Biography of remi fani kayode

Nigerian politician, statesman and lawyer

ChiefVictor Babaremilekun Adetokunboh Fani-Kayode, Q.C., SAN, CON (22 December 1921 – October 1995) was a relevant Nigerian politician, aristocrat, nationalist, public servant and lawyer. He was pick deputy premier of the Northwestern Region of Nigeria in 1963^[1][2] and played a major position in Nigeria's legal history tube politics from the late Decennary until his death in 1995.^[1][3][4]

Family background

Fani-Kayode hailed from a strike and well educated Yoruba kinsfolk of Ife, stock from south-western Nigeria.

His grandfather, the Rate. Emmanuel Adedapo Kayode, was alteration Anglican Priest, who had got his Master of Arts level from Fourah Bay College, which at that time was quintessence of Durham University. This example in 1885. His father, Champ Adedapo Kayode, studied law discipline graduated from Selwyn College, Metropolis in 1921.

He was dubbed to the Middle Temple girder 1922, and went on border on become a prominent lawyer prep added to then judge, in Nigeria.^[5] Empress mother was Mrs. Aurora Kayode, née Fanimokun, who was glory daughter of the respected Rate. Joseph Fanimokun, also an Protestant priest. He had also got his Master of Arts distinction from Fourah Bay College keep from later went on to understand the principal of the famed CMS Grammar School in Port, serving from 1896 to 1914.^[1] This was a missionary academy that was founded by Minister Samuel Ajayi Crowther.^[6]

In July 1958, he successfully moved the busy yourself for Nigeria's independence in nobleness Federal House of Assembly herbaceous border Lagos.

He argued that self-determination should take place on 2 April 1960^[7][8] (the minutes remaining Hansard, 1958; Richard Sklar's "Nigeria's political parties:Power in an Aborning African Nation", World Press, p. 269; p. 269; Professor Onabamiro's "Glimpses score Nigeria's History", p. 140).

In 1959, there was a further in good time that was moved in goodness Nigerian Parliament, asking for on the rocks slight amendment to the Fani-Kayode motion of July, 1958. That new motion, which was impressed by Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, asked that the 2nd Apr, 1960 date for independence, which had already been accepted roost approved by Parliament and which had been acquiesced to offspring the British colonial authorities, be obliged be shifted from the Ordinal of April of that collection to the 1st of Oct instead.

This motion of correction was subsequently passed and sanctioned by the Parliament and esteem was also acquiesced to timorous the British. That was attest the date for Nigeria's self-determination, 1 October 1960, was lastly arrived at.^[8]

Education and professional life

After the completion of his glance at at King's College, Lagos, Remilekun Fani-Kayode went to Downing School at the University of Metropolis, in 1941.

He did decency British Bar examinations and came top in his year sort the whole of the Nation Commonwealth.^[1] He was called expel The British Bar at primacy Middle Temple in 1945, stomach went on to be adapted Queen's Counsel in 1960 (he was the third and youngest Nigerian ever to be through Q.C).

Later, he was feeling a Senior Advocate of Nigeria^[1] in 1977 (he was grandeur third Nigerian to be through a SAN).

In 1948, subside set up the first feral Nigerian law firm, "Thomas, Colonist and Kayode",^[9] with two block out lawyers Frederick Rotimi Williams stall Bode Thomas, who had antique trained at Cambridge and Writer University, respectively.^[1][2] In 1970, lighten up established another law firm "Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo" with his age friend, Chief Sobo Sowemimo S.A.N.^[9]

Political career

Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode stricken a major role in illustriousness struggle for Nigeria's Independence.

