It was with sadness that I learnt of the death of Dr Bekololari Ransome-Kuti. Beko died at the time in our life as a nation that we needed him more that ever before. His contributions to the enthronement of democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights were monumental. He was both a leader and a follower. His passion for fairness, justice and due process were legendary. His love for the ordinary Nigeria was unimaginable. No wonder his doors at his Imariam close residence in Lagos were open to all and sundry. His loss is a national loss and a personal one for me and for most of us.

Beko will be remembered for his struggles against military dictatorship in Nigeria. These struggles earned him stints in various prisons and dungeons across Nigeria. To date, he remained one of the most arrested, assaulted and imprisoned human rights activists in the annals of the nation. Beko had been in and out of prison not on account of criminality but on account of his dogged determination to speak truth to power at all times.

He, together with his older sibling the late legendary Afro beat superstar Fela Anikulapo Kuti, faced constant harassment by the rouge bands of military and of security operatives at different times in our national history. In 1977 under the military dictatorship of General Obasanjo, the military assaulted and burnt down the family’s home in the Moshalashi area of Lagos. The patriarch of the family later died as a result of the injuries that she sustained during the attack and arson on the family’s home. These events, rather than weakening Beko, made him stronger as he continued his crusade for a better Nigeria till the very end. In furtherance of the military agenda of cowing critics and opponents of their misrule, Beko was in 1995 charged with the most ludicrous charges - faxing defendants' statements to persons unknown and "trying to manage an unmanageable society". The Abacha junta gave him a double life sentence in the infamous “phantom coup mistrial”. The term was later commuted to 15 years imprisonment following popular outcry over the trail and sentence.

In his lifetime, Beko was accomplished in his endeavours. He qualified as a medical doctor at the age of 22, having graduated from the University of Manchester, England in 1963. Whilst at Manchester he was President, Nigerian Students, in Manchester. Beko was a fellow of the Medical College of Nigeria and General Medical Practice and West African College of Physicians, while also doubling as a member of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Nigerian Medical Council. He held several other national posts in the Nigerian Medical Association and was member and later chairman of Lagos University Teaching Hospital Board.
As a human rights and pro-democracy activist, Beko belonged to several Non-Governmental Organisations some of which he either founded or helped to found. He was chairman of Campaign for Democracy; President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, and Executive Director, Centre for Constitutional Governance, which he founded a few years after his release from prison in 1998. He was prominent in the struggle against the annulment of the June 12, 1993 elections.

On a personal note, I remember how Beko assisted us with his facilities when I returned to Nigeria in 1999 to help set up the Nigeria office of the Centre for Democracy & Development (CDD). At that time when communication in Nigeria was most problematic, Beko generously offered us the use of his office facilities ranging from telephone, facsimile, Internet etc. He played a great role in helping CDD establish its presence in Nigeria. Even programme wise, he was always there for us when we needed him, offering all kinds of support that we needed at that teething period. It would have been difficult for us to achieve the remarkable success that we did if not for people like Beko, who believed in the vision of CDD of being a prime catalyst for change as well as the need to bridge between activism and academy.

After he founded CCG a few years later he never failed to consult with colleagues on any issue that he had doubts about. This is a clear demonstration of his humility and openness.

His fame and sharp intellect did not deter him from being a calm and patient listener. Though he had the opportunity of living a privileged life; he chose the path of struggle and lived a Spartan life.

Let me in concluding this tribute to Beko borrow the words of my brother, Chidi Odinklalu: “Beko was witty, cheeky, irreverent, talented, courageous, determined, logical, artistic, honest. And in all this and more, the best.”

Rest in perfect peace Dokky. You paid your dues to your country and all your sacrifices will be etched in our memory until the fullness of time.

* See http://www.tribune.com.ng/120206/news03.htm for more information about Dr Bekololari Ransome-Kuti.

* Please send comments to [email protected]

It was with sadness that I learnt of the death of Dr Beko Ransome-Kuti (See http://www.independentng.com/editorial/edfeb220603.htm for background information). Beko has died at the time of our national life when we need him more than ever before. His contributions to democracy, respect for the rule of law and human rights are unimaginable. We was both a leader and a follower. His passion for fairness, justice and due process were legendary. His love for the ordinary Nigeria was unimaginable. His loss is a national loss and a personal one for me.

Beko will be remembered for his struggles against military dictatorship in Nigeria. These struggles earned him stints in various prisons in Nigeria and constant harassment by bands of security operatives.

Rest in perfect peace Uncle Beko. You paid your dues to your country and all your sacrifices will be etched in our memory until the fullness of time.

It was with rude shock that I read of the untimely and needless death of my brother Chima Ubani. I have known Chima by reputation as the president of the students union of the University of Nigeria in 1985/86 sessions. Chima was an intelligent, committed and fearless leader. His sheer dexterity, eloquence and intelligence confounded many. Chima devoted almost all his adult life to fight for the poor and the voiceless. He was their voice and their true representative. I recall how in 1996 at the height of General Sani Abacha misrule when I went to Ikoyi prison for my normal routine of interviewing and filling applications for the release of awaiting trial prisoners who had been in prolonged detention without trial, I was surprised to see Chima who had just been brought to Ikoyi prison from one of the secret detention centers that the Abacha acolytes scattered all over Nigeria. I was delighted to take back the news to other comrades in the Civil Liberties Organisation.

As the Coordinator of the Centre for Democracy and Development, I have worked closely with Chima on other initiatives especially the CDD driven Citizens Forum for Constitutional Reform. In any initiative Chima undertook under the different fora that we collaborated, he displayed unimaginably commitment, drive and energy, which is rare to find among his peers. That Chima is no more is hard to take but we are all mere mortals and shall all meet our creator one day. Before I left Nigeria late in August I met Chima a couple of times mostly at meetings in Abuja. How could I have known that the last meeting in early August would be the last with the icon?

Like the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress said last week, I hold the Obasanjo government solely responsible for the untimely demise of Chima. The present administration has in the last six and half years of its mal-administration inflicted Nigerians with the most insensitive policies that have further impoverished the citizenry. Obasanjo and his cohorts have turned out to be uncaring despots, extremely autocratic and intolerant of other views or public opinion.

The untimely death of Chima should instead of making us weak should instead give us strength. What better legacy can we leave for the name of Chima other than to continue from where he stopped? We should use all democratic means to fight for the ideals for which he lived and died for. We should also not forget his dear wife, children and dependants. Chima was their breadwinner and now that he is gone, the civil society and all people of good will should remember to assist his family one way or the other. I will call on comrades at CLO to take the lead on this.

Adieu my brother Chima. We will never forget you.