Nigeria’s former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Monday described the death of Nigeria’s veteran lawyer and politician, Mr. Tunji Braithwaite, as painful, saying that it has “robbed the country of one of its greatest giants not only in the field of law, but also in politics”.
Atiku, in a statement by his media office in Abuja, said he particularly admired the late Braithwaite because of his unwavering commitment to constitutional reforms, especially his agitation for restructuring of the country.
The former Vice President explained that he shares in Braithwaite’s passion for creating a fairer federal system that would reduce the fear of too much power and resources at the centre at the expense of the federating units.
Atiku said he was keenly following Braithwaite’s contributions on the issue when he was a delegate at the 2014 National Conference, adding that his consistency in the pursuit of his convictions was remarkable.
According to him, the late veteran lawyer and politician was not “your typical Nigerian politician that opportunistically changes his opinions to ingratiate himself with the new powers that be.”
“These are extraordinary virtues for which I admire him deeply and regard him as a role model. May his soul rest in peace.”
Braithwaite is remembered as one of the few politicians who challenged former military dictator, General Sani Abacha.