Mosquito 1952, together with Rotimi Ballplayer, Bode Thomas and a digit of others, he was out of date by the British colonial polity for the active and fervid roles played in the pugnacious against the British.^[2] He was elected the leader of birth Action Group youth wing direction 1954. He set up dialect trig youth wing for the band, who wore "black shirts" boss used the "mosquito" as their emblem to reflect their derogation for British colonial rule.^[2]

Again, suspend 1954, Oloye Fani-Kayode was elect into the Federal House type Assembly on the platform a choice of Chief Obafemi Awolowo's Action Assembly, and he continued his contend with for Nigeria's Independence from there.^[2] He was the Assistant Fed Secretary of the Action Unfriendliness and in that respect, prohibited played a pivotal role, revive the Federal Secretary, Chief Ayo Rosiji, in the organisation streak administration of the Action Break down.

He, alongside Chief Awolowo, Pitiless. O. Ighodaro, E. O. Eyo, Adeyemi Lawson and S. Fleecy. Ikoku, represented the Action Course group at the 1957 London Natural Conference.^[7][10]

In 1957, he led influence team of Action Group lawyers, who represented and fought carry out the people of the Ad northerly minorities at the Willinks minorities Commission in their quest characterise the creation of a central belt region, which would be endowed with been carved out of excellence old Northern Region of Nigeria.^[7] In July 1958, he assumed the motion for Nigeria's freedom in the Federal House bring into play Assembly^[2][11][12] (the minutes of Transactions, 1958; p. 269; Professor Onabamiro's "Perspectives on Nigeria's History", p. 140).

In 1959, Remilekun Fani-Kayode resigned evade the Action Group and united the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons, an aspiring leader party. In 1960, he was elected the leader of representation NCNC in the Western Dwelling-place of Assembly.^[2] In 1963, be active was elected Deputy Premier asset the old Western Region give a miss Nigeria under Chief Samuel Akintola, on the platform of character Nigerian National Democratic Party.^[2][7] Significant was also appointed Minister curst Local Government Affairs for interpretation Western Region the same year.^[2]

In the early hours of significance morning of 15 January 1966, Major Kaduna Nzeogwu, a African Army officer, attempted to outcome the first military coup d'état in the history of Nigeria.

The attempt, though ultimately insult, resulted in a lot look upon bloodshed and many senior helpers of the ruling party, ethics military and the government in this area the day, were brutally stick. Early that morning, the coupists, under the command of Headwaiter Emmanuel Nwobosi, stormed and troubled the home of Remi Fani-Kayode, the Deputy Premier of magnanimity Western Region.

Fani-Kayode was brutalised by the mutineers in leadership of his family and surprise the presence of his neonate, Femi Fani-Kayode, who was abolish become Nigeria's Minister of Voyage aerial navigatio 40 years later.^[13][14][15] He was then whisked away by them to an unknown destination.

Aft leaving Fani-Kayode's home, the mutineers, with Fani-Kayode in their break-in, went to the Ibadan component of Chief S.L. Akintola, who was Premier of the Woo Region. They entered his undertake as well, and murdered him in front of his affinity. They also wounded his grandson and daughter-in-law.

Chief Fani-Kayode attestored the killing of his chum S.L.

Akintola by the mutineers, and from there, he was taken to the military bivouac in Lagos, where he was also scheduled to be over by them. However, luckily espousal him, on arrival at honourableness Ikeja military cantonment in Metropolis, the mutineers were overpowered, beaten and killed by loyalist fort under the command of Plea.

Col. Yakubu Gowon (who ulterior became Nigeria's Head of State). Fani-Kayode was freed by character loyalists and kept by them in a safe house while law and order was redone in the country. The install attempt was effectively quelled exceed the loyalist forces and vagabond its ringleaders were either join or captured. Some of honesty key government officials and superior military figures that were faked in their homes that night-time, included Ahmadu Bello (the Chief executive of the Northern Region), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (the Prime Minister), Okotie-Eboh (the Minister of Finance), General Maimalari (the Chief pursuit Army Staff), Brigadier Ademulegun(Commander make public the Northern Garrison).

Chief Remi Fani-Kayode, together with Sir Kashim Ibrahim (the Governor of nobleness Northern Region) were the lone ones that were not stick.

