NIGERIANS MOURN GANI

A flurry of reactions from prominent Nigerians has greeted the death of Nigeria’s foremost human right activist and legal icon, Chief Gani Oyesola Fawehinmi.

He is irreplaceable – Former Vice President, Aitku AbubakarChief Gani Fawehinmi was a defender of the rule of law and of the common man.He is irreplaceable. The death of the crusader in the holy month of Ramadan is a favour and an indication of Allah’s acceptance of his life and struggles. May Allah delete his sins.

Gani was a lesson in integrity – Osun State Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola The late lawyer and human rights activist lived a highly fulfilled life. Prince Oyinlola, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Lasisi Olagunju stressed that Fawehinmi as a social critic was a great lesson in consistency and integrity while he also gave a refreshingly positive meaning to legal activism. “His life was a great lesson to other critics to imbibe the virtues of honesty of purpose strengthened with an iron will to succeed in ones life crusades. “In Fawehinmi humanity was greatly enriched. He demonstrated for all to see that success in life is measured not by what one takes from life but by what one gives to it. Chief Fawehinmi gave his entire being to the cause of the common man.
His type will definitely be difficult to get,” he said.

Mimiko mourns Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Kolawole Olabisi stated: “On behalf of the people of this Ondo State, I most sincerely thank the good Lord for giving this distinguished man to us in Ondo State. He was an eminent Nigerian, a global personality of the finest cast, who no doubt lived a life of social struggle. His was a selfless life, dedicated wholly to the advancement of justice and the defence of the common man.” In demonstration of the high esteem he held the late social crusader, Mimiko on assumption of office as the governor on February 23, 2009 on March 19 mandated the state-owned Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) to honour Gani Fawehinmi with a Special Convocation and confer on him an honorary Doctorate Degree.

We’ve lost a democratic crusader - Uduaghan “I am greatly saddened by the death of one of Nigeria’s legal icons, Chief Gani Fawehinmi,” Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, said in his reaction.“‘Gani’, as he is popularly known, made his mark in the Bar as a brilliant lawyer, but connected deeply with the people, especially the poor and underprivileged, through his onerous crusade for social justice and human rights. “ Today, Nigeria is a democracy, thanks to the enormous contribution of Gani and others like him. Even in that, Gani, the tireless gadfly, continued to campaign for a better democratic practice, challenging any aspect that showed disrespect for the people’s will and right. He will be greatly missed by all. ”

He was a fearless advocate - Prof Amos Utuama (SAN), Delta State Deputy GovOne is sad that Chief Gani Fawehinmi is dead. But for the mysterious nature of death, he would have fought it to a standstill as a powerful social justice crusader and advocate.However, he will be remembered for his monumental contribution to legal development and practice through his Nigerian Weekly Law Report, other publications and fearless advocacy.May his soul rest in peace.

He fought with passion – Oshiomhole Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, said Gani’s death was a great loss to Nigeria, a country he fought to preserve as a just and decent entity with so much passion. In a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen, the comrade-governor said as a legal practitioner, the late Fawehinmi pioneered an outstanding contribution to the development of the legal profession, especially through his publication, the Nigeria Weekly Law Report Series, which eased access of practitioners to legal precedents and decide cases. Oshiomhole noted that ‘Gani’s’ greatest contribution was his devotion and resources in pursuit of civil liberties and constitutional rights of all Nigerian and a reputation for challenging authoritarian intolerance, military dictatorship and oppression that earned him “the peoples advocate.” “Through his relentless legal activism, he expanded the frontiers of constitutional rights. Gani, as we all fondly call him, singularly secured for Nigerians the right to freely for political parties without the encumbrances of conditional registration.

It’s a rude shock - AmaechiRivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi, described the news of Fawehinmi’s death as a rude shock in a press statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr David Iyofor. “Indeed, Gani was a great Nigerian, a larger than life figure and an accomplished lawyer. His consistency, tenacity and independent-mindedness are hallmarks of a true patriot and leader. He will be missed not only by his family but also by Nigerians and humanity who cherish his activism. “As a rights activist, he never left anyone in doubt on where he stood on any issue. His consistency is unrivalled and will be difficult to replicate among Nigerian politicians, human right activists or legal practitioners. “As the nation mourns this irreparable loss, I commiserate with his family and pray for the repose of his soul. We should all take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life fighting for the masses and what he stood for.”

It’s a great loss – Senator Ayogu Eze
•He was a patriot – ActionAidChairman of the Senate Information Committee, Ayogu Eze, described the death of Chief Gani Fawehinmi as a great loss to the country, even as a leading civil society group, ActionAid Nigeria, said the deceased was one of the greatest patriots of all times in Nigeria. According to him, Fawehinmi was a great asset to democracy, who ensured at all times that those in authority were kept on their toes and prayed God to grant eternal repose to his soul. Also in a statement in Abuja, ActionAid Nigeria said Fawehinmi was a selfless and committed patriot who committed his adult life to the service of his motherland, saying his death was one of the greatest losses suffered by the postcolonial Nigeria.“Chief Fawehinmi, who for decades consistently stood for justice, equity and was committed to the cause of the poor, would be remembered for his dogged pursuit of democracy,” Hussaini Abdu, ActionAid’s Country Director, said.“We will for many years continue to remember his self-sacrifice and his loyalty to the cause of building a great nation, in spite of the assault on his person, the brutality he suffered, several attempts at breaking his body, soul and spirit by repressive regimes in Nigeria,” Abdu added.

