By Azuka Jebose
Richard Akinnola II is half human, half amazing. He is a rare breed that God privileged planet Nigeria. Imagine the 66-year journey of his enchanting life, anchored by dreams of justice and equity for our dear native land citizens where all men women are created equal to live with dignity, respect and by the rule of law?. Imagine the intrigues, perseverance, sacrifice toward an esteemed dream, his service to humanity, intellect and humility?.
Richard was born for us. He came at the right time, to a complex nation-state. He arrived near the dawn of an emerging knitted, yet a troubled nation. Perhaps, his birth was purposeful. God needed him for this soil; his mission, engraved in his birth mystery.
He grew up watching the distrust and disturbances of our beautiful people by those that led us with brute force , post independent Nigeria. Though tongues and tribes differ, we were anchored to the voyage of new Nigeria, by our resilience as one people, with one destiny. But those hard strong tides of indiscipline, corruption and bad leadership rocked our ship before we sailed as one nation.
Richard and the rest of us endured that tough and rough turbulence. The experiences made him stronger and further defined his purpose in life: to be true patriot and dedicated activist, to serve our father’s land, love unconditionally, Nigerians, regardless of ethnic, religious or political affiliations; to be firm, protect our civil liberties, seek equal rights and justice, fight for democratic governance, no matter the cost…
He matured at a time when our leaders turned our heaven to hell; when they asked us to trade our heroes ( Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Wole Soyinka, Balarabe Musa, Gani Fawehinmi, Tai Solarin, Chuba Okadigbo) for mere ghosts, rubbished our lives and peppered us with military authoritarianism that produced sufferings in the land. Richard did not sit on the sidelines to watch the people suffer and waste. No. He was bold, brave and defiant.
The Sounds and songs of our disenfranchised, suffering, anguished voices became the strength and courage which rallied him to get up, stand up and defend us, the weak dwellers of a ravaged republic. He chose to, if necessary; sacrifice his young blood for our soil and sorrows in efforts to save Nigeria from carnages and brutalities of army rules.
Richard sacrificed his brilliant and brave energy and challenged an oppressive and corrupt military regimes. He emerged as a fearless advocate for social justice. He became our unsung young oracle of civil rights activism. He did not choose bullets or terror as his weapon; he chose his charismatic and conspicuous Legal pearls of wisdom, rule of law and his intelligence to engage authorities and fight for our human rights and liberties. The courts became his circles. He continues to these times.
Richard Akinnola II’s heart is beyond beauty. Each year, he remind us that there are pathways to serving and caring, selflessly, for the less privileged in our country. He appreciates and cares for widows in our society, by empowering them with financial aid. “Shey you understand why I began my writing that he is half human and half amazing?.
Nigeria is his tribe. Patriotism and service to country are his intoxicants, his unconditional love for his wife; children and spectacular grandchildren are testaments to a great magnificence.
Please rise, toast and salute my dear friend, an older colleague in everything journalism, an ambiance of our struggles as a nation state, the profound and beloved patriot of a country called Nigeria, a tribe-less dear Nigerian, Richard Akinolla II, who at 66 is still pretty. I love you, my guy. Mega earth run, Egbon. Continue to live strongest.
Azuka Jebose
