FAWEHINMI’S ONDO HOUSE, THE MORNING AFTER

At Gani Fawehinmi’s Oka, Ondo town home on Wednesday morning, the day following his interment, a lot had changed. The surging crowd was gone, and so were the canopies that shielded them from the elements. The frenzied photographers who, barely 24 hours earlier, had turned the graveside into a camp had all departed. The DAAR Communications Outside Broadcasting (OB) Van that for a few days became a part of the landscape was gone. Only a group of workmen remained, cleaning up.
And then there were the banners bearing Gani’s images - a good number of them prison photos.

The four slabs that covered the grave had been sealed into place with concrete, and all that kept the site company were the wreaths from the day before. Nearby, Gani’s mother’s marble tomb bore the footprints of the crowd that had gathered to bid farewell to her son. The inscription engraved onto it revealed that the son died exactly six years to the day the mother was buried - September 5, 2003.

Just outside the entrance to the house sat Gani’s younger brother, Olumide, eager to share reminiscences. “He was my very, very good friend. We were so close... the love I had for him, that was why I had to name my first son, Gani Fawehinmi... he has even promised to be a lawyer. All my children - I have two boys and a girl - are so fond of him.
“And I know my children will be the ones that will miss him (most), because most weekends they will say ‘My daddy, let’s go to Baba’, but now there’s no Baba...”
Much has been said of Gani’s “payroll” - the startling number of people who monthly benefited from him in cash. Olumide Fawehinmi gave an idea of the size of the “payroll”.
“Everybody, quote me, everybody in (the) family house, they are on Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s payroll... those that are on his payroll in this town alone, they’re over 200. As I’m talking to you, I’m a successful businessman, (but) I’m on his payroll. He doesn’t look at whether you are successful. There was a time he told me, (about) 15 years ago, he said ‘Olumide, if not for the way this country is, I will just tell all the family to stop working ...” Even Olumide’s children were on the payroll as well. “All of them. My last born, who’s a girl, will be three years old by November, and she’s on the payroll of Chief...”

Loads of memories
Civil Engineer, Gregory Odunwo, did construction work (“finishing”) at Gani’s Ikeja residence, as well as the late lawyer’s Gallery at the Central Business District, Alausa. Odunwo said he met Gani five years ago.
“I think I can precisely tell you that within the five years that I came across this man, I’ve been able to finish my house to the taste that I want, through this man... he’s God-sent to me.” And he was quite clear on the first thing he needed to do in memory of the man who had shown him much kindness and generosity.

“I beautified the mother’s grave, I beautified the father’s grave, and I’m going to beautify his grave... by the time you come here within the next 40 days you will see the beautification of the grave. I’m working on it already. I’ve just finished work this morning, and I’ve been here for the past three days, working to make sure everything is in order.”
“Who will fight for us, we poor people?” asked Ebenezer Akinwande, who is married to Gani’s younger sister. Then he quickly added, smiling, “though I don’t consider myself poor...”

Olalekan Ojo, Gani’s photographer, worked with him for more than 15 years. He told NEXT that Gani would often tell him “Lekan, you’re not my staff, you’re my son.” Breaking into a smile, he recalled how Gani would sometimes talk to him as though he were a lawyer and not a photographer, and expect him to help recollect legal details.
Amidst the outpouring of memories, the condolence register lay closed. The final entry, by F. Makinde, said it all:
“Chief Gani, Hero of Modern Nigeria. Good Night. R.I.P.”

SOURCE:234NEXT.COM

GANI'S CASKET STIRS DEBATE

Chief Gani Fawehinmi finally went “home” yesterday in a blaze of glory, capping a week long celebration of the life and times of the legal icon and champion of downtrodden masses. His remains were buried in his native Ondo town in a gleaming golden casket, believed to have cost some millions of Naira.

