From Village Boy to Barrister: A Fulfilled Dream of Amusan Johnson

Writing on a generalissimo, commandante of Nigerian struggle and students in particular, Johnson Moronkeji Amusan, would naturally be a herculean task even to those of us who are very close to him. This is so because he has become an institution in social justice, defence of human rights and agitation for a better world and egalitarian society.

Action J as fondly called by comrades and everyone today came from a very humble background from a little known Ipetumodu in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun state almost five decades ago. The village boy began his elementary education in Ipetumodu before luck shone on him and moved to Lagos in 1980 to complete his elementary education.

It was an extremely tough and difficult decision for the young Johnson’s parents to release the ‘father’s only child’ they had in their old age. Ordinarily, he should have been the last born of the family. This neccesitated the special name, “Moronkeji”, which literally means, “I have found a partner”.

The little Johnson after completing his secondary school in flying colours dreamt of schooling at the prestigious University of Lagos. This was so because he had the privilege of visiting the school courtesy of his nephew who was a student of the institution then. Of course, the visit was usually when the nephew was dropped on campus during the resumption period.

On one unforgettable day, he had the privilege to meet the then UNILAG and later, National Association of Nigerian Students’ (NANS) President, Comrade Olusegun Maiyegun, addressing students. He was amazed at the “big grammars” he heard that day as Maiyegun popularly called ‘OJ’ was effortlessly addressing the congress to a rousing ovation as he was polemizing, dazzling his dread hair with passion and conviction.

That day, Johnson dreamt of becoming like Maiyegun; speaking ‘big grammars’ while addressing people. Unfortunately, all odds were against him. He had aged parents that could not afford a university education and guardians that placed less value on his success in life. But he would neither falter nor allow his low background and financial incapacitation stop his dream; life must continue and be lived.

Johnson recounted his disappointment at one particular incident with a Professor whom he had gone to show his results to for possible assistance for admission. Despite his good results, the Professor simply told him to go and work harder if he wanted a University education. No encouragement. No admonition. No offer of assistance. He watered down every hope and aspiration in him. He left there sad, rejected and dejected. It was as if that was the end of his life. He thought to himself, “was it not better if I was never here?”.

With that wound in his heart, he was privileged to have a friend who had an opulent parent. Then, they were both in Ipetumodu during a festive period. The privileged boy told his friend that they should visit a park or recreation centre. This of course was strange to Johnson who perhaps never had such experience before. So, they headed to the then University of Ife (Now Obafemi Awolowo University). At the University, Johnson – the village boy – was aghast and mouth agape at the sight of the layout, designs and architecture of the citadel of learning. He saw buildings that was ‘almost fallen’. He never saw structures like that in his life not even at UNILAG. He thought to himself “and it is people that are studying in this school?”. He wished he had the privilege to attend the school one day as a student too. That was a dream. Would it ever be fulfilled? The future would tell. So, he perished the thought as they headed to the Zoological garden of the university where he saw different animals (and species) including lions. It was an experience he would never forget.

Action J and Barr Femi Falana

After all efforts and struggles with the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to get admission into university failed, Johnson obtained polytechnic jamb form on his own and passed the examination excellently. His intention was to study Mass Communication at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, because he loves writing. It is not surprising that today, he has his own library with variety of books from professional texts to literary works, social justice to biographies, history to contemporaries, cartoons to horrors. He is a lover of paintings too. Find time to visit his library one day and it will be a worthy expedition.

He was however not given admission at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, despite that he beat the cutoff mark of the institution for Mass Communication then. The reason was that Osun was that time just being carved out of the Old Oyo state. The problem of sharing assets set in and that became an excuse for the management of the institution to ask all Osun indigenes to seek admission in the polytechnic of their newly created State. This was what led Johnson to The Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State (which later turned to Osun State Polytechnic, Iree). It was not long that the pro-democracy struggle started and Johnson, with innate passion for justice could not stand aloof and watch but join in the struggle.

Action J had once told me how he saw a Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) leaflet against the then military junta and decided to trace the address on the publication. This was how he became a member of the foremost human rights organisation in the country in the early 90s. But then, it was a risk to belong to such organisation let alone displaying it publicly.

