Enduring lessons from Adebanjo and Clark

Nigeria lost two eminent and patriotic elder statesmen in the recent passage of Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Edwin Clark. They can be regarded as the last of the titans of Nigerian politics from independence till death. They had seen it all. They witnessed all the republics and were active participants in some of them. Both of them were erudite and knowledgeable in Nigerian and African and world affairs. While Adebanjo died at the age of 96, Clark left us at the age of 97.

Nigerians are mourning the exit as well as eulogizing their sterling qualities, principled stand on issues and their commitment to a truly united Nigeria where every part is given a sense of belonging. They spoke truth to power and were not afraid of commenting on any national issue. Edwin Clark served the Yakubu Gowon’s military regime as information commissioner. Ayo Adebanjo, a committed Awoist and nationalist never served any government. He was satisfied with being a king-maker and an apostle of true federalism. His ideals and those of Clark met in their conception of true federalism and their persistence calls for restructuring of the country.

Even in their grand old age, they still urged Nigerian politicians to play the political game according to the rules. They offered free advice to the politicians but unfortunately, they didn’t listen. Prior to the 2023 general election, the two elder statesmen strongly canvassed for power shift to the South-East for the sake of equity. Ayo Adebanjo ensured that the Afenifere supported Peter Obi’s presidential bid despite the fact that his kinsman, Bola Tinubu, was in the race. Adebanjo’s support for Obi remained intact till the end.

Since their demise, our political leaders have eulogized them in high tones and superlatives. Some of the samples of such eulogies for Adebanjo include ‘courageous leader and true patriot, fearless and courageous man and leader, a true democrat, and a patriot par excellence.’ For Clark, they include ‘a foremost advocate for resource control, derivation principle, history will remember his fight for true federalism, his advocacy shaped Niger Delta, national discourse, a Trojan War horse for equity, federalism, and his legacy as champion for justice, equality will endure.’

When great men die, politicians pour praises on them as part of their political praxes or to say something to remain in the limelight, to remain current and relevant and even to gain some political mileage. Over time, our politicians see politics in every event including marriage, death and burial ceremonies. They go there to mourn and play politics and hug the headlines once again. Even when some lowly people die, especially those who belong to the professions, the politicians say some sweet words about their memories even when they don’t know them very well, all in the name of politics or keeping up with the Joneses.

In Nigerian culture, people never speak ill of the dead. I think this culture of respecting the dead is indeed true of many African and world cultures. In Nigeria, we idolize and respect the dead. Through death and immortality, they have transmuted to the ancestral realm, which we worship. Most African indigenous religions are based on ancestor worship. Most world religions are steeped in ancestor worship. Most worshiped deities are anthropomorphic. They have human features, characteristics and attributes.

Africans don’t speak ill of the dead because the dead can harm the living. They also do so because the dead cannot reply them. They cannot refute their lies against them. The relations of the dead would not tolerate those who abuse their dead loved ones. To let sleeping dogs lie, it has become too fashionable to praise the dead. It has indeed become the norm to sing praises of the dead instead of chastising them. However, there are occasions where the dead is scorned and excoriated for wrong doings. This is an extreme case where a spade is called a spade. The rare occasion can happen in the death of an outlaw or evil doer.

Both Adebanjo and Clark should be praised for their commitment and belief in the Nigerian enterprise. They should be praised for their principled stand on equity and true federalism, restructuring and resource control. They should also be praised for speaking truth to power, for their fearlessness and for their boldness in commenting on burning national issues. Many Nigerians have called for their immortalization through naming some edifices, roads, streets or national monuments after them. There is nothing wrong with such calls, which are common when patriots pass away.

However, there are other better ways to immortalize the dead instead of naming buildings after them or naming universities after them. The best way to immortalize Adabanjo and Clark is for the government to implement some of their recommendations and restructure the country in line with true federalism. The lopsided Nigerian federation will continue to cause chaos and disorder in the polity. It will continue to rob Nigeria of peace and unity and even progress and much-touted prosperity.

For Nigerian politicians who have been falling over themselves in search of which highfalutin epithets to use in describing the duo, let them emulate the enduring political ideals of Adebanjo and Clark and incorporate them in their political praxes. Mouthing praises over the dead would not advance our democratic march. It will not develop the country. Ayo Adebanjo was a member of the Action Group under the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and remained an Awoist and committed federalist till death.

He never jumped from one party to another. He didn’t vie for any political office. He was a contented party man and politician. He proved beyond any reasonable doubt that one can serve his country outside any political post. You don’t have to be a governor or a president before serving your country. You can serve your country in any field of human endeavour, be you a trader, a cleaner or a farmer or an office clerk.

Outside serving in Gown’s government, Clark proved that one can significantly contribute to nation building outside the corridors of power. His commitment to true federalism, justice and equality is unassailable. No doubt, Nigeria has lost two eminent great men in their death. Therefore, let’s honour them by reconfiguring Nigeria into a truly united federation based on justice and equity. Without true federalism, we will contend with more chaos, anxiety and needless unending national crisis.