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Deji Adeyanju: Building a new breed of human rights defenders

In recent months, the name of Abuja-based lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has become a rallying cry for justice and the defence of the oppressed.

With his unflinching commitment to human rights, Deji has given a voice to those who might otherwise have been silenced, offering them hope and the possibility of justice where none seemed forthcoming.

What Deji has accomplished in such a short time is nothing short of extraordinary. Who would have imagined that mere months after finishing his law degree, he would emerge as a key figure in the fight for human rights at such a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s history? Whether it was standing with those arrested for protesting bad governance, or speaking out against the government’s grotesque attempt to prosecute minors for treason, Deji has been unwavering in his commitment to justice. Whenever those in power overstep their bounds, he has been quick to hold them accountable, and he has never been afraid to challenge harmful bills or policies.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing Deji for more than a decade, and I can honestly say that his rise to prominence is no surprise to me. His love for Nigeria and his burning desire to see it flourish are unmatched. You could accuse Deji of many things, but never of selfishness or ill will. I know people who once ridiculed Deji online, throwing every insult at him, yet when their backs were against the wall, it was Deji who stepped forward to help. During his activism day, Deji will retweet posts dishing him. His heart is so expansive that it knows no room for malice.

Deji has transformed the lives of countless young people, offering them guidance and opportunities when they had none. He has taken strangers into his home, supported them, and watched them thrive. His network is an open door, and if you approach him in need, he will put you in touch with those who can help. His brief foray into politics was driven by a genuine desire to serve the people. But when he realised the PDP had drifted from its founding principles, he was unafraid to call out its failings. If the party had listened to voices like Deji’s, it might not have become the fractured and conquered entity it is today.

His foray into activism is traceable to his days in school. In 2015, Deji was among the few men who held the Buhari’s administration to accountability, refusing to let the government slide into complacency. Without the efforts of Deji and a handful of others, Buhari’s administration would have left a much deeper scar on the country. But this dedication came at great personal cost. Deji was arrested, detained, and even falsely charged — all part of an effort to silence him. He has been targeted and attacked, and on more than one occasion, narrowly escaped with his life.

Deji is the epitome of hard work and dedication. He has no tolerance for mediocrity and constantly demands excellence in everything he does. Whatever task he undertakes, he invests his heart and soul into it. While most are resting, Deji is either reading, strategising, or acquiring new knowledge. I visited him twice during his law programme, and even then, his home felt more like a law chamber than a personal residence. I still marvel at how he managed to immerse himself in so many books and legal texts. In fact, those were some of the rare occasions where our conversations took place in what I could only describe as his “chamber.” Truly, there is no substitute for diligence and excellence, and Deji is living proof that hard work brings its own rewards.

It may still be early, but figures like Deji deserve to be celebrated, not for their own sake, but for the sake of history. Not that Deji craves recognition — but history demands it. His example will inspire the next generation of human rights defenders and activists, and perhaps in time, we will see more Dejis rising up to take on the mantle of change.

_Abiodun, a media commentator, writes from Lagos

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