But as fate would have it, another student in his class at the polytechnic unknown to him was also interested in in being a member of the organisation. That student is Yinka Olatunbosun (a former manager at United Bank for Africa {UBA} and currently, a House of Assembly aspirant in Osun state). One day, while reading in the library, Johnson’s Cdhr membership card fell off his pocket and Yinka Olatunbosunmi saw it. That was how the cat was let out of the bag. And through Johnson, Yinka joined CD/Cdhr and they both became terrors to the oppressors.

In no time, they formed Cdhr, Iree chapter, whose members over time have dominated different spheres of the society today. In fact, the current President of the Students’ Union of the institution is a beneficiary of Johnson’s legacy as a member of Cdhr.

As the young Johnson settled for academics. He alongside his compatriot, Yinka Olatunbosun, and others established “The Parrot”, a campus press club with Yinka as the first Editor-in-Chief. The medium became main source of information to great students of the Polytechnic, Iree community and Nigerian Students at large. The dictators at both the community and the state felt the impact of The Parrot.

Therefore, Johnson began the journey of activism, revolutions, struggles and campaign against all forms of injustice and oppression. Of course, no farmer goes to farm without the necessary tools, hence, Johnson began to buy books. He did not care even if it was the only money he had for feeding. He preferred to buy and eat books than food. Books were tiny Johnson’s foods. As a result of wide reading of ideological books and exposure to radical comrades, he became a campaigner of social justice, equity and freedom in the institution and society.

With Cdhr as a frontal organisation, Action J (perhaps with a few others) formed Movement for Students’ Emancipation (MOSEM), a very radical movement and the think-tank of many revolutionary groups in Iree. Leaders of Cdhr were automatic members and other members were invited. Membership of the ‘Movement’, as popularly called, was clandestine and only its Chairman was known by many but people often mistook the Chairman for the overall leader of Cdhr. Members were usually invited and so, it was not a movement where anyone could walk into freely. It was the supreme council and highest decision making body where punishment of any erring member of Cdhr was determined.

There was discipline at the time to the extent that even the Chairman could be punished. I have witnessed situations where we decided to ask the Chairman to kneel down and/or stand up throughout the meeting. Such punishments were carried out without hesitation and with all sense of responsibility. The ‘Movement’ sometimes punished erring members by asking him/her to engage in a certain herculean task which must be carried out according to specification with deadlines. The ‘Movement’ determined what happened in the frontal organisations and the school generally. It was ran like a cult group with laws, principles, rules and superior arguments as the weapons. No one was too high or too low to be punished. It was at one of such meetings (expanded one) that I first met the famous and much talked about father of Aluta in 2004. I remember leaving Iree for Eripa where the meeting was held around 11pm. ‘Movement’ meetings were often held overnight at undisclosed venues.

Akin Bajepade Esq, Johnson and others later formed the “Pathfinder’s Movement” which today is a sister organisation on the campus and has grown beyond campus/students’ movement.

As a passionate young man who has read wide on Communism or Socialism, Johnson decided to contest for the post of the President of the Students Union. His campaign was issue based and welfare of the students was at the centre of it all. Then, another battle began.

The then authority of the institution led by its Rector, Dr. J.S. Opakunle, opposed his candidature. Lecturers and staff saw him as a man that must be destroyed at all cost. Some disgruntled students were set against him. But trust the vintage Johnson, he weathered them all and was elected with overwhelming supports from the electorates. Then, Action J became the President and Grand Commander of all Aluta Forces in Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

Action J and his lieutenants became thorns in the flesh of oppressors as a result of his uncompromising stand for the good of the students whose overwhelming supports he enjoyed. May 27 has become a day to remember in the annals of history, not just in Osun state but student movements across the country.

It was that peaceful, sunny ‘Children’s Day’ that the mother of all struggles began from the ancient town of Iree. Their heroe, Action J, had been suspended by the school’s rector because he led the students to demand for a better and saner academic environment vis-à-vis welfare of the students. Action J therefore headed for court to challenge his suspension. This was to the authority and state by extension unexpected and effrontery. Authorities hated the challenge, especially, from a small boy like Action J. Hell was let loose.

Thus, on that May 27, students were to go to court in solidarity with their leader when Man ‘O’ War boys under their leader, Lukman Afolabi (a.k.a, Eluku), were invited by the school authorities to attack the students in order to stop them from going to court. The students resisted them and they fled. Many students therefore left for court but the then military Governor of the state, Anthony Udofia released the khaki hyenas and got most of the students arrested and detained.

