Although the founder the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP), one of the political parties of the Second Republic, died on 28 March 2016 at the age of 83 years, his 10th memorial anniversary will be commemorated at a grand event on 2 May in Abuja.
The Braithwaite family, led by representatives of the Tunji Braithwaite Foundation, Mr. Olumide Braithwaite and Dr. Omowunmi Braithwaite, paid a courtesy visit to Sanwo-Olu on Monday to brief him on the activities.
The anniversary, themed “Politics with Conscience: Leadership, Responsibility, and the Nigerian Social Contract”, is designed to reflect on the late statesman’s enduring contributions to democracy, human rights and principled politics in Nigeria.
The governor acknowledged Braithwaite’s role as a moral voice in Nigeria’s political evolution and agreed to support the 10th anniversary commemoration as part of efforts to preserve democratic values and honour distinguished Lagosians who shaped national discourse.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the state remains proud of sons and daughters who have contributed meaningfully to Nigeria’s democratic journey, adding that conversations around leadership, responsibility and social contract remain relevant in the present political climate.
During the visit at the Lagos House in Marina, Lagos, members of the Braithwaite family highlighted their patriarch’s legacy as founder of NAP and his lifelong advocacy for multi-party democracy, justice and accountable governance.
The anniversary event, billed to hold at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, will feature the launch of a documentary on Braithwaite’s life and times, a review of his book, The Jurisprudence of the Living Oracles, and the unveiling of a comprehensive biography chronicling his activism and political philosophy.
As part of broader consultations, the family disclosed plans to visit the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, to seek institutional support and partnership for the national dialogue expected to attract policymakers, civil society actors, professionals and political leaders drawn from the six geopolitical regions nationwide and from the international community.
The Tunji Braithwaite Foundation said that the commemoration would not only celebrate the memory of their late patriarch but also rekindle conversations on ethical leadership and citizen-centred governance in Nigeria.
