Death is one of humanity’s greatest fears; it is also an unpredictable phenomenon for mankind. Despite all human efforts to avert it through various means, the fact that it can strike without prior warning remains a mystery no human can decipher. But sometimes it strikes giving ample warnings.

For Rotimi Sankore, death had lurked around with its knell for about two years when he was diagnosed with the dreaded cancer disease. As a man who had participated in several struggles and emerged victorious, he battled against this disease in a very audacious manner before his sunset in the early hours of Friday, April 12, 2024.

Activists and journalists involved in Nigeria’s democratic struggle culminating in the return of civilian rule in 1999, have been recalling some of the heroic contributions of Rotimi Sankore to the success of the struggles. In a tribute, in his column in the Niche Newspaper on Sunday, Professor of Law Chidi Odinkalu wrote: “As the Babangida transition program grew more interminable, civic groups interested in policing it agreed to coalesce into the Campaign for Democracy (CD). At the time of the annulment, it was led by Beko Ransome-Kuti, a medical doctor and younger brother to Afrobeat musician, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

“Without a plan, the leadership of the CD was initially unsure how to respond. At the emergency strategy meetings called by Beko in his Imaria Street home in Anthony Village, Lagos, there was clear ambivalence as to how to respond to the annulment. Amidst the confusion, there was one exceptional young man who came prepared with clarity and rigour about how to respond.

“Rotimi Sankore, who died at 55 of complications from cancer, was the clear intellectual and strategic leader of the argument that won through into the nationwide shutdown that followed the annulment of the June 12 elections in 1993, ultimately forcing Ibrahim Babangida to “step aside” from power in August of the same year into infamy.

“Born as Rotimi Johnson on 5 June 1968, he was the son of Jimi Johnson, a pioneer in Nigeria’s art and theatre, and one of the stars of The Village Headmaster. Among his early mentors, Rotimi counted Wole Soyinka, who was a close friend of the family as well as Soyinka’s cousin, Fela”.

Corroborating Prof Odinkalu, Mr Lanre Arogundade, who once lived under the same roof with Sankore in his tribute described Sankore as the hero of democracy who played a significant part in the constant demand for good governance in the country.

“A hero of Nigeria’s democracy therefore, it is ironic that Sankore who spent the better part of his civil society advocacy years canvassing for at least 15% budgetary allocation to the health sector by African governments would become a cancer victim.

As part of his contribution to journalism, “Rotimi was a great guy who once supported the Nigeria Guild of Editors with funds and made a presentation on the use of social statistics for development journalism at the NGE seminar on Good Corporate Governance in Journalism in Lagos three years ago. It is a great loss to the profession. I am very sad that he has died” Bolaji Adebiyi former Deputy President, of the Nigeria Guild of Editors penned in his tribute.

Mr Rotimi Sankore, until his death was the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Development Journalism (ACDJ). He was a development specialist, researcher, media trainer, feminist, and supporter of gender equality.

Born on June 5, 1968, in Lagos, Mr. Rotimi was one of the heroes of democracy and strongholds of Nigerian journalism, particularly when the military dictators failed to relinquish power as expected by the mass of Nigerians and thereafter annulled the June 12 1993 presidential elections.

Mr. Sankore was one of the few brave Nigerians at the forefront to confront the undemocratic rulership of the then-military regime. As an active member of the Campaign for Democracy, a group that was hell-bent on the restoration of democracy in the country, Mr Sankore was one of the people who led the public demonstration to demand democratic government in the country.

Beyond his indefatigable roles in activism and fight for Nigerian democracy, Mr Sankore’s remarkable dedication to making sane governance in Nigeria and the African continent was far beyond mere figment of exaggerations.

He did ply his journalism profession across the local, continental, and global stages, where he served and led different organisations intending to promote journalism practice, human rights, good governance, and equality of the human race.

In the mid to late 1990s, Sankore was the founding editor of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) website for African journalists covering public accountability, corruption, democracy, and human rights problems.

Additionally, he was a broadcast journalist who hosted The Public Square, a flagship talk show on Nigeria Info Radio that covered themes of government, democracy, development, and policy.

His work on global and African development advocacy includes project lead and consultancy work on partnership initiatives with the African Union Commission, UNFPA, UNAIDS, WHO, the Global Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health in Geneva, the Africa Development Bank, and UNFPA.

As the Secretary of the Africa Health, Human & Social Development Parliamentary Network, he collaborated with UN agencies and regional organisations in ECOWAS (West Africa), EAC (East Africa), SADC (Southern Africa), UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the African Union Commission to promote Heads of State and Ministers from these regions.

He was also the founding Editor-in-Chief of Africa Human & Social Development Information, which pioneered the use of data and statistics for journalism and policy advocacy during the Millennium Development Goals/MDGs (2000 – 2015)

Additionally, he oversaw the Africa 15% Plus Campaign on Development & Health Financing, which was led by Nobel Peace Prize-winning South African democracy and human rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

He worked with/contributed to publications in The News & Tempo Weekly Magazines (Nigeria) in the early 90’s, Guardian Newspapers (Nigeria); The Guardian UK, Global Index on Censorship, Mail & Guardian (South Africa) the Global New African Magazine, The Journalist (UK), and New African Woman Magazine amongst others.

Until recently, the veteran journalist was the editorial board chair of Nigeria Info Radio group, part of AIM Media Group, having 13 stations in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, and Onitsha (incorporating Nigeria Info, WaZoBia, Cool FM, and Arewa Radio Stations).

As a renowned feminist and gender equality advocate, Mr Sankore focused on the inclusivity of women in important positions in Nigerian leadership. He was also a loud voice for the involvement of women in the country’s political participation

Report Women had previously attested to the role Sankore played in representing journalists from minority communities, fighting racism and promoting women’s rights, training journalists and advocates, and coordinating the Center for Research & Development of Rights in Africa (CREDO) for Freedom of Expression and Associated Rights. All of these actions acknowledged his contributions to women and gender balance.