My birthday memoirs cannot be complete without a detailed mention of my political life particularly as it relates to my comrades of some Universities in Nigeria. Though I am 74 now and gracefully ageing, I can beat my chest that my political activism has aided my political struggles to stay alive.
In this regard, the first person I will pay adequate respects to is my political father and mentor, the late Papa Obafemi Awolowo. Awo remained my mentor until he died in 1987. He brought me out into political limelight and was never shy or afraid in being identified with me.
In 1978, after the “ALLI MUST GO” student’s demonstrations in Nigeria led by the late bearded Segun Okeowo, the Obasanjo led Military regime decided to ban official students’ unionism in Nigeria. The National Union of Nigerian Students was banned. Some radical University intellectuals who were fingered by the Obasanjo military regime to have instigated the students riots were removed from their University duty posts. The late Comrade Ola Oni of the University of Ibadan, the late Professor OmafumeOnoge aka “Omi Omi”, the late Dr. Bade Onimode, Edwin Ike Madunagu, Benedicta Madunagu, Leoye Sanda, Dr. Wale Adeniran, the late Dr. Sogbetun of the University of Lagos Medical Centre and myself were all sacked from their University positions.
When I visited the late Avatar (Papa Awolowo) at his residence in Park Lane, Apapa, Lagos, the old man advised me to put the events of the Obasanjo sack right behind me. He advised me to immediately take the military removal as a challenge to ensure a great political future for me. I concurred with the Awo advice and told Mr. Eric Teriola, then a journalist of the Punch newspapers exactly that when he (Teriola) interviewed me later that day. I told him that I had put my military removal from Unilag right behind me. I said categorically that I was waiting for the military to open the gates for democracy in Nigeria as it had promised to do.
I left the country a week after the removal and proceeded to Britain where I had intended to move down to Cologne in Germany to join my friend and compatriot David Ogunsode who was then producing a left wing magazine “AFRICAN INTERPRETER” in Cologne, Germany. Papa Obafemi Awolowo later sent Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande to me in London asking me to return home immediately. I met Alhaji Lateef Jakande at his Waldoff Astoria Hotel where he conveyed Papa Awo’s message to me. I returned to Nigeria on Papa Obafemi Awolowo’s instructions and was announced the National Director of Organisation of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) on the lifting of the ban on party politics by the military regime. I can never forget Papa Awolowo’s close relationship with me during those turbulent times of Nigerian politics.
The grounds for my effective participation in the politics of Nigeria had been well laid by my comrades of the Speakers Society, University of Lagos Akoka Lagos. I joined the University of Lagos senior administrative staff in 1973. I met on the ground a radical political activist group called the “Speakers’ Society”.
The group was then led by the late Professor Michael Iyiola Jegede. His secretary was Dr. Segun Adesina. Some radical University of Lagos staff later swelled the membership of the Society and established a radical socialist publication called the “Lagoon Echo”. The Lagoon Echo immediately became a popular journal that soon made it a radical journal of the left in Nigeria.
In 1974 after General Yakubu Gowon had annulled his earlier decision to return democracy to Nigerians in 1976, the Speakers Society came out with a special edition of their magazine “THE LAGOON ECHO” condemning the military decision.
The Gowon regime immediately replied by ordering my arrest as the then editor of the magazine. My Egbon and leader, Revolutionary Kanmi Ishola Osobu, had told me a day before my Gowon arrest that the Gowon regime had declared The Lagoon Echo a hostile publication. Osobu said “the military through the late M. D. Yussuf, the Director of the military’s intelligence group that “this time, there will be echoes from the Lagoon”.
I was eventually arrested at the premises of the University of Lagos and taken to Obalende where I was officially placed on detention at the Force Headquarters. The late Papa Tai Solarin had earlier been arrested before me and detained.
The members of the Speakers Society never deviated from their principled commitment to the struggle of the common people of Nigeria for justice. Lagoon Echo never stopped production until virtually all the members of the Speakers Society had ended up leaving the university employment. Despite my detention the Lagoon Echo became sharper in its goals of fighting for the common people of Nigeria.
Members of the Lagoon Echo of those days include the late S. Olugbemi, Professor ‘Layide Abass, Dr. T.T. Abodunde, Mr. Tunji Adeniji (the University Cartographer), Funsho Akingbade, the late Dr. Lasisi Osunde, Dr. Funsho Fambo, the late Dr. Bisi Aborisade, Dr. Union Edebiri, Dr. Yemi Mosadomi, Ebenezer Babatope, Dr. Akin Oyebode, the late Dr. ‘Niyi Popoola, the late Dr. Amaechi Uchegbu and Dr. Eddy Omol ehinwa.
The Speakers Society continued with its Lagoon Echo until it published late in 1978 a Special edition of the Lagoon Echo titled “Anniversary of a fascist document”. We will soon publish this edition to show Nigerians the radicalism of this group.
As I celebrate my 74th birthday, it is impossible for me to forget the radical activities of this group. Though I do not today know the whereabouts of many of the members, except the ones that have died, I will continue to remember them. They were patriots and were completely dedicated to the plight of poor Nigerians.
In less than six days from now, I will be 74. I pray to God for longevity of life. I will give special grace to God if I am able to come back next year to offer praises to God as I pray to turn 75.
May God bless you all!
EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)