Icheoku says that he needs no further introduction to the world but will add, were there to be about ten of this man in Nigeria, Nigeria will not be in the sorry state, it is in today. His name, Chief Ganiyu Fawehinmni, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (British equivalent of a QC) and a human rights lawyer extra-ordinaire in Nigeria. Once again, this torn in the flesh of the ever-corrupt Nigerian governments, has asked the apostate President Umaru Yar'Adua's Nigerian government, to stuff their "national honour" to their, you know where? His reasons for rejecting this window-dressing of an "honour" makes great sense in every decent soul; but in a country like Nigeria where everyone sheepishly prostrates before the government like a house fly before palm-wine, it is surprise, surprise! Icheoku says, Gani Fawehinmni is an exceptional Nigerian of great conscience, of whose mould there is no other living Nigerian! For rejecting this Nigerian government bribe of a national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, (OFR), Gani Fawehinmni has once again vindicated his character as according to Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, the only man in Nigeria who does not have a price-tag! No one can compromise Gani as he is as solid as the rock of Gibraltar; no amount of intimidation, threat or bribery can make Gani sell his conscience. President Umaru Yar'Adua has now tried like his predecessors of yore and the result is the same - absolutely, no deal! Gani's demand is that Nigerian governments level with Nigerians and do right by and for the people of Nigeria. This time, it was the government‘s insincerity in its war against corruption and the treatment meted out to the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, that ticked him off. According to Gani, it will be insidious for him to be receiving such an honour under a government that is a “total failure” and unserious about eradicating corruption in the country. Whether now or in the life beyond, how can I wake up in the morning and look at the insignia of honour bestowed on me under a government that persecutes anti-corruption efforts, particularly its arrowhead, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu? Chief Gani Fawehinmni in rejecting the award said, the Federal Government of Nigeria has been characterised by a collapsed infrastructure, total paralysis of the health sector at all levels, constant nationwide power failure and attendant negative effects on all sectors of the economy, pervasive unemployment, thereby generating increased armed robbery cutting across all ages of our people, debilitating homelessness, retrogressive educational programmes and policies, which have made no Nigeria university to be ranked within the first 500 universities in the world and no effort is being made by the regime to improve on the humiliating situation.“Put simply, the Federal Government is a total failure, worsened by lack of direction and leadership. Is this the atmosphere for the award of national honour? Certainly not. This is an indictment against all governments in Nigeria, including the present government that awarded the OFR to me.“The present government that awarded me the OFR has been guilty of abuses of human rights. For example, the closure of Channels Television station in Lagos and Abuja on September 16, 2008. The man who helped to catapult this regime into office, Olusegun Obasanjo committed some of the worst abuses of human rights as civilian leader between 1999 and 2007, namely: he sent troops to murder 2,999 innocