I remember Olu Onogoruwa, the only minister that has ever defied a military leader in the history of this great country and a member of the eleven-man Provisional Ruling Council under the Late General Sani Abacha Administration.

Text: Abass Adetunji’s Digital Library

The story is very popular, he had been warned not to dine with the devil that the dark-googled general was without holding the longest spoon, ...

... but he had declined all entreaties, but one thing led to the other, Abacha used Diya to get through to him and win his support, but something significant happened.

Olu, while signifying his intention to accept the offer, had vowed to ensure that a constitutional conference was held which would lead to the emergence of a democractically elected civilian administration and he fought relentlessly to have that.

He succeeded partially, with the Abacha's acceptance to have it, but once he saw the handwritten on the wall that it would be stage-managed, he extricated himself from several policies of Abacha, most times openly.

The height of it was when the PRC rolled out some decrees which were antithetical to human rights and violated the Constitution! People were enraged that such decrees could escape the screening, prying eyes of the radical Olu!

Onagorunwa was embarrassed, but he did not disappoint as he went out and disowned many of the decrees! He said they had not been discussed at the PRC and were therefore unlawful.

It is not correct to excuse recklessness and sadism on the ground that you were only serving an administration; Beko Kuti, Olikoye Kuti were some critics we had in government who still maintained their own.

His son, Toyin, a 26 year-old young lawyer, was assassinated! The man suffered a stroke and recently departed for the land of the silence at 81 years, ...

... however, nature was kind to him that he is now the oldest Nigerian to have been awarded the SAN title at 78 in 2014! He remains tall indeed in the hearts of many.