Senator Ganiyu Solomon“Gani fought doggedly to achieve any stand and nothing will move him against such stand because he always gave us hope that things will be better with people like me.“He served as a watchdog to successive governments. There has never been any government that did not fear him because he was always there to monitor them and his position has always been that of the people.”

Gani’s type is rare - WaziriChairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mrs Farida Waziri, described Chief Fawehinmi death as not only a great loss to his family but to the nation as a whole.The EFCC boss in a statement on Saturday described Gani as “a principled, dogged, and unrelenting crusader, fully committed to any course he believes in.”According to Mrs Waziri, “I am convinced that his death at this point in our nation-building process will be missed by all. This is because his contributions not only to the development of the legal profession but to the socio-economic and political advancement of our country have been enormous. His type is rare, his personal sacrifices and selfless services are uncommon.“Soon after I won the case, he instituted against my appointment at the Federal High Court in Abuja, I planned to meet him to commend his courage and fighting spirit. But his death has surely denied me the great opportunity of telling him face to face my admiration of his person. In fact, I had contacted one of the lawyers in his chambers just last week when I was in Lagos to schedule the meeting, but had to put that on hold to avoid insinuations over his decision to appeal the high court judgment.”

He has left me an orphan – Chief Ebenezer Babatope“The death of Gani Fawehinmi is a mighty loss to Nigeria. A shining light has gone. He was more than a friend to me. Nearly all my comrades that fought military tyranny in Nigeria in the 70s are now gone. I’m simply an orphan now…Gani, good night.

The great myrmidon is gone - Rev Chris OkotieThe dismal clouds have today (Saturday) expressed their grief in tearful outpourings for Nigeria. Ah, the great myrmidon of the people Chief Gani Fawehinmi lies in somnolent quietude. We hail.He was a dictator’s nightmare - ACThe Action Congress (AC) said the death of Fawehinmi is definitely one of the biggest losses to Nigeria in recent times. “His belief in constitutionality and the rule of law helped propelled many of his actions against impunity, and he did not discriminate between civilian and military leaders in picking his targets when it comes to ensuring a strictly adherence to the rule of law, rather than the rule of the jungle.“An unabashed campaigner for human rights, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with other campaigners to seek respect for human dignity. Nigerians owe him a tonne of gratitude for whatever freedom they are enjoying today.“It is a shame that he had to travel abroad several times, sometimes spending months, to get access to good medical treatment. What an irony for a man who never missed an opportunity to goad the government of the day to use the country’s huge resources for the benefit of the people.“We call on the Federal Government to immoratlise this relentless ‘senior advocate of the poor’, a friend of the lowly and the oppressed and a legal colossus,” the AC image maker stated.

ACF, Shehu Sani eulogised him The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) described Chief Fawehinmi as an embodiment of strength and support for the weak at all times.Foremost Kaduna-based human right activist, Comrade Shehu Sani, also referred to him as an embodiment of “principle and a symbol of conviction.”“He was committed to values of common decency and opportunity for all. He was an embodiment of strength and support for the weak at all times. As a result, Nigerians would remember him with respect and gratitude in their daily lives. May his soul rest in peace.”On his part, Shehu Sani said: “The death of Chief Gani is not just a loss but a quantum one. He was a Ghandi, Mandela, and Martin Luther King in one body. He was the soul of our democracy and the conscience of our nation. He was an embodiment of principle and a symbol of conviction.”

Calamity has befallen Nigeria - Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kilodejo“Gani’s death is a devastating calamity to the whole country. He was a courageous man and freedom fighter who fought for the masses at the expense of his health and life. Ondo kingdom and the entire nation will miss him.”

The symbol of justice is gone – IMG •Declares seven days of mourningThe Ijaw Monitoring Group (IMG) described the death of Fawehinmi as a sad chapter in the history of Africans and the struggle against bad leadership, poverty and corruption. “Gani was a blessing to our generation. He left us without a replacement. We are in big trouble. Oppressors of the masses in the continent are now celebrating that their tormentor is gone; the tormentor of the corrupt is gone. Death was not fair to Africa today. The symbol of equity, justice, fairness and love has gone from our continent. When will God give us another Gani? The black race wanted more years for Gani but God knows best. “We urge the federal government to declare five days of mourning for Gani and Niger Delta declare seven days of mourning for the great lawyer to the late Ken Saro Wiwa and other oppressed people in the world.