Morayo Afolabi-Brown has opened up about her father’s fearless activism during the military era, revealing how his boldness made him one of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida’s biggest enemies.
Speaking during an interview on Jay On Air TV, Morayo said her father was a well-known activist who never backed down from speaking truth to power. She explained that Babangida despised her father so much that he was constantly targeted for his outspoken views.
According to her, her father was once locked up in prison alongside fellow activist Beko Ransome-Kuti and several others who fought against military rule. The pressure from the government eventually forced him to flee Nigeria and live in exile just to stay safe.
Growing up as the daughter of such a strong-willed man, Morayo said she witnessed firsthand what it meant to stand for justice. She revealed that her father was extremely vocal on social media, using his voice daily to challenge injustice. She also credited him with helping shape the Nigerian Bar Association’s culture of activism.
She shared a story told to her by one of her father’s colleagues. The Nigerian Bar Association had once invited a former military governor to one of its events. On learning this, her father strongly objected, insisting that a military officer had no business being honoured at an NBA event. He demanded that the invitation be withdrawn immediately.
In her words, “My father was an activist; I grew up, he was one of Babangida’s number one enemies. Babangida hated the guy with passion. My father was sleeping in Prison with Beko Ransome-Kuti and all others. He had to go into exile because he was being chased by Babangida.
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