My Tribue to Gani Fawehinmi
Prof Segun Ogunbemi
My Tribute to Gani Fawehinmi ( SAN) who passed away on Saturday, 5th August, 2009 Aged 71 Segun Ogungbemi Department of Philosophy Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State Nigeria
The legal luminary is popularly known as Gani. Gani has been a household name in the law profession in Nigeria identified with social crusade, civil rights activism, the hope and pride of the down trodden, the voice of the voiceless, the defender of the defenseless, the conscience of the nation, the hero of the masses, and the Senior Advocate of the Masses. I never met Gani personally in my life. I only saw him on the television and his pictures in the news papers. The attributes of the legal luminary endeared him to me. There are three things that Gani represents even at death namely, the poor, the middle class and a good state. Gain was a man who would not compromise his conviction unless there is a very strong and superior argument. He was always ready to defend a course he believed in no matter what people say. He was never carried away by tribal sentiments but always on the path of truth and justice. To me, the greatest thing Gani demonstrated to us as a people is that Nigeria with her enormous of human and natural resources the citizens deserve to live well and that is the function of a good state. The well being of all Nigerians regardless of one’s ethnicity was the major battle that Gani fought until death came and told him that he had fought enough it is time to rest. Gani, the hero has fought a good fight, it is left for Nigerians to take their destiny in their hands using the legacy of Gani as a barometer to evaluate their leaders and followers in the pursuit of a virile and prosperous nation that they deserve. My fare well message is what is inherent in Yoruba cultural fare well to the departed. Gani sun re o Ma jokun, ma jekolo Ohun ti won ban je la jule orun ni ko bawon je Odi gba odi gbose Sure o.
A copy of it is attached to this mail. Segun Ogungbemi |
ayandiji daniel
My Personal Encounter With Gani- Professor A.D Aina
Chief Gani Fawehinmi was searching for a Personal Assistant (PA) in the early 1990s (I cannot recall the particular year now). I was one of the many people who applied for the job. I was then a reporter with the Daily Times of Nigeria. I was fascinated about his personal credentials as champion of the oppressed and thought working with him should be a graet privilege. The interviews were in many stages.His associates got us reduced to about six or so. The last six were invited for the last round of interview with the enigma himself. Chief Fawehinmi sauntered in at about 11am or so for an interview scheduled for much earlier. It was my first time of seeing him face to face. Some of us had wondered if this was the Gani we read about and if it was worth the while waiting any longer for this extremely busy man. We thought Gani was afterall an irresponsible big man who may never have time for his worker. We were dead wrong. As
he entered, he told us "Gentlemen, I will be with you in a moment. He never showed up till about 5pm or when he was about to close for the day! Expectedly, only two of us waited! The other four left one after the other feeling they had no time to wait for the "big" man. He invited the two of us who waited and endured in and said the interview was just over (interview in persiverance and endurance!). He asked about our background, discipline and probe if we were psychologically prepared for life behind bars which was sure to come to him and possibly to whoever would work with him (since his life was devoted to the struggle to uphold justice in the land and wrestle with perpetrators of injustice). We were scared! He then gave us another day for the final interview when and where one of us will be chosen for the job. When we left him, the two of us reviewed our experiences for the day on our way home. My friend, a
scion of the Ilorin emirate wondered aloud if it will not be ridiculous for him to tell his people he would be PA to a Gani Fawehinmi. He perceived that working with Chief was working with anti-establishment and inconsistent with the perception of someone fron the emirate. He thought it might just be better to abstain from the final interview so that my chances will not be jeopardised as he might not take up the appointment if given. He was dead wrong as I also told him too that having worked with the Daily Times, switching over to a Gani worldview would be a huge challenge. I also confessed that I would definitely have stiff opposition from my home front as my people, having been battered by poverty were eager to see their son secure a white collar job to pay back some of the debt acquired by my dad while funding my education. One way or the other, none of us showed up for the final interview! With the opportunity
gone, came some life challenges that showed me that working with Gani would have made certain impact. The rest is history. Nigeria has just lost someone who was adored by people across the divide. Even his detractors have started telling us while Nigeria is not going to be the same even when they never gave him chance! Huh! May God forgive us all for misusing the opportunity a Gani offered our generation.
Ayandiji Daniel Aina
Visiting Professor of Political Science &
Head, Political Science and International Relations
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gabriel afolabi
That was an interesting revelation Prof.! It's good to know some of the off-camera dispositions of our public figures. I am sure quite a large number of people would take a cue from Gani's psycho analytical approach to human understanding.
My own personal encounter with him in the 1970s demonstrated his passion for the love of, and concern for the defence of the defenceless, which sympathizers have talked/written about profusely since his transition. I was then resident in Ondo, his birthplace, and had problems with a Motor Dealer over a car purchase transaction involving R.T.Briscoe, Warri. I briefed him on the matter at his Chambers in Ondo but because of his constant arrests and incarcerations then, he could not attend to me. Out of frustration, I lodged a complaint at his Chambers and surprisingly, he came from Lagos that weekend to apologise for the delay !
I join the teeming population of good people all over the world in mourning his demise, and praying that God will sustain his family.
Gabriel K.Afolabi, Ph D
Babcock University
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