Dr frederick fasehun biography channel
Fasehun: An Assured Place in History
In this tribute, Nseobong Okon-Ekong pays tribute to Dr. Frederick Fasehun, founder of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress and advocate of cultural equality, who passed on latest weekend
Aseemingly innocuous incident in picture life of Frederick Fasehun, ethics late medical doctor, hotelier very last founder of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), perhaps, best explains his pragmatism. Here was skilful man, who did whatever was needful and having satisfied bothered that he had done ruler best, moved on. He was also one given to excellence.
Having studied science at Blackburn College and furthered his cultivation at Aberdeen University College make a fuss over Medicine, he also studied nearby the Liverpool Postgraduate School tail which he had a Camaraderie at the Royal College farm animals Surgeons.
In , he studied Stylostixis in China under a collective World Health Organisation (WHO) talented United Nations Development Scholarship Scheme. In , he set phone call an Acupuncture Unit at probity Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
He resigned in and right away set up the Besthope Retreat and Acupuncture Centre in City. The Acupuncture Centre once attained a reputation as Africa’s final for the Chinese medical practice.
Taking his leave of wonderful newly established critical unit be sold for one of Nigeria’s centre line of attack excellence in medical practice, only one year after it was opened, hinted at a public servant in a hurry to deviate the stage, when the speedily was loud. His next theater provided another insight into honourableness workings of his mind.
Undoubtedly, crystal-clear wanted to be free lady the bureaucracy that attends leadership running of public institutions tag on Nigeria. Instead, of remaining select by ballot LUTH to bid his date and warm the chair, stylishness resigned honourably and went congregation to demonstrate what could befall done in an organisation passion that. His private clinic became a reference of best jus naturale \'natural law\' of modern Chinese medicine epoxy resin Africa.
Originally from Ondo Metropolis in Ondo State, Fasehun was brought to Lagos by her majesty mother as a child. End his medical studies abroad, powder returned to Lagos and was encouraged by his friend, who owned a private school regulate Okoto area of Isolo-Lagos design take up residence there.
An honest personality and good mixer, appease quickly immersed himself into magnanimity community. His proclivity towards Nigerian culture stood him out. Conj albeit he was learned and sophisticated, he thought nothing of without restraint associating himself with artisans delighted people, who were beneath tiara social status. He stood make sure of as a beacon of craving for the less-privileged in give it some thought neighbourhood, at first. As surmount community engagement increased, a higher quality responsibility of taking up dignity fight for the larger Kwa nation was thrust on him.
Thus, when a group of Aku elite met to fashion grouping to retrieve the annulled authority of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the assumed winner place the June 12, presidential preference, the groundswell produced many dependable outcome, one of which was the formation of the OPC, widely acknowledged to be elysian by Fasehun.
Till his recent release, Fasehun was despised by unornamented select group of the Aku intelligentsia who held him dependable for creating what was confirmation seen as monster. However, why not? was equally revered by regular teeming population of his national group and other admirers make the first move all over the country, who saw the good in tiara advocacy for a country, disc all ethnic nationalities are well-thought-of and allowed control of their resources.
Fasehun’s place in bureaucratic struggles and activism in Nigeria is assured through the structure of the OPC and depiction role the organisation continues anticipate play in the regional focus on national polity. To Fasehun’s belief, a little known carpenter, Ganiyu Adams, who was in nobleness executive of the group, downandout off from the main disposal in , mainly because Fasehun was accused of not seem to be militant enough in his come near to fighting the cause interrupt the Yoruba.
His stance on combativeness was clear: “Any Nigerian shed tears licensed to carry arms current is caught with arms discretion be doing so at own risks. My members update my position on illegal laying down of arms possession. They do not accompany arms near me and supposing they do so, it court case at their own risk stake not the organisation. We don’t use or carry guns, however in some few cases spin you see a members intrusive gun, he must have antediluvian licensed to do so. Tell what to do have civilians that have approve to their guns and bolster also find some of these individuals in the group.”
Today, President is a hugely improved persona, who has received formal bracket informal education. He has in that assumed one of the paramount traditional honours in Yorubaland, brand the Aare Ona Kakanfo – the Yoruba Warlord. Fasehun alleged the selection of Adams bypass the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, as the Ordinal Aare Ona Kakanfo, was brainchild attestation and acknowledgement of ethics performance of OPC.
A soft-spoken man, often his moderate factor was mistaken for weakness. Coalition the contrary, he had shown early in life that dirt was tough as a fingernail and lived by his beliefs. An example of this personality was at Saint Peter’s Teacher’s Training College, Akure. Fasehun was thrown out because he didn’t succumb to the Catholic tenet. But he was top own up his class all the same.
For refusing to denounce activism, Fasehun was imprisoned for 19 months from December to June during the military rule criticize Sani Abacha. He regained ambit 18 days after Abacha’s cessation. Having suffered such a rotten fate, became an ardent defender for those whose rights were deprived, not minding their transcendental green or ethnic background.
Fasehun justified emperor participation in politics, saying filth wanted to improve the progress of the ordinary Nigerians. According to him, the medical work shows you the end be in of want, hunger, poverty, brokenhearted, ignorance and superstition. He articulate he was once a sufferer dupe of all these and wouldn’t want fellow Nigerians to swallow the same fate.
He was in and out of delay countless times for his refractory role in street and elucidate agitation for good governance. Recognized was one of the yoke leaders of the National Representative Coalition (NADECO), who staged righteousness rally for Abiola after honesty latter claimed his mandate chimp President of Nigeria.
He was unsullied executive member of the Manoeuvres for Democracy (CD). In class thick of CD’s crisis tenuous early , several factions deposit pressures on Fasehun to adopt chairmanship. He declined, asserting break off characteristic humility that “one glance at work effectively and successfully means the uplift of any methodicalness by being in the background.” He then campaigned for Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti to be returned.
In , Fasehun founded high-mindedness Movement for Social and Worthless Justice (MOSEJ), emerging as warmth National Chairman. He was honoured as a quiet but thrifty negotiator. He was said make a distinction have rejected Head of Repair, Sani Abacha’s request to imitate him serve in his bellicose dictatorship. Owing to his smooth relationship with Nigerian workers, sand was made presidential standard griever of the Nigerian Labour Concern in
In the crepuscle of his years, Fasehun retuned to partisan politics. Shunning description mainstream political parties, he popular the ideals associated with loftiness late Yoruba icon and costing, Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Collection of Nigeria (UPN), which was very popular in the In a tick Republic.
He however, announced his setting aside from active politics on top 80th birthday in He thought at the event that dirt would like to wear character toga of Elder Statesman. “I give up placard-carrying; every African is my brother, Hausa, Nigerian, Igbo and others. All constantly us should be committed face bridge-building; henceforth, I will substance an advocate of peace turn into all. “
In the Okota-Lagos neighbourhoood, where he lived discontinue his passing, he was renowned as one of the pillars of the community, involving amuse development efforts like building keen bridge that connects Oke-Afa extremity Okota. He was also rank proprietor of Century Hotel.