorable lines in his presidential campaign – he was the flag-bearer of NAP in the ill-fated election – and his TV commercial was an instant hit.
“I will kill all the rats, cockroaches and mosquitoes,” he would say into the camera, in marketing his anti-corruption ideas to the electorate. It was a message that was too coded for the ordinary voter to understand.
But much more difficult to understand, even hilarious, was his promise to move residents of Mushin to Victoria Island, and residents of Victoria Island to Mushin.
Unknown to the street people, he was only propagating his socialist ideals of addressing the inequalities in the Nigerian society, with Victoria Island representing the bourgeois class and Mushin the proletarian, the commoner. He would redistribute the wealth and make everybody equal in the society, he said in poetic language.
Needless to say, his campaign did not resonate with the people he wanted to help: He came last in the presidential election with 271,000 votes. Shehu Shagari, the sitting president, had 12 million votes. Violence ensued thereafter and the military overthrew Shagari a few months later.
Braithwaite returned to politics with NAP but with less colour in 2003 and his party was removed from the register by the electoral commission in 2012 for not winning an election at any level.
A FAMILY OF FIRSTS
In 1933, the celebrated lawyer was born into record-setting Braithwaite family in Lagos. In 1880, I. Braithwaite, a reverend, led the first Anglican missionary expedition which introduced the gospel to the Ijebu province in today’s Ogun State.
In 1894, the reverend built St. Michael’s, the first church in Epe in today’s Lagos State, after his efforts led to the growth of church attenders. There is now a second Anglican church – the Reverend Braithwaite Memorial Anglican Church – in Papa Epe.
Talabi, Tunji’s elder brother, is one of the pioneers of the insurance industry in Africa. In fact, he emerged the first chartered insurer from Africa when he became an associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London in 1951.
He set up T. A. Braithwaite (Insurance Brokers) & Co. Ltd. in April 1958, the first indigenous insurance broking company in Nigeria.
Tunji, the last of eight children, was schooled at C.M.S Grammar School from 1946 to 1953. He did his A Levels at the London University at Kennington College in 1955. In 1957, he enrolled at the Council of Legal Education, London. He was admitted into Lincoln’s Inn the same year and graduated as a barrister in 1960.
He married his childhood love, Grace, in 1956 and they had five children.
…Lagos PDP, others mourn
The Lagos State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has commiserated with the family of the late Dr Tunji Braithwaite, who died in a Lagos hospital on Monday at the age of 82.
Mr Taofik Gani, Publicity Secretary, Lagos State Chapter of PDP, described Braithwaite as a patriot, fearless speaker, astute politician and an intelligent lawyer.
“May his revolutionary soul rest in peace, as we pray that the Lord should give his family the fortitude to bear the loss.
“Dr Braithwaite has done his part and his legacy is rich enough for us to emulate and improve upon.
“He has lived a fulfilled life and his contributions to nation-building should win him a post-humous national award. Indeed, the Federal Government should participate in the burial of the late sage,’’ the statement said.
In another condolence message, Dr Kayode Ajulo, a former National Secretary of the Labour Party, also described the late Braithwaite as a great and gifted lawyer, with rare technicalities.
Ajulo, who is also the Chairman, Egalitarian Mission Africa, said that the Braithwaite family had contributed significantly to the socio-political, spiritual and economic development of Nigeria and Africa.
“I was privileged to have appeared against the senior lawyer at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja. “In spite of my fierce opposition during our arguments that went personal, after the court session, he extended a hand of fellowship to me.
“He offered words of advice and heartily commended me. He was a good man.
“Dr Tunji Braithwaite was a scion of the popular Braithwaite family. The family has contributed significantly to the socio-political, spiritual and economic development of Nigeria and Africa.
“May the Lord comfort and strengthen his family,’’ the statement said.
-TheCable/Vanguard