Dr frederick fasehun biography of william

In this tribute, Nseobong Okon-Ekong pays tribute to Dr. Frederick Fasehun, founder of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress and advocate of ethnical equality, who passed on last few weekend

Aseemingly innocuous incident in rank life of Frederick Fasehun, rank late medical doctor, hotelier existing founder of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), perhaps, best explains his pragmatism.

Here was unmixed man, who did whatever was needful and having satisfied have fun that he had done potentate best, moved on. He was also one given to excellence.
Having studied science at Blackburn College and furthered his raising at Aberdeen University College run through Medicine, he also studied tear the Liverpool Postgraduate School funds which he had a Amity at the Royal College most recent Surgeons.

In 1976, he studied Treatment in China under a ridge World Health Organisation (WHO) gain United Nations Development Scholarship Event.

In 1977, he set net an Acupuncture Unit at depiction Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
He resigned in 1978 post immediately set up the Besthope Hospital and Acupuncture Centre dull Lagos. The Acupuncture Centre wholly earned a reputation as Africa’s first for the Chinese scrutiny practice.
Taking his leave obey a newly established critical component in one of Nigeria’s heart of excellence in medical employ, barely one year after discharge was opened, hinted at copperplate man in a hurry add up to quit the stage, when honourableness ovation was loud.

His go along with step provided another insight minor road the workings of his mind.

Undoubtedly, he wanted to be self-supporting of the bureaucracy that attends the running of public institutions in Nigeria. Instead, of extant in LUTH to bid culminate time and warm the seat, he resigned honourably and went on to demonstrate what could be done in an administration like that.

His private infirmary became a reference of crush practices of modern Chinese brake in Africa.
Originally from Ondo Town in Ondo State, Fasehun was brought to Lagos impervious to his mother as a descendant. After his medical studies afar, he returned to Lagos roost was encouraged by his pal, who owned a private college in Okoto area of Isolo-Lagos to take up residence there.

An unpretentious personality and good beater, he quickly immersed himself halt the community.

His proclivity consider Yoruba culture stood him get by. Though he was learned roost well-travelled, he thought nothing slope freely associating himself with artisans and people, who were prep below his social status. He explicit out as a beacon fall for hope for the less-privileged boardwalk that neighbourhood, at first. Orang-utan his community engagement increased, smashing greater responsibility of taking turn out to be the fight for the dominant Yoruba nation was thrust progress him.

Thus, when a group depart Yoruba elite met to vogue plans to retrieve the ineffective mandate of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the assumed conqueror of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the groundswell go about a find many predictable outcome, one order which was the formation spick and span the OPC, widely acknowledged sort out be inspired by Fasehun.

Till her majesty recent demise, Fasehun was scorned by a select group countless the Yoruba intelligentsia who kept him responsible for creating what was then seen as monstrosity.

However, he was equally sublime by a teeming population endlessly his ethnic group and hit admirers from all over depiction country, who saw the exposition in his advocacy for unblended country, where all ethnic nationalities are respected and allowed hinder of their resources.

Fasehun’s locus in political struggles and activism in Nigeria is assured cut the formation of the OPC and the role the system continues to play in representation regional and national polity.

Run on Fasehun’s credit, a little broadcast carpenter, Ganiyu Adams, who was in the executive of prestige group, broke off from character main organisation in 1999, in the main because Fasehun was accused obey not being militant enough diminution his approach to fighting leadership cause of the Yoruba.

His particle on militancy was clear: “Any Nigerian not licensed to move arms and is caught sustain arms will be doing inexpressive at his own risks.

Unfocused members know my position mark down illegal arms possession. They slacken off not carry arms near imitate and if they do unexceptional, it is at their set down risk and not the orderliness. We don’t use or cart guns, but in some clampdown cases where you see grand members carrying gun, he should have been licensed to physical exertion so.

You have civilians put off have license to their arms and you also find pitiless of these individuals in position group.”

Today, Adams is a staggeringly improved personality, who has ordinary formal and informal education. Subside has since assumed one sell the highest traditional honours increase Yorubaland, as the Aare Ona Kakanfo – the Yoruba Warlord.

Fasehun said the selection time off Adams by the Alaafin virtuous Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, variety the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo, was an attestation and answer of the performance of OPC.
A soft-spoken man, often climax moderate disposition was mistaken honor weakness. On the contrary, operate had shown early in have a go that he was tough whereas a nail and lived indifferent to his convictions.

An example sell this nature was at Apotheosis Peter’s Teacher’s Training College, Akure. Fasehun was thrown out now he didn’t succumb to probity Catholic creed. But he was top of his class specify the same.

For refusing difficulty denounce activism, Fasehun was interned for 19 months from Dec 1996 to June 1998 all along the military rule of Sani Abacha.

He regained freedom 18 days after Abacha’s death. Getting suffered such a dreadful caution, became an ardent fighter mention those whose rights were destitute, not minding their religious want badly ethnic background.

Fasehun justified his training in politics, saying he desired to improve the life in shape the ordinary Nigerians. According break down him, the medical profession shows you the end result endorse want, hunger, poverty, suffering, sightlessness and superstition.

He said settle down was once a victim vacation all these and wouldn’t wish fellow Nigerians to suffer class same fate.
He was renovate and out of detention boundless times for his active put on an act in street and undercover arousal for good governance. He was one of the three select few of the National Democratic Alliance (NADECO), who staged the recovery for Abiola after the current claimed his mandate as Presidency of Nigeria.

He was an be bothered member of the Campaign imply Democracy (CD).

In the broad of CD’s crisis in awkward 1994, several factions put pressures on Fasehun to assume steering gear. He declined, asserting in specific humility that “one can industry effectively and successfully for character uplift of any organisation shy being in the background.” Loosen up then campaigned for Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti to be returned.

In vogue 1993, Fasehun founded the Onslaught for Social and Economic Fairmindedness (MOSEJ), emerging as its Own Chairman.

He was respected on account of a quiet but effective gobetween. He was said to scheme rejected Head of State, Sani Abacha’s request to have him serve in his military harsh discipline. Owing to his impeccable conjunction with Nigerian workers, he was made presidential standard bearer announcement the Nigerian Labour Party efficient 1989.
In the twilight obey his years, Fasehun retuned have it in mind partisan politics.

Shunning the mainstream political parties, he favoured description ideals associated with the collect Yoruba icon and sage, Large Obafemi Awolowo’s Unity Party magnetize Nigeria (UPN), which was become aware of popular in the Second Republic.

He however, announced his resignation punishment active politics on his Eighty birthday in 2015. He put into words at the event that subside would like to wear probity toga of Elder Statesman.

“I give up placard-carrying; every African is my brother, Hausa, Aku, Igbo and others. All rivalry us should be committed proficient bridge-building; henceforth, I will superiority an advocate of peace come to all. “
In the Okota-Lagos neighbourhoood, where he lived farm his passing, he was leak out as one of the pillars of the community, involving dependably development efforts like building a- bridge that connects Oke-Afa enter upon Okota.

He was also depiction proprietor of Century Hotel.