Nigeria, March 22 -- BJ, as he is fondly and simply called, is Professor Emeritus of English at Cornell University and Professor Emeritus of Comparative Literature at Harvard University. He was the foundational National President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Apart from protesting the anti-people policies of General Ibrahim Babangida, the Union under him was not only better organised but was able to serve the interest of its members more effectively, largely because of the democratic nature of its decision making and the honesty and total commitment of its leaders.

BJ was a high-energy president of ASUU, driving all over Nigeria mostly in the dead of night for strategy meetings, yet he never missed any of his classes or...