Veteran sports writer, lawyer Ladipo Fasade dies at 86
V,
ETERAN sports writer lawyer and legislature Oladipo Sunday Fasade has passed on. He died at the age of 86.
Fasade, who was introduced into journalism by Alhaji Babatunde Jose, Executive Chairman of Daily Times Nigeria Plc., in 1954, expressed a preference for sports
Late Fasade, who attended Molusi College, Ijebu- Igbo and Lagos City College, Yaba, was soon to become a reference point in sports report ing.
Combining sports writing with sub- editing, Fasade soon surpassed many of his superiors, but in 1966, he sought and obtained admission into the University of Lagos’ the Faculty of Law. At the beginning of his second year at the University of Lagos ( 1967/ 1968), Fasade went into student union politics and contested for the union leadership. He won, thus becoming the President of the University of Lagos Students’ Union, during the civil war years. Fasade successfully completed his la w degree in September 1969. Proceeding to the Nigerian Law School immediately thereafter, he was called to the Nigeria Bar in September 1970.
Immediately after enrolling as a barrister, Mr. Fasade engineered his activities in the - mainstream politics of democratic socialist ideology. An avowed member of the Action Group, Mr. Fasade helped significantly in changing the trajectory of the allegiance of his people ( the Ijeshas) by introducing them to the Awolowo style of politics. As one of the founding members of the Unity Party of Nigeria, he decided to contest the Ilesha West Constituency seat into the old Oyo State House of Assembly.
Fasade won resoundingly and thus became the representative for the constituency from 1979 to 1983, subsequently becoming Chairman of the Judicial Committee in Oyo State House of Assembly and one of the leaders of the Unity Party of Nigeria ( UPN).
Born on September 24, 1933, at Ijero- Ekiti, Mr. Fasade passed on peacefully in his house in Lagos on May 15, 2020.
Fasade was buried in Lagos on May 29, 2020.