By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Charles Kumolu

Lagos—GOVERNOR  Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, yesterday, named the Dolphin Estate Park after the late human rights activist, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite.

Dr. Tunji Braithwaite

Ambode, who announced this at a Service of Songs organised by the deceased’s family, explained that Braithwaite was immortalised in recognition of his laudable contributions to nation building.

This came as Professor Pat Utomi, Dr  Joe Okei-Odumakin and other social crusaders at a colloquium in honour of the legal luminary, urged Nigerians to emulate the deceased’s selflessness and consistent advocacy for a better Nigeria.

According to Governor Ambode Braithwaite dedicated his life to the improvement of the living conditions of the masses, noting that on several occasions he  stood for and defended the rights of the common man.

Ambode said: “As a legal luminary, Dr. Braithwaite’s imprints on the legal profession are not only impressive but will continue to receive accolades even from the generations yet unborn. His legal engagements in the defence of human rights, democratic norms and general advancement of frontiers of knowledge through his cerebral work entitled  the jurisprudence of the living oracles among other intellectual pursuits will remain with us and remain relevant in addressing various challenges in our democratic experience.

“Rather than being disappointed for being rejected at the 1983 poll by the same masses whose lot he had hoped to use the instrument of government to better, Braithwaite was at the forefront of emancipation of the Nigerian people throughout his life time.”

The governor declared that his government would immortalize heroes of democracy and all those who contributed to the  growth of good governance in the state.

On his part, Utomi said Braithwaite was someone, who had what it took to be a leader and that Nigerians should emulate his selfless disposition to national issues.

‘’It is important for every man to make sustainable progress in the society. If you go back to any of your villages 70 years ago, ask who was being left behind, there was hardly any left behind. That was the very spirit of African communal line. To run away from one’s class, is to mistake an understanding of an African, who knows that it is for greater good for no one to be left behind, that was what Dr. Tunji Braithwaite in many ways represented.”

Also speaking, the first son of the late Igbo leader, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Chief Debe Ojukwu said: ‘’Braithwaite was my father’s personal lawyer. It was worrisome to some of us at the initial stage when he settled for him as his lawyer instead of all the Igbo lawyers at his disposal. But then I didn’t know who Braithwaite was.

“But then as a young lawyer, I had known that the relationship between a lawyer and the client, as well as the relationship between a priest and a penitent is justifiable before the law. That is why the priest can never reveal whatever the penitent had told him.”

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