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In the light of the propagandist of ex president Jonathan, one Reno Omokare’s long criticism of Omoyele Sowore, I just can’t help remembering the late Dr Beekololari Ransome Kuti.
Like most adults know, he was a child of two progressive parents. His father was the popular Principal of Abeokuta Grammar School and his mother, Olufunmilayo, was a very strong human rights activist.
He was, of course, the brother of the revolutionary musician, Fela Kuti and Professor Koye Ransome Kuti.
I went into his background to show that he didn’t have to devote his life to the people. But then, he still lived for the people.
He truly lived a remarkable life. Let’s hope when the true history of Nigeria is told, his deeds would be mentioned.
But one thing that interests me about his life is that inspite of the injustice done to his family by Mr Olusegun Obasanjo, he still stood by him when he saw OBJ’s rights being violated
The Obasanjo government had in 1977 destroyed Beeko’s family house in which his clinic was situated. He was left in crutches. Fela too almost died. To crown it all, his mother was thrown from an upstairs window and the resulting injuries were believed to have killed her.
Yet, when during the regime of the goggled Mr Abacha, Obasanjo was accused of taking part in a phantom coup and was arrested, Beeko rose to the defense of Obasanjo and faxed a document pertaining to his case abroad.
He was arrested for that and after a lot of dehumanizing treatments, was sent to life imprisonment.
He was one of the greatest Nigerians that ever lived.
The lesson to be learned is that even if one doesn’t agree with the position of someone, it doesn’t remove the fact that they are human beings.
Let’s note the fact that dehumanization of one is dehumanization of all!
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