The expensive coffin, first spotted at a tribute session organized by the Ondo State Government in Akure ,the state capital on Monday, was supplied by TOS, a top flight Lagos-based firm of undertakers owned by Taiwo Ogunsola. The company handled the contract for the funeral of the late human rights activist. The cost of the casket was a closely guarded secret by the family. Gani’s widow, Ganiyat revealed that it was part of a complete package charged by the company, adding however, that: “I am not sure the children will want me to disclose the entire amount to the press. All I can say is that we asked them to give us the best ever” However, industry sources reckoned that the casket could cost between N5million and N 10 million if it were made of solid gold. This has, however, stirred a controversy, with some observers querying such brazen display of ostentation and flamboyance in respect of a man who was an acerbic critic of profligacy and epitome of prudence and modesty in his time. Some also expressed doubt that Gani may not have approved this. Apart from the cost, there is also a brewing controversy as to the propriety of buring Gani, a devout Muslim, in a coffin. It is a development a section of the Muslim community, which had earlier queried the decision to delay his burial for two weeks, had also expressed reservations about.
Incidentally, this seeming rebellion against the established Islamic burial rites may only be another manifestation of the Gani phenomenon.He obviously rebelled to the end.

TEARS AS GANI IS BURIED

Remains of the late legal icon, Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi were lowered into the grave at exactly 3.32 pm at his home town, Ondo on Tuesday September 15, 2009 amidst pomp and pageantry. Tears flowed freely from the eyes of family members, politicians, including the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, members of the civil liberty group as the human rights activist’s body was finally interred beside his late mother’s grave at Oka area of Ondo township. Many could not contain their emotions, as they burst into tears, chanting “Gani, Gani has gone into the grave. Goodbye, the friend of the masses.”

Before the burial, the corpse laid in state at the Oba Adesanoye Civic Centre where notable Nigerians including the Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido and the Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko showered praises on the late legal luminary. Governor Adams Oshiomhole described Gani as a courageous rights activist who stood for the rights of the oppressed and downtrodden. He said the late lawyer fought tirelessly against military invasion, saying his fight was responsible for the democracy the people of the country were enjoying. His words, “Gani was the heart of the Nigerian masses, he was the voice to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless” The Jigawa Governor on his part said Gani would be remembered for his contribution towards strengthening of the legal profession. He charged Nigerians to emulate the good virtues of the late lawyer, stressing that Gani was a fearless being who stood for truth at all times. Governor Mimiko in his speech, said the life of Gani was worthy of emulation, stressing that he lived a life for the oppressed “Though he is dead now, but we are grateful to the Lord for his life and we are proud of our association with him and we thank him for the eternal pride that he brought the way of our dear Ondo State, for whether anyone likes it or not, the Gani Fawehinmi phenomenon has helped substantially to define the nature and image of the Ondo State personality as a dedicated defender of the truth, a focused and conscientious hard worker, resilient in struggle, and driven by a deep sense of conformity with the Omoluwabi ethos of the Yoruba. “Though today, Gani Fawehinmi is no more, but we are consoled by the fact that he would rest well confident that his place in the heart of Nigerians and lovers of truth, freedom and justice all over the world is assured.”

He used the occasion to thank numerous guests both far and near who graced Gani’s final burial, adding, “I am highly grateful to all of you present for honouring our invitation to give Gani a befitting burial. The corpse was later moved to the Ondo Central Mosque where the Chief Imam of Ondo, Alhaji Basiru Alimi admonished Nigerians to emulate the exemplary life exhibited by Gani when he was alive. He described death as a necessary end that could not be avoided by any human, stressing that every human should learn how to live a good life. He said, “Gani has done his own part on earth, let us all be courageous enough to stand against injustice and oppression which was Gani’s hallmark. “We should all endeavour to always say the truth at any point in our lives, so that people will be able to say good things after our exit.”
SOURCE:THESUN