At night however, Lukman led his boys with some NURTW thugs who were indigenes of the town to attack Students in their various off-campus residences. Hell was let loose.Many students were maimed and raped (and many sustained matchetcuts) that night. It was a night of ‘sorrow, tears and blood’. A night that still cries for justice.

The following day, May 28, the school was closed down and a mass exodus of students was forced to walk from Iree to Osogbo before they could board transport home. Even the lames crawled amidst their colleagues. The deaf clearly felt the pangs of oppression while the dumb clearly expressed their pains and anger at the oppressors.

At the time, I was still at Secondary school but I had two of my uncles in the institution. They narrated their experiences and how they were saved by mighty hands of El-Shaddai. They told me how some of their colleagues died in a fish cold-room vehicle that they boarded from Ikirun to Osogbo. Students’ trekked from Iree to as far as Osogbo and almost all adjourning towns and villages. It was indeed an Armageddon. And the man at the centre of it all, the village boy, Action J’s life was being threatened as he was declared wanted. It was a bitter experience but a day of liberation, freedom and justice!

Prior to that fateful day, Action J had had running battles with the locals. His sins were that he established market for the students. It was a market where price of goods and services were regulated by the Students’ Union he led. Things were considerably cheap there compared to what was obtainable in the town’s markets. He mooted the idea of a Students’ Union owned bakery so as to serve the students but he could not materialise the dream before the May 27 Revolution. The locals were not comfortable with his socialist approach to students plights hence, they joined hands with the school authority and the state to fight the prodigy called Johnson.

As days passed by after the closure of the institution, the leaders of the struggle were declared wanted. After several months at home, Action J was declared personal non-grata within the school premises and the town but after long battles in court with the supports of the Cdhr (National), Femi Falana Chambers, Jiti Ogunye (Esq.), Supo Ojo (Esq), Ropo Ewenla, Enison Akinsola and several other comrades; Action J won his case against the institution and the state despite the shady deals between the defendants and the Courts, after over two years.

In between the period, Action J went to the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara state where he had already commenced another Higher National Diploma Programme. In Offa, he could not again hid himself because of radical organisations like Cdhr and Liberation Movement and his comrades in the institution. Another institution; another struggle; and another challenge!

During this period also, Action J had been elected as the Vice President (National Affairs) of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). He had established himself within the students’ movement in Nigeria. The much touted dreaded grammarian, Segun Maiyegun, that bamboozled him in UNILAG had become one of his mentors and among those that reposed confidence in him and nominated him for the position. He never went to that NANS Convention with such in mind. But it was the glorious days of NANS when ideological prowess, commitment to struggle, sacrifice and selflessness were the basis for nominating/electing student leadership. NANS has not been monetised then. So, the hitherto village boy is now the second in command within the community of Nigerian students.

Action J met and worked with many pro democracy activists including the late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Late Beko Ransome Kuti, Late Baba Omojola, Femi Falana, SAN, Jiti Ogunye, Supo Ojo and others too numerous to mention here. It was at the same time he met Comrade  like the radical Kunle Adegoke (K-RAD), Ajibola Basiru (SRJ), Ismail Olawale (Che), Olanrewaju Suraj (Larry K), Akeem Dauda (Lagbaja), Gbenga Justice, Ropo Ewenla, Eniola Akinsola (Enny), Gbenga Salaam et al.

Justice may be delayed but can never be denied. When the military were booted out in 1999, the civilian governor of Osun state, Chief Bisi Akande looked into his matter and ordered his immediate reinstatement. It was a triumphant entry like Jesus Christ, as Action J majestically went back to the school. Mammoth crowd, young and old, students and non-students gathered to welcome their hero. He came, he saw and he conquered!

However, Action J did not leave the Polytechnic without feasible landmarks. His struggles had pushed the school management to build the famous New Lecture Theatres (NLH’s) and some other structures within the institution. There were lots of changes in the management structure, administration, policies, payable fees and others. His action has emancipated students from indigene, paramilitary, school authority, academic and nonacademic staff victimisation. He breathed new life into the system, OSPOLY and the community. At last, freedom is here courtesy of one man who was ready to sacrifice all for the generation after him. Many of us are products of his school of thought as we were mentored by his mentees. Of course, his greatest tormentor, Dr. J.S. Opakunle eventually retired from his job and we, his scions, successfully sent the Dean of Student Affairs, Mr. Folajin out of the institution.

