A Heart-Wrenching Goodbye Yesterday afternoon, my friend and comrade, Mahmud Aminu, former president of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) called from Abuja where he is a delegate to the on-going National Conference. I immediately sought to know how well the plenary debate on the report of the Committee on Devolution of Powers and Derivation/Revenue Formula was going. To his credit, he gave me an incisive summary before saying, “Ogaga, that is not why I am calling. Do you have any news of BF?” (as we know him, from the initials of his first two names, Bamidele Francis). I didn’t, but his tone had alarmed me. With a bad feeling already welling up from the pit of my stomach, I asked what the problem was. Well, he had heard that as BF got ready to go court yesterday morning, he had collapsed. Although taken to the hospital right away, his condition appeared very critical, indeed hopeless, that in fact the fear is that he was dead. We immediately set about making calls to family and friends. I called Bimpe, BF’s wife, and got a busy signal. I called a few other persons, including Professor Sagay in whose chambers BF cut his teeth before setting up his own practice but had no luck reaching him. Soon after, Mahmud called back to confirm the worst: BF was dead! Just like that! I cannot even begin to say what a terrible loss this is. Bamidele Aturu was courage and integrity personified. Ever since he refused to accept the award of best graduating youth corper from the military governor of Niger State on grounds of “irreconcilable differences” with military rule in the mid-eighties, and endeared himself all progressive Nigeria in those days of rampaging military tyranny, he has remained a steadfast tribune of democracy and social justice. And also of workers’ rights, which was why industrial relations and labour law were a major part of his practice. I cannot even begin to mourn yet, so shocked am I by the sudden transition of this illustrious son of Nigeria. I cannot imagine how Bimpe and their young children, his entire extended family, will ever be consoled. But to whatever extent possible, though not immediately, of course, I will console myself with the exemplary life of service to humanity he lived and so the good account he gave of his brief, brief stay on earth. Adieu my brother!
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 11:55:11 +0000
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