- It’s a big loss to Nigeria – Afenifere
- His fine legacies must not die – Tinubu
The Yoruba nation has lost another icon as the founder of Oodua People’s Congress, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, passed on at 83, Saturday morning, in Lagos. His death thus brought to the fore the common Biblical saying that “everything that has a beginning must surely have an end.”
The Senior Special Adviser on Media, to Fasehun, Mr Adeoye Jolaosho, had told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the OPC chieftain died at about 1a.m, Saturday at the intensive care unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja.
“Baba took ill on Wednesday and was rushed to the intensive care unit of LASUTH.
” He died early hours of today. We are all devastated,” he had said. This is as the Media Aide to late Fasehun, Mr. Felix Ogbuagbuna, confirmed the passage of the Yoruba leader to The Point later in the day.
Fasehun, an active member of National Democratic Coalition, was born in Ondo, Ondo State, on September 25, 1938 .
Fasehun began his education late, entering primary school at the age of 13 at Saint Matthews Roman Catholic School, Ondo.
He later moved to Saint Peter’s Teacher’s Training College, Akure, also in Ondo state. But he was expelled from school, because of his non-conformity with Catholicism. Fasehun was then admitted to Ondo Boys High School, where he completed his secondary education in less than three years, with a Grade One distinction.
His brother offered him a scholarship to study science at Blackburn College in the UK. He furthered his education at Aberdeen University College of Medicine. He also studied at the Liverpool Postgraduate School after which he had a Fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons.
In 1976, he studied acupuncture in China under a joint World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Development Scholarship Program.
On his return in 1977, he set up an Acupuncture Unit at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
He resigned in 1978 and immediately set up the Besthope Hospital and Acupuncture Centre in Lagos.
His Acupuncture Centre once earned a reputation as Africa’s first for the Chinese medical practice. Fasehun, a medical doctor and hotel owner, was responsible for the recent revival of the Unity Party of Nigeria, a party formed by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 1970s. The OPC is a Yoruba-based organisation formed to actualise the annulled mandate of Chief MKO Abiola, who won the presidential election of 12 June 1993 .
Fasehun was imprisoned for 19 months from December 1996 to June 1998 during the military rule of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Nigerians Salute Fasehun’s heroism
Meanwhile, Nigerians have been paying tributes to the late icon, especially on the immense roles he played in the struggle for democracy from 1993 to date.
Fasehun’s demise, a big loss to Nigeria – Afenifere
The pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has described the demise of the founder of OPC as a big loss to the country.
Describing the OPC founder’s death as a shattering news, the Publicity Secretary, Afenifere, Mr Yinka Odumakin, said the deceased would be greatly missed. “He was a prominent Yoruba and Nigerian citizen who dedicated his entire life to the service of humanity,” Odumakin told newsmen.
“We will surely miss his great works, which will continue to speak for him forever. He lived for the cause of the poor. May God be with his family at this period and comfort them.”
His Fine Legacies must not Die, Says Tinubu
All Progressives Congress National Stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described the late Fasehun as a renowned pro-democracy and good governance activist, committed democrat, tested political player and Yoruba nationalist who left behind fine legacies.
He charged the Fasehun family and other associates of the late leader not to allow his fine legacies to die. Asiwaju Tinubu was reacting to the death of the Afenifere chieftain in a statement issued on Saturday by his Media Office signed by Tunde Rahman.
He said: “Dr. Fredrick Fasehun was a renowned pro-democracy and good governance activist, committed democrat, tested political player and Yoruba nationalist. I say all of that because I knew him well. We related very closely.
“He was known for his Yoruba nationalistic fervor. Like an Afenifere chieftain that he was, he fought stridently for the Yoruba cause. He canvassed true federalism and political restructuring. He fought as well for the cause of the Nigerian nation.
“The good thing about Baba is there was never a time that he sat on the fence. Although trained as a medical doctor, he was very active politically. We were together in the forefront of the agitation for the de-annulment of June 12. He founded the Oodua Peoples Congress to actualize June 12 but espoused non-violence.
“Nonetheless, he remained a torn in the flesh of the military. It was therefore no surprise that Dr. Fasehun was imprisoned for 19 months from December 1996 to June 1998 by the General Sani Abacha regime.
“And when democracy fully returned to the country he participated actively. From being an Alliance for Democracy sympathizer in 1999 to 2003, he moved to the front stage. Perhaps, one of his last political acts was to attempt at reviving the Unity Party of Nigeria formed by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, by giving the same name to the party he later formed
“There was also something remarkable about Baba: his love for Lagos. Though born in Ondo in Ondo State, he spent the most part of his life in Lagos. It was here that he situated his medical hospital, the Besthope Hospital and Acupuncture Centre, and his hotel business-the Century Hotel.
“He was an extremely humble and modest man. I will miss him dearly. The Southwest, particularly Lagos and Ondo States, will miss him. Nigeria will miss him also.
“I commiserate with the government and people of Ondo State. My sympathy and condolences particularly go to the Fasehun family at this moment. I hope and pray that God Almighty imbue them with the courage and strength to carry on. I enjoin them to continue with the fine legacies left behind by Baba.
“May Almighty grant Baba eternal rest.”