FAWEHINMI GETS HERO’S FINAL FAREWELL IN ONDO

Yar’Adua, governors, lawyers pay tributes
Banners and billboards proclaiming the people’s affection for him. Excited youths singing, drumming and dancing. Some residents hawking souvenirs bearing his portrait. An army of security officials at alert.
Chief Ganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi’s entry – his last – into Ondo State yesterday was glorious.
Akure, the Ondo State capital, stood still for several hours as the government and people of the "Sunshine State" paid their last respects to the late legal luminary and human rights activist.
Fawehinmi died on September 5 in Lagos.
It was a rain of tributes at the Akure Sports Stadium where the remains of the legal icon lay for about five hours.
The remains of Fawehinmi, who hailed from Ondo in Ondo West Local Government Area of the state will be interred today at his residence in Oka.
Economic and social activities were partially paralysed in Akure as the residents utilised the public holiday declared by the Dr Olusegun Mimiko-led administration to receive the body of the social crusader.
Banners, posters and miniature billboards bearing Fawehinmi’s portraits in the full regalia of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) adorned the city. The billboards, which bear the insignia of the Ondo State Government, reads: "Ondo State Bids Gani Farewell".
The popular Oba Adesida Road was cordoned off by the Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) to allow easy passage for the funeral procession from Lagos.
The Ondo Road-Oba Adesida Road junction looked like a huge marketplace, with various interest groups waiting at the junction to receive the body.
It was a huge carnival, with residents singing in celebration of their hero.
Smart residents made brisk business, selling T-shirts, badges, stickers, fez caps, calendars, key-holders and other souvenirs bearing the portraits of the late lawyer.
Pickpockets had a field day as many people, including a policeman whose mobile phone was stolen, fell victim to them.
The body arrived at Stadium Road junction at exactly 12.56 pm and was received amidst singing, drumming and dancing. Residents struggled to catch a glimpse of the body. Some used their camera phones to record the picture of Fawehinmi’s body.
Many of the residents who gathered in front of their homes and shops to behold the spectacle of the long procession making its way towards the stadium compared Fawehinmi’s funeral with the one accorded the late sage and Senior Advocate, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
The Mercedes Limousine hearse which bore the glass casket carrying the remains of Fawehinmi had LAGOS-GANI on its number plate. Another limo carried the golden casket in which his body will be buried today in Ondo.
Immediately the body entered the stadium, youth groups, workers, students, motorcyclists, traders and others, who carried various placards, rose in unison to sing solidarity songs.
All the seats in the stadium were occupied. The football pitch was covered by spectators who formed a sea of heads around the casket.
Students of Victory College, Ikare-Akoko, the late Fawehinmi’s alma mater, attended the ceremony. They were in their uniforms.
The body was carried shoulder-high by pall bearers who filed past a guard of honour mounted by robed lawyers under the aegis of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from various branches across the country.
Family members followed the body which was placed on one of the three big podiums mounted on the football field as music of the Afrobeat maestro, the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, was being played in the background.
Musicians who performed live at the occasion included juju music legend King Sunny Ade, Olu Maintain, Yemi Sax and Lord Ajasa.
Lawyers ascended the dias where the body was placed in quartets to pay their last respects to a colleague. Then, prominent Nigerians paid their tributes one after the other.
Fawehinmi’s body was dressed in a black Aso-Oke, a cap, his reading glasses and beads on the neck.
The Islamic opening prayer was said by Sheikh Yassin. Pastor Nelson Fadoju followed with the Christian opening prayer.
Those who paid tributes to the late Fawehinmi included the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), NBA President, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Chief Sehinde Arogbofa on behalf of Victory College Old Students and the President of the West African Bar Association (WABA), Mr. Femi Falana.
Others who paid tributes included the Speaker of the Ondo Assembly, Mr. Taofiq Abdussalam, Campaign for Democracy (CD) President Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin and the President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Ledum Mitee.
SOURCE:THENATION

