The family of the late Dr. Tunji Braithwaite has strongly condemned former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent comments against its Patriarch, labeling them as “offensive” and “a failed attempt to tarnish a towering legacy.”
Barrister Olumide Braithwaite, son of the late legal icon, at a world press conference on Monday February 24, 2025, said that the Braithwaite family will not tolerate any assault on the reputation of their late patriarch.
The controversy was ignited at the IBB book launch on February 20, 2025, when former President Obasanjo, in what was seen as an offhand remark, referred to Dr. Tunji Braithwaite as “such a character” while cautioning General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) about potential criticism of his new book.
Also, Obasanjo accused Braithwaite of harboring “bad belle” — Nigerian slang for resentment — stemming from past disagreements.
But Barrister Olumide Braithwaite firmly rejected Obasanjo’s comments. His words: “It is not, and never will be, in Obasanjo’s place to use Tunji Braithwaite’s name as a punching bag. While he was alive, it never happened.
“In the animal world, the prancing gazelle knows that a lion lying dead does not lose its lioness. The name Tunji Braithwaite still has its bite.”
The Braithwaite family accused Obasanjo of using the book launch as a platform to rewrite history and downplay the late Dr. Braithwaite’s lifelong dedication to fighting military tyranny and promoting democratic ideals.
“Tunji Braithwaite was a fiery critic of ALL military juntas in Nigeria, not just Obasanjo’s regime,” Olumide emphasised.
“I believe that the ‘bad belle’ charge he so eloquently referred to in his speech must have emanated from history in 1978 when the Ransome-Kuti family sought Tunji Braithwaite’s legal counsel in defending Fela Anikulapo Kuti against the brutal military regime of Obasanjo.
“History will recount how Fela’s house was burnt to the ground and his mother, late Chief Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was thrown out from a one-story building by soldiers acting on the orders of Obasanjo’s regime of terror. The Fela’s case which became a benchmark of fundamental human rights law in Nigeria was fought up to the Supreme Court even though they were denied justice,” Olumide said
He added that “The Great Tunji Braithwaite had no cause for ‘’bad belle’’ against anyone because he was a fulfilled and accompanied man in his chosen course of life. For Obasanjo to make such careless statement against Tunji Braithwaite leaves a sour taste in the mouth.”
Barrister Olumide recollected how his father founded the Nigeria Advance Party (NAP) in 1978 to contest the 1979 general elections alongside Alhaji Shehu Shagari, Dr. Nnamdi AzikIwe and Chief Obafemi Awolowo but faced roadblocks from the same military establishment.
“Despite meeting all constitutional criteria, the Obasanjo junta denied NAP registration. Yet, my father persisted, eventually contesting the 1983 general elections,” he noted.
Furthermore, Olumide highlighted Dr. Braithwaite’s bold stance against successive military dictatorships, including those led by Babangida and Sani Abacha.
He recounted personal sacrifices made by his father, including wrongful detention, the destruction of his businesses, and threats to his life but stood tall, unwavering, when others fled into exile.
His words: “What many Nigerians don’t know is that IBB used to pay personal visits to his house in the late 1970’s. He became a friend to my father, and as a little boy I saw him in this sitting room, in his green uniform often accompanied by his close friend, General Aliyu Gusau.
“My dear mother who, by the grace of God, will be 92 years old next month is alive today as a living witness. My mother was the General Practitioner (GP) and paediatrician to Aliyu Gusau’s babies then at her clinic at Okesuna Street. To my knowledge, IBB drew close to my father, studied him, and was intrigued by his political views, read his books and journals.
“When IBB staged a coup in 1985, Tunji Braithwaite continued to fight for the rights of the masses of this country against the dictatorial, tyrannical and oppressive military juntas characterised by state sponsored terrorism against its civilian citizens, often at grave personal cost and sacrifices to his life, livelihood, security and health.
“Unknown to many Nigerians, the military juntas of IBB crippled and destroyed his businesses because of his principled and defiant stance against their dictatorships – particularly that of IBB. The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and others were inspired by his unwavering quest to see the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.
“In 1990 after the Gideon Orkar coup, Tunji Braithwaite was arrested and detained by the IBB junta for his criticism, he was labelled as an alleged coup plotter. Two truckloads of heavily armed soldiers that stormed our premises in the middle of the night to whisk away Tunji Braithwaite to an unknown location.”
Barrister Olumide said former President Obasanjo should be more careful in his choice of words and be more mindful of the context of such comments, especially made in the presence of military oligarchs watched on television by a teeming population of Nigerians.
He criticized Obasanjo’s legacy, questioning his moral authority to comment on Dr. Braithwaite. “The legacy of the military juntas of Nigeria is nothing to write home about. In terms of social justice and equity for its citizens, it is zero whilst their penchant for corruption, abuse of rule of law and state terrorism and looting of the treasury is 100%. There can never be a case of “bad belle” from brave and courageous civilians like the legendary Tunji Braithwaite who stood up to gun-wielding men in uniform.
“There can never be a case of “bad belle” where former President Obasanjo is still struggling and battling with indictments of misappropriation of alleged billions of dollars that went missing under his regime for the NEPA project that had further sunk Nigerians into stark darkness till date. There can never be a case of “bad belle” where in 2013 his own daughter Senator Iyabo Obasanjo abused her father of all manner of atrocities.
The Braithwaite family took the opportunity to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his candid remarks at the IBB book launch, where he criticized IBB for failing to deepen democracy during his rule.
Olumide revealed that President Tinubu himself had acknowledged Dr. Braithwaite’s influence on his political philosophy.
Barrister Olumide reaffirmed the Braithwaite family’s commitment to defending their father’s legacy. “Dr. Tunji Braithwaite was a man of immense integrity who inspired generations without ever holding public office.
“His life’s work transcends politics — it’s a symbol of courage, justice, and patriotism,” he declared.
He concluded with a stark warning: “Anyone who attempts to tarnish the name of Tunji Braithwaite will have to contend with his family and the countless Nigerians who hold his legacy dear.”
Pix above: Barrister Olumide (m); on his right are the Matriarch of the Braithwaite Family and Barrister Ike Ezechukwu, a longstanding practitioner with the late Dr. Tunji Braithwaite.