Ogungbangbe on Ogunkeyede JMK, at birthday..... JMK's politics activism under x-ray
Standing up for Nigerians to find their own voice in a democracy, with kamikaze attacks mounted directly on the Nigerian military _status quo,_ its power dynamics, injustices, retaliations, harassments and violences, other backlashes, as risks of open refusal to give up on the nation's military dictatorship, is defining the brave politics activism of Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede.
The dexterity, intelligence and steady nerves of Ogunkeyede scotched military government in Africa and demystified the monuments of military government, particularly, in Nigeria. He is a Pan- Africanist with ardent belief in the ability of African immigrants abroad to chart their course to free their home countries from military decay, and to be governed on a measure of autonomy by elected leaders.
In the United States of America, USA, Otunba Ogunkeyede was a stitch in the neck of the US camp of the pro- General Sani Abacha's most despotic military government of Nigeria. JMK led the fiercest activism against all banners, emblematic of the nation's military dictatorship, back then. His approach to the struggle, not utopian. The grim situation as it were, needed grim solution. He worked out his plans with other Nigerians in the US and displayed courage like the heros of Alexandre Duma's famous novel, The Three Musketeers.
"The significant efforts of Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede were a steadfast dedication to increased civic engagement that made people participate and drive positive change from militarized Nigeria to processes and values up the electoral ladder of a free and fair election on adult suffrage," Ogungbangbe, APC stalwart from Osun East Senatorial District, said.
Ogunkeyede belongs in the class of men of profound activism. That's the class of Martin Delaney, probably the first to use the expression, 'Africa for Africans.' Pointedly, Ogunkeyede stirred the United States of America (USA) based Africans and peoples of African descent as he navigated their hearts to stand up and flag the struggle to free their countries from the clutches of military rule and decay.
In New York (NY), the state of residency for Ogunkeyede for decades, where he was the first Nigerian aspirant to the NY Senate, the political activism put up by JMK, etched him high up in public consciousness. He got a US Resolution 1852 that condemned the June 4, 1996 Lagos street daylight assassination of Kudirat Abiola, a woman of silk and steel, the slain wife of Basorun MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner and hero of the June 12, 1993 fairest and freest presidential election in Nigeria.
Ogunkeyede got the US government to name a street, Kudirat Abiola Corner, in front of the Nigeria Embassy, NY City, and also got the US to pass another Resolution 1082(A), one the earliest resolutions from international community and foreign governments that denounced military government in Nigeria.
The same US Resolution 1852 condemned the Saturday, June 15, 1996 fire bomb of JMK Ogunkeyede personal mansion, bought in 1980, on Bayswater Rockaway, Queens N.Y. The inferno was what he got for standing up for democracy in Nigeria and dared the late Abacha, most tyrannical Nigerian military ruler. The NY Fire Marshal ruled the firestorm, arson.
Meaning that Ogunkeyede impressed himself against military despotism in Nigeria, more firmly, than any other Nigerian abroad did. The arson by the Abacha loyalists for JMK, daring to host Pa Anthony Enahoro, high-brow pro-democracy activist and arrow head of anti-Abacha government, was a kinder prize placed on his head than the one meted out to the likes of Chief Alfred Rewane and Kudirat Abiola who were assassinated by the Abacha junta.
As president of African Student Association, University College, Medgar Evers, US, Ogunkeyede earned an award of commendation for the well organized indaba on the "Role of the black in the South African crisis" in the fall of 1977 and was attended by African Diplomats to the United Nations, African Embassies, and Consulate Generals across the US.
And June 4, 1990, the Manhattan Borough President gave Ogunkeyede a Citation for his ability to bring Africans, Caribbeans, and African-Americans to the full sensibility of the US government. And same day, JMK earned the NY Mayoral Citation for the "African Meet the Mayor" organized by him.
Ogunkeyede's breath-taking exploits at unifying Africans in the diaspora got him the 1992 US NY Council Proclamation. He got a full pat on the back for a good job done as his Organization for Advancement of Nigeria (OAN), USA, is responsible for the annual first Saturday, October Nigeria Day instituted for parade, making Nigeria the only African country that has statutory day for its parade since 1992.
Ogunkeyede is totally loyal and dedicated to issues of justice, equality and fairness and he's insatiably driven by public interest, and he had always left a lasting legacy, created impact, meaning making to the like-minded individuals and groups whose passions and values aligned with his own. And he earned credibility, trust and recognition for his contributions to the holistic well-being of nations as a catalyst for his brand of leadership and motivation for others.
JMK Ogunkeyede, of extra ordinary heroism, is an activist of intercontinental status. He founded and headed United Committee to Save Nigeria (UCSN, US); Leader, National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), abroad; Leader, People's Redemption National Congress of Nigeria (PRONACO), abroad; Leader, Alliance for Democracy, AD, US; Founder/Leader, Egbe Afenifere, US; two terms' 5th President 1978-1982 Egbe Omo Obokun Ijesa, NY/New Jersey, US; Chairman, Pan African Development, US; and Patron, OAN, US.
JMK Ogunkeyede, like the cobbler awl or the surgeon scalpel is as friendly as he's selfless, loyal as he's drive-full, critical as he's passionate, oratorical as he's articulate, fearless as he's chatty, humanist as he's principled, and daring, brave as he's large-hearted. His staunch utilitarian activism upbraided passivity, mute indifference and cold complicity in the other fellow Nigerians of his time abroad.
Perhaps, you would need to hear him speak. He's a media delight at anytime and anywhere. He has a mastery of English words and, he deploys them listenable in a way that never failed to arrest his audience. In his pre-university days, he was well acclaimed brilliant in intramural and intercollegiate English literary debates. He is an omnivorous reader, voracious assimilator. He's oratorical and articulate, critical and chatty, loyal and fearless, and drive-full and well-groomed.
Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede, aka JMK is the author of a book, "A Moment in Time: Life Experience in the Art of Survival, Politics, Humanity & Activism" The book, as literary voyage, remains refreshing. It draws kudos for its simple expression, information, and style that make it attractive to readers.
JMK, on the Odua Group Board of Directors is Nwane Di Namba I of Ndigbo, US; two-time Alliance for Democracy (AD) - Action Congress (AC) gubernatorial aspirant (2003, 2007), Osun State; and a leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Osun State, Nigeria where his party men and women have signed up for the prioritization of the overall values of the party, considered germane to the total revitalization of the party on activable participation in party activities and open commitment to win popular support for the party in any of the next elections.
Dr Thomas Ogungbangbe celebrates JMK on his birthday, and toasts to his good health and good wealth for longevity.
*OLUSESI writes via* isaacolusesi@gmail.com
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