GANI BEGINS FINAL JOURNEY HOME

The late legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, began his final journey home on Monday with fanfare. The acclaimed human rights crusader left the morgue of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for his GRA, Ikeja home at about noon in a motorcade.The corpse, laid in a plain casket, was dressed in a white lace flowing gown (Agbada), a green cap and a pair of black shoes. It was conveyed in an ash colour Mercedes Benz hearse with registration number TOS 1.Trailing the hearse was a long convoy of at least eight cars and trumpeters, family members and sympathisers, some of whom had been at the hospital since 10.00a.m.Hundreds of Nigerians joined the funeral party, walking solemnly behind the hearse as it moved slowly to the home of the Fawehinmis. The journey took about one and half hours.A multitude of sympathisers and family members were ready to receive the corpse when it arrived the home, with songs and dancing.At exactly 1.30p.m., the corpse was placed in the inner sitting room, for the people to pay their last respects to the fallen hero.Fawehinmi looked fresh, calm and serene in death. There was a long queue of people who took their turns to pay homage to the generally acknowledged most engaging lawyer in the history of the country.Dignitaries across the country continued to pay glowing tributes to the memory of Fawehinmi. Among the notables who called at the deceased’s home on Monday were fiery labour leader and former Secretary General of National Union of Petroleum and National Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori, Afenifere Chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Speaker of House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole, leader Yoruba Council of Elders, General Adeyinka Adebayo (retd), former Minister of External Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Action Congress (AC), governorship candidate in Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, notable lawyer, Fred Agbaje, Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Marvel Akpoyibo, Factional leader of All

Ah Gani! Nnukwu Ife Melu Nigeria – Joe Igbokwe

Nnukwu Ife Melu Nigeria! Ah! Nnukwu Ife Melu Nigeria
(Tragedy has struck Nigeria). Nigeria has suffered a terrible and devastating setback with the exit of Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

I am a living witness to Gani’s many battles, his many struggles, his many wars, his many interventions, his many engagements, his many victories. I saw it all and a I know that Gani was a bulldozer, a moving machine, a giant, a massive moving train, an icon, a huge power house, an armada, an extraordinary mortal with an infinite capacity for details, and a hurricane for that matter.

When King Hezekiah was told that his days are numbered on earth and that he should be prepared to die, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed: "Remember, Lord that I have served you faithfully and loyally and that l have always tried to do what you wanted me to do". The Bible says Hezekiah began to cry bitterly. God gave him additional 15 years to live. I am sure when Gani was diagnosed of lung cancer; he would have asked Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate, the most gracious, to grant him more years to conclude his fight with Nigeria’s hopeless and clueless leaders.

Gani did not pray alone, millions of Nigerians, the masses, his associates, his massive followers including this writer prayed that he survives this scourge. We prayed hard because the struggle to free Nigeria from ruthless and useless leaders remains an unfinished business. We prayed without season for Gani to survive because he has become the scourge of dictators and political predators in Nigeria. We sought God’s face because Nigeria without Gani is like Paris without Eiffel Tower. We prayed for Gani to survive because no Nigerian living or dead can match Gani in action and deeds when it comes to the issue of defending ordinary Nigerians.

We prayed for Gani to survive so that the Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) will continue to do what he knows best - talking law, acting law, speaking law, singing law, dreaming law and preaching law. But God has a reason to allow Gani to go to rest. We cannot question God’s decision. Chief Gani Fawehinmi was the finest soul that walked the political landscape called Nigeria. He was the most detailed Nigerian ever lived. Gani did not go to his many battles unprepared. His capacity to record events with precision and accuracy will ever remain a case study for students in higher institutions.

When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became president in 1999, he preferred to travel abroad at the drop of a hat because he thought he can rule Nigeria from abroad until Gani reminded him the number of times he had travelled outside with dates and number of days spent. I remember one Gani’s article titled: ‘Here He goes again’, referring to Obasanjo and his unquenchable appetite for foreign trips in the face of sufferings in the land.
Gani was one of the greatest speakers Nigeria has ever produced. I remember one particular incident in a court in Lagos where Gani held everybody, including Chief Rotimi Williams, spellbound, tearing and bringing down the roof with beautiful semantics, establishing himself as a man of subtlety and with the gift of the garb. I remember Chief Rotimi Williams asked the judge to tell Gani that they are in a law court and not a political soap box.

