'A Query for Pastor Dele Adesina SAN' By Adesina Ogunlana

LEARNED SQUIB – A QUERY FOR PASTOR DELE ADESINA S.A.N
Life can be full of surprises. Pleasant or unpleasant. Last week Friday the 16th april 2010 to be precise, I walked into a surprise or better still, I sailed into a rude shock, without the least premonition thereof.
With a few other Tigers, I had come to the Lagos City Hall that late bright Friday morning. Our intention was to witness the launching of the book, “FORCE OF JUSTICE” in honour of recently retired Justice of the Supreme Court George Oguntade.
The crowd at such events is predictable: judges, magistrates, lawyers, journalists, politicians, politicians masquerading as rights’ activists turned politicians, a few businessmen (hardly women) and (law) students.
I was not expecting to see or meet any unmilitary personnel at the event. However in the corridor of the hall, I heard a soft voice from inside, making an address, with an unmistakable northern (Hausa/Fulani) accent.
“The speaker must be a Northerner,” said I. my observation was right. The speaker indeed was a Northerner.
But what a Northerner – Ibrahim Badamosi Babaginda! Yes the very same guy of the coup plotting fame, coup plotter’s execution reputation.
‘settlement’ culture promotion. IMF loans and ‘conditionalities,’ Press emasculation and harassment strategist, Dele Giwa’s murder scandal, artificial parties creation, unending political transition programme, Gulf war, missing oil fund, June 12 1993 General Election Annulment
Interim Government contraption and so on and so forth.
I was aghast. What was this troubler of Nigeria doing here? The ignoble Maradona was a Babangida in Babanriga, not military fatigues but a Babangida, nonetheless.
What was Mr. “we are not only in office but in power” doing addressing jurists and counsel like and sounding pious?
Only a few days before then, the step-aside General had told the world he would be seeking election to become the next president of the country. Is the Dele Adesina event the beginning of the re-packaging of the Evil Genius?
It is my view that the last of any professional class to support or give assistance of any kind to a political monster like Babangida should be legal practitioners.
This is because, in his days as an active and direct player in the corridors of power (at least 1976 – 1993) he and his type ensured that Democracy, the promotion of the rule of law, Liberty and the Civil Rights of the Citizenry, Responsive Government and Economic salvation of the Masses of our people never thrived in Nigeria.
Mr. Dele Adesina, should reflect seriously on what I want to say next. He Adesina, is now a prosperous lawyer, but when did the prosperity and respectability begin? And for that matter, ,when did the success of many of his age-mates at the Bar begin?
Was it in the terrible, locust years when Babangida and his ilk held sway over the nation? Or was it when military rule was chased away from Nigeria and Civil Rule and democracy found berth?
Dear ‘Cousin,’ why was it necessary for you to bring an “Evil Genius” to grace an occasion meant ostensibly to honour a retired judge of the Supreme Court?
Or maybe I am actually misjudging you – c ould it be that it is a case of birds of a feather flocking together? A clue may be in the very title of your book, “FORCE OF JUSTICE.”Did the ironic jurisprudential contradiction inherent in the title strike you at all?
Those who promoted Obasanjo to power again in 1999,believing that a military autocrat had transformed over the year into a genuine democrat, now know better. Is Babangida a different kettle of fish from Baba Iyabo?