Consequently, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi took over power from the others of the Tafawa Balewa make on 16 January, the generation after successfully foiling Major Nzeogwu's mutiny and violent coup have a go.

He then assumed the refocus of Head of State deadly the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Supreme Commander of probity Nigerian Armed Forces. However, orderly few months later, he was toppled in a successful blue coup d'état, which was done on 29 July 1966, vital led by Lt. Col. Murtala Mohammed and Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon (as they then were).

During the coup, General President Aguiyi-Ironsi was arrested at Metropolis, together with his host, Community Adekunle Fajuyi, by northern men under the command of Vital Theophilus Danjuma (as he fuel was). Both men were fortify whisked away and taken put in plain words a road side bush, to what place they were both stripped undressed and shot.

Such was high-mindedness brutality of the northern "revenge" coup of 29 July 1966, that no less than Ccc Igbo army officers and non-commissioned officers were killed. This was due to the fact wind, among a number of mocker grievances, the northern officers were of the view that Public Aguiyi-Ironsi had been far else lenient with Major Nzeogwu reprove his fellow mutineers, after 15 January coup attempt in which many northern (Hausa – Fulani) and western (Yoruba) political selected and senior military officers difficult to understand been brutally murdered.

The mistrust by the northern officers dump there was collusion and disorder between the Nzeogwu group topmost General Aguiyi-Ironsi, was further fuelled by the fact that Aguiyi-Ironsi was of Igbo ethnic dull. Forty years after his patricide, Aguiyi-Ironsi's son, Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, was to become Nigeria's Minister pay no attention to Defence and took over wander position from General Theophilus Danjuma, the man that had deal with his father 40 years previously.

Many have said that nobleness seeds of the northern officer's counter-coup of July 1966, which witnessed the killings of Accepted Aguiyi-Ironsi and many other teachers and which eventually led stop the Nigerian civil war, were planted on that fateful night-time of 15 January, by distinction bloodletting of Major Nzeogwu give orders to his men.^{[16][17][18][19]}

After the first day in attempted military coup in Nigeria on 15 January 1966, Remilekun Fani-Kayode and a number prop up other notable figures were yell detained by the military polity of General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi.^[2] They were later released in July 1966, after the northern counter-coup, led by Lt.

Col. Murtala Muhammed and Major Theophilus Danjuma. After Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon became Nigeria's Head of Make, Remilekun Fani-Kayode left Nigeria disconnect his whole family and phoney to the seaside resort quarter of Brighton in south familiarize England.^[15][20] They set up dialect trig home and lived there implement exile for many years.

Weighty 1978, he was one salary those that founded and pioneered the National Party of Nigeria. In 1979, he was select to the position of depiction National Vice-Chairman of that fete and in recognition of realm contribution to national development, grace was conferred with the ignominy of Commander of the Unmentionable of the Niger by Prexy Shehu Shagari.^[1]

Between 1990 and 1994, he was a member make a fuss over the elders caucus of authority National Republican Convention (NRC), tiptoe of the two political parties set up by the personnel government of General Ibrahim Babangida during Nigeria's third republic.^[9] Name the annulment of Chief Moshood Abiola's presidential election on 12 June 1993, Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode was one of those, who openly wrote about and crosspiece out strongly against the abrogation.

He even went to entourage over the issue. In 1994, the government of General Sanni Abacha appointed him into rank Justice Kayode Eso panel sharing inquiry, which effectively probed coupled with helped to sanitise the Nigerien judiciary and rid it model corrupt judges.^[1]

Family

Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode was married to Chief (Mrs.) Adia Adunni Fani-Kayode.

They esoteric five children: Akinola Adedapo Fani-Kayode, Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Femi Fani-Kayode, Wife. Toyin Bajela and Mrs. Balsam Fanning. Chief Remilekun Fani-Kayode along with had four other children (not with Adia Adunni): Aina Ogunbe, Remi Nana Akuffo-Addo, Tokunbo Fani-Kayode and Ladipo Fani-Kayode.^[1]

References