Gani remained the greatest defender of the down-trodden and the helper of the helpless and no person in Nigeria living or dead could match his eloquent deeds to the people of Nigeria. For nearly 30 years, no Nigerian living or dead could overtake Gani as the conscience of Nigeria. No Nigerian could surpass Chief Gani Fawehinmi in the struggle for equity and fair play, rule of law, and social justice. Chief Gani was the most detribalised Nigerian ever lived. He fought for the North, he fought for the South, he fought for the East and he fought for the West. Gani travelled to Enugu, Kaduna, Zaria, Port-Harcourt, Jos, Sokoto, Markurdi, Kafanchan, Kano, Abakaliki, Aba, Umuahia, Benin e.t.c. to defend Nigerians irrespective of whom you are.

When the late General Sani Abacha established the Provisional Ruling Party (PRC) and the Igbo was not represented, Gani went to Court. Hear Gani: "The Igbo by their contribution to the economic development of this country are otherwise called the Jews of Nigeria. They are very hard working, very industrious, very innovative and very articulate people. The economic development of this country owes much to their contribution. I don’t like the way they have been treated since 1970. They still bear the scars of the Biafran crisis and they are still being treated as if the civil war is still nascent, which is wrong? They have been kept out of the security forces of this country at the strategic levels, the law enforcement of this country at the most strategic levels, they are ignored, despised by the cabal. Even in the civil service. I don’t know how many permanent secretaries are Igbo. I don’t know how many senior police officers are Igbo, and same goes for the Navy, Air force and the Army. They are one of the largest groups in this country. In fact it is a nation within a nation. The major manpower pull of this country is being supplied by the Igbo. I was so angry when Abacha came to establish the provisional Ruling Party (PRC) and the Igbo were not represented, I went to court to fight the cause of the Igbo. It was after my suit in court, challenging Abacha and asking that the PRC composition be set aside by the court until Igbo were given their rightful place that Abacha then reversed the composition of PRC and appointed some Igbo…."

Chief Gani Fawehinmi was the most detained Nigerian since the inception of Nigeria and had been detained in Nigeria’s worst prisons. When Gani believes in a cause only Allah will stop him because he will throw in everything-time, money, energy, strength e.t.c. Gani was the tallest and the biggest Iroko in the land and when the Iroko fell down, the birds, big and small, have nowhere to perch.

I remember few years back when Gani complained that Nigerian politicians have failed all of us. What I did was to pick my pen and write to Gani that all of us will continue to suffer the rules of idiots if we do not go into politics. If you want to change the world there is no alternative to politics. I remember I told Gani that if he fails to enter into politics he may not realize the Nigeria of his dream. I told him that evil triumph in every society when good men do nothing.

Perhaps, that was what compelled Chief Gani Fawehinmi to go into politics. He founded the National Conscience Party (NCP). Gani did not disappoint anybody but the ruiners and destroyers of Nigeria stood on his way.
At 71, Chief Gani Fawehinmi traversed a thousand mountains and hills, drilled the deepest well, squeezed water out of stones, took the greatest risks of his life, fought the most dangerous and wicked Nigerians and yet he promised to fight on even from his grave. I wish him well because Gani lives on.. Gani was a historical necessity who travelled the road less travelled. At the lying- in- state ceremony in his country home in Ikeja the lion was still. I cried Gani! Gani!! Gani!!! Gani!!!! And there was no response. The roaring lion was silent and at once the meaning of life dawned on me once again.

The duty we all owe Gani is to ensure that the court jesters, the charlatans, the predators, the scavengers, the palace clowns do not succeed in Nigeria. The unfinished business must be finished and Nigeria restored to the path of sanity, honour, growth, and integrity. The gardener asked: Who plucked the flower? The owner said I did. And the gardener held his peace! Gani lives on!!
SOURCE: THE NATION

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