Action J was later mobilised to Anambra State in year 2000 for his compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). But in 2000 on his way to the local government he was posted for his primary assignment, he was hit by a government vehicle in what some alleged to have been an attempted assassination. After all, there was nexus between the management, Iree traditional Council, Ipetumodu traditional Council and others against him during his struggle days in Iree. The ghastly accident almost ended his life, shattered his dreams and killed his vision but he remained undaunted and resolute. He spent the entire service year on hospital bed.

The bastardised health sector did not help either. As he was moving from one hospital to another with a view to get his health crises resolved amidst trial and error treatments by consultants. Many other issues confronted him again. He had aged parents who ordinarily should have been his responsibility; he was unemployable as a result of his health; he had no money to take care of his health as he was advised to go abroad for treatment and ultimately, he was depressed by the entire situation and his health was deteriorating.

It was at that point that even his fiancée and many friends left him. But because the blood of comradeship is thicker than water, comrades stood by him. I remember a particular period sometimes in 2003 when the then ‘Movement’ Chairman and a very reliable Comrade, Arowosola John Rasheed and Cdhr Coordinator, Comrade Oyinlola Abiodun, coordinated a fundraising activity among the students. Some of us who never met Action J in school and never met him in person but have heard a lot about him and his exploits and saw him as our role model were deeply involved in the fundraising. It was organised like what we called then, a “Rag Day”. We were moving from one lecture hall to another and liberation ground to motor parks to solicit support for our hero.

I remember carrying his black and white poster that we produced and carrying megaphone to talk to people on the long queue at the famous Poly junction. The queue that day actually extended to the health centre behind Salem Baptist Church – that was the Iree of our time. I also remember good remarks and comments by students on the queue especially from HND students who actually met him in school and knew his contributions. It was a day I will never forget.

In 2006, Action J decided to move into the ‘Boys Quarters’ of the apartment occupied by the combatant and ever resilient Dr. Dipo Fashina (Jingo), a former National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who was at the time still lecturing at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. It was during this period that he decided to obtain JAMB form and after success in the exam, he was admitted to study law in the University. What a dream come true!

While struggling with life and health challenges, he became an orphan as the already aged parents answered the glorious home call. But he never allowed the challenges to overcome his tall dream. Battling with his health status and studying law at OAU is like gunpowder and fire. It would be easier for camel to pass through the eye of the needle than someone with health challenge to weather the storm of Ife Law faculty but Action J successfully completed the first year without any reference. This was a surprise to many observers of his progress in the institution.

At 200 level, another challenge confronted him. He needed to go for some medical check ups and treatments. In what he thought would take few days or weeks, it took him away from the serenity and ‘fallen buildings’ of OAU for over a year. Notwithstanding the fact that he has completed the first semester, he had to obtain leave of absence from the institution because he never wanted to forfeit the program. As a result, he could not move to 300 level like his colleagues when he returned to school. He was already over 40 years old at the time. He never allowed the challenges to shift his focus from the big picture. He accepted his fate and moved on.

Through the thick and thin, Action J weathered the storm and graduated, even with good grade. Immediately after graduation, he needed to go for completion of his medical treatments. That took almost two years again before he finally headed to The Nigerian Law School, Bwari-Abuja.

For those who understood the enormity and rigor of Law School would appreciate anyone who was admitted to the school and passed at first attempt. Academic activities there made some to run mad and others, restless. It is as if one is preparing to write exam to be qualified for heaven. Where fresh, greeny trees were fallen, Action J’s dried tree stood firm, tall like Iroko. He passed the exam against all odds.

And on that day, a very significant day; a day that has become the day to remember the Ife 5 – student leaders who were killed on July 10, 1999 by alleged OAU Vice Chancellor, Professor Wale Omole’s boys – Johnson Moronkeji Amusan was being called to the bar in an elaborate event which took place at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

The social media was set ablazed in celebration of this great feat achieved by an extraordinary, resilient and resolute man. A man who weathered all storms even when friends and colleagues advised him to withdraw because of his health challenge but remained undaunted. A man who epitomes perseverance, doggedness and audacity of hope. A man who has shown that background does not determine ones reach in life. One can not but celebrate this man. No wonder people from diverse walks of life have continually celebrated him. Congratulations on your call-to-bar, Action J!