Richard Akinnola: 64 Garlands for an Unsung Patriot
By Ozumi Abdul
It is well over a year now, exactly on the 31st May 2021, when fate joined me and this charismatic and fantastic gentleman at the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) conference held in Kano.
On that memorable day, I received a call from the Chairman of the Kano State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Ibrahim Abbas. After the usual exchange of pleasantries and banters, he said: “Abdul, how are you and your family? Meet me in Tahir Guest Palace this morning, I am going to introduce you to a man who will have lasting impact on your life as a person and as a professional.”
He continued as he waxed lyrical about the mystery man, saying, “dress and look good as usual, he is a fantastic and humble man to the core, a Lagosian like you.”
I was, on getting to the venue, ushered into the warm embrace of the mystery man whose aura could be felt by everyone around. A casually dressed, very jovial person, he was chatting and bantering with colleagues as I was introduced to him. Since that wonderful day, life has not been the same for me.
Since then, our father and son relationship has grown in leaps and bounds. He would engage me in WhatsApp chats to discuss political strategies and tactics, he would entrust the responsibility as diligent and demanding as writing to dispute several lies written against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who he supported vigorously ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential election.
Sir Richard Akinnola is a celebrated journalist, author, lawyer and pro-democracy activist. He was there with the late Gani Fawehinmi, Femi Falana, Olisa Agbakoba etc in the worst days of military brutality. They went through hell together to fight for the democracy and freedom we are all enjoying today. They sacrificed their comfort and freedom so we all can be free from the tyranny of soldiers in power. Akinnola’s last detention in particular was in 1996, in a Bauchi prison where cockroaches, rats and spiders dealt with him beyond recognition.
His post military-era life has also not been devoid of activism. He has never failed to join any patriotic crusade and peaceful rally to demand good governance, equality and justice.
Through the 22 books he has written so far, he has educated the younger generation on the unreported but interesting events of the military era especially as they concerned the human rights community and the judiciary.
On his 60th birthday four years ago, President Muhammadu Buhari commended the great man for all he has done for the country, in speaking truth to power and standing for just and patriotic causes.
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For Akinnola, Nigeria has to come first in whatever we do and the unity and peaceful co-existence of this country has always been his priority. For instance, in his desperate bid to avert the deadly disaster that befell the nation on October 20, 2020 at Lekki Toll Plaza, he penned an emotional piece titled: “A Plea To The Protesters” which was published on the 19th of October 2020.
The first paragraph of the article read: “I make this plea as someone who has been in the different layers of the struggle for over 30 years, particularly against the military. So, I’m speaking from experience. Bullet no be banger. My position might be unpopular in a time of angst but I’m saying this with great conviction. A popular struggle is not a 100 meter dash; it’s a marathon. You fight, you pause, you engage, and you re-strategise.”
He is an executive Director of the Centre for Free Speech organisation, a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Civil Liberties Organisation, yet a philanthropist who many lean on his shoulders. He remains a very veritable ladder through which a lot of young journalists and lawyers climb to the pinnacle of their chosen profession.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had this to say about him exactly a year ago during the occasion of his 63rd birthday: “One of the earliest civil rights activists and I mean, a co-founder of the Civil Liberty organisation and later a founding chairman of the Board of Trustees, of Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project, SERAP.
“An outstanding fighter. Always speaking out and supporting social justice and public-spirited causes. And all manners of progressive ideas. Richard played a key role in the struggle for democracy, especially during the Abacha years… At some points spending time in detention and suffering so many deprivations. Today, Richard likens to heaven as the founder of the Richard Akinola Foundation.”
For more than a decade my boss has been spending energy, time and resources on the welfare of widows of journalists and activists. Since he takes care and speaks for the downtrodden, God takes care of him too. That is why he looks 40 in his 60s and has been blessed with best of sound health.
You will always see him in shorts and sneakers, mostly Nike collections and even youngsters in their 20s would marvel at his fashion taste and vibrant spirit.
He even said during the occasion of his 60th birthday thus: “Quite frankly, l don’t feel 60. Age is a thing of the mind. I am like 30 right now. If you see how l relate with much younger folks, you would think we are within the same age bracket. I am a very free man”.
A very free man, a great man…
Happy Birthday Sir Richard Akinnola, the people’s Soldier without a garrison. May the good Lord continue to be with and your household.
Igba odun, odun kan ni o Pa Richie
