By Jabiru Hassan
The National President of the Centre for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Debo Adeniran, has described late human rights activist Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti as a selfless patriot who dedicated his life to the defence of human rights and the promotion of peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
Adeniran made this assertion in his address at the 20th anniversary of the Beko Ransome-Kuti Memorial Lecture, held on Monday at Right House. He said the late activist would continue to be remembered for his immense contributions to national unity and the growth of civil society in the country.
In his remarks, Adeniran noted that the gathering was not only to remember an individual, but to honour a movement and a conscience that stood firmly against injustice.
“We gather here today not merely to remember a man, but to honour a movement. We gather to celebrate a conscience,” he said.
According to him, even twenty years after his passing, the name Beko Ransome-Kuti still resonates wherever injustice is confronted and where the oppressed dare to hope.
Adeniran described the late activist as more than a medical doctor, saying he was a moral compass for a nation battered by repression.
“He diagnosed tyranny, prescribed courage and administered resistance. Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti dedicated his life to the defence of human rights at a time when doing so meant imprisonment, harassment and even death,” he said.
The CDHR president recalled that Beko stood firmly against military dictatorship, challenged impunity and spoke truth to power when silence would have been safer. He noted that as a unionist, Beko rose to become Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State chapter.
He added that through his leadership roles in organisations such as the NMA, Campaign for Democracy, CDHR, Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG), Citizens Forum, Labour and Civil Society Coalition (LASCO) and as Chairman of the Management Board of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Beko played a pivotal role in institutionalising the struggle for civil liberties in Nigeria.
According to Adeniran, Beko believed that human rights are not privileges granted by the state but inalienable entitlements of every citizen.
“Whether it was unlawful detention of activists, suppression of free speech or the brutalisation of citizens, Beko stood on the side of the defenceless. He gave voice to the voiceless and courage to the fearful. Even while incarcerated, his spirit remained unbroken,” he said.
He stressed that Beko Ransome-Kuti’s contributions to the emergence and growth of civil society in Nigeria cannot be overstated, noting that he helped expand civic spaces at a time when they were shrinking.
“He built alliances across ethnic, religious and ideological divides. He nurtured young activists and encouraged collective action,” Adeniran added.
Reflecting on current national challenges, Adeniran said if Beko were alive today, he would organise, mobilise and demand accountability in the face of insecurity, economic hardship and moral uncertainty.
“He would insist that insecurity, whether from banditry, terrorism or state excesses, is fundamentally a failure of governance. He would challenge economic policies that deepen inequality and impoverish citizens, and remind us that corruption is not just a financial crime but a human rights violation,” he said.
Adeniran further noted that Beko would urge civil society organisations to remain independent, principled and united, warning against complacency, division and compromise with injustice.
He emphasised that the best way to honour Beko Ransome-Kuti is through action, not speeches alone.
“It is through courage in the courtroom, vigilance in the streets, advocacy in the media and integrity in our personal conduct. It is by defending every Nigerian whose rights are threatened, regardless of status, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation,” he said.
The CDHR president cautioned that the 20th memorial should serve as a renewal of commitment to the ideals Beko stood for, stressing the need to continue his struggles in daily engagements.
In conclusion, Adeniran said Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti demonstrated that one life lived with conviction can challenge a regime and inspire a generation, urging activists to carry the torch forward in the ongoing struggle for justice and human rights in Nigeria.
