Our Face of the Week for this week is Tunde Akingbondere, a 400-level student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko. He is an author and newspaper columnists who, as he emphatically describes, is committed to fighting injustice and the various ills that had plagued our places of responsibilities with his blunt but serious writings. In this enlightening session, Akingbondere shared his interests, perception of justice, politics, journalism as an activist's most revered tool, as well as his journey as a law student.
Also, with this medium, we congratulate Tunde Akingbondere on his appointment as a media aide of Hon. Akingbaso Festus Olanrewaju, the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Aviation, Idanre/Ifedore Constituency, Ondo State.
Interview
LK: In your activism to ensure injustice is reduced or eradicated, what are the modes at which you operate in order to ensure the public are sensitized, and in what sector has your participation been mostly relevant?
FOTW: As an activist who is motivated by the need for due process and Justice everywhere, I have explored various media in passing my salient message. I have written various texts to educate people on various pressing matters. With my several opinions in the national media, I have challenged authorities and corrected notions. I have been part of various revolutionary movements and protests, challenging various ills in the administration of the polity. Many of these struggles have landed me behind bars. I can buoyantly say I am one of the victims of serious police brutality.
I implore talented young activists to go into the Arts by writing and acting revolutionary plays. They should write well-researched opinions on various public issues in journals, magazines and newspapers. Afterall, the revolutionary struggle for independence was championed by students who were activists. They fought on the side of the people. With such artistic imitations, we are good to go.
My trajectory of activism is from the prisms of writing to the barricades.
LK: It's amazing to be aware of your impacts and your suggestions, however, could you take us down the memory lane? Kindly mention of your notable involvements in the activities of the law students society, and the university generally either politically, or academically and the contributions you've made thereon.
FOTW: On securing admission to study law in the university, I contested to represent my class at the Law Students' Representatives Council (LSRC). That platform was a good one in that it availed me with the opportunity of contributing immensely to the goings on in the Law Students' Society. That era was a golden era in the history of the Law Students' Society as a lot of agelong norms were impeached by the focussed and impactful thoughts oozing out of the crucible of then LSRC. While obtaining at the LSRC, I brought a lot of bills which have been incorporated in the Constitution of the Law Students' Society. I brought the bill to the effect of the declaration of all sittings of the LSRC open. I was also the brain behind the publication of all LSRC sittings on LSS social media platforms, through an impactful bill.
On leaving the LSRC, I contested to represent the Law Students' Society at the SUG Students' Representatives Council. With that platform, I was able to champion my advocacies on the depoliticisation of the SJC and the ammendment of the section of the students union constitution which talks about the minimum required CGPA for positions of responsibilities at the SU level. I felt it doesn't reflect the latest best practices. Meanwhile, I have also had reasons to clash with people on matters of leadership and misplacement of priorities. I challenged a former President of AAUA students union over a criminal partisan support declared for then contesting Governor Akeredolu on behalf of over 15,000 AAUA students. I was not happy with the fact that he impersonated many people for his own selfish interest, especially when he didn't even explore the due process as enshrined in the SU's constitution. I challenged him before the clearly partisan SJC with the highly sagacious and erstwhile AG of the Law Students' Society as my counsel. Later to support him is the incumbent Chief Justice of the Students Union. The two counsels put up a brilliant appearance at the pre-trials but could not measure up to the threats that came thereafter, especially during the first sitting of the court. I appeared in defence of myself extempore, especially after my counsels already chickened out.
It is worthy of special note that Abdulhaqq Mukhtar, who is now our former AG, did not leave me in the course of this struggle. He supplied me with the authorities I read and digested within the short space of two days. That tremendous help afforded me the opportunity to sufficiently establish the fact that the SJC has the jurisdiction to sit over the case. That was their first objection. The trouble started when the partisan Judge sitting over the case, one Iniobong Marvelous, insisted I open the case I was not prepared for. I cited authorities alongside my cogent reason for objecting to opening a case I was not intellectually prepared to open. I told him about how I got the notice of my counsels' withdrawal late but all to no avail. Very notable is the conspiratorial role played by one Olufowoshe Samuel who incidentally has invited me a day before, imploring me to withdraw the case. I was pissed by such entreaty that I had to walk out on him. It was to my chagrin seeing the same Olufowoshe Samuel in court, appearing against me.
While obtaining at the school's SRC, I chairmaned the committee that organised the first-ever legislative symposium in the university. I also wrote for the first time the history of AAUA Students Union, with no fewer than 600 copies of it sold across the country. It was foreworded and physically launched by renowned Mr. Femi Falana SAN. He was in Akure for the book-launch. The said book has also been spotlighted by the prestigious Channels Book Club.
I cannot sum up my engagements with this polity in just this platform. I need many more platforms to engage more of them.
LK: You're in 400 level now, and I'm well aware that you possess a another degree apart from the one you're currently pursuing. So, what inspired you to study law?
FOTW: Interestingly, I do not possess a degree. I dropped out in my second year at the Department of History owing to what I discovered as the many inconsistencies of history. History is a controversial course, laced with many versions of itself. You do not know which is which. I am not pleased about the fact that we yet could still not fathom the precise number of years it took the North African Berbers to resist the destitute Arabians.
Studying law has been really fun. It has afforded me a lot of opportunities. Apart from my future prospects in Nigerian politics, I am also empowered to fight on the side of the people for the more stable future we want for this country as a lawyer and activist.
I made the right decision by coming to study law. As I have told you, it has afforded me a lot of opportunities. I was implored by my party, the African Action Congress, to come contest the House of Assembly election in my Constituency during the previous political dispensation. I turned down the offer owing to some short term implications. Nigerian Politics has been bastardized with money-bag politics and hypocritical dealings. I do not want to face that reality this early. But I am taking my time to study the system in order to know how to penetrate without compromising my ideals. Some of my constituents who told me to contest leveraged on my being a Law student. They felt I could do it better even at a very young age. In the stead of contesting, I gave my support to a philanthropist who won for the House of Representatives. So that's it.
LK: Do you intend practicing, and if so, what area of law are you mostly interested in? Also, any role model you look up to within or outside the legal space?
FOTW: I do. I do not think the many things I am involved in will stop me from practicing law. I have mentors in Late Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe. These heroes invested in virtually every facet of life. Awo was into journalism just the way he was into the practice of law. My writing lately has graduated into journalism. I might make the Legal Affairs Journalist too. Meanwhile, if there is one person who gives me reasons to practice, it is indefatigable Femi Falana SAN.
I look up to the learned silk, Femi Falana SAN. I look up to legendary Pat Utomi, a dyed in the wood economist, politician and activist. I am enthused by Shehu Sanni's focal and vocal politics, considering his background in activism. I am forever indebted to Omoyele Sowore for embodying values that I have taken cues from. With his revolutionary party, Nigeria shall soon be free. I like to create my own party too, someday.
I am inspired by the gargantuan courage, struggles of Comrade Bobby Wine, a young Ugandan entertainer, who rose from mere music to contesting the keenly contested Presidential election.
LK: What do you project the legal profession to be in the coming years?
FOTW: In the nearest future, science and technology would have really impacted the legal profession that only proficient lawyers will be able to withstand the heat. Justice would have also meant different things in different dictionaries.
LK: What are you advices you'd want to give the law students in lower levels?
FOTW: While I am of the firm conviction that any junior Law student who is driven by excellence will surely go far, I think they should also develop themselves in extracurricular activities. That will show them more approved.
Thanks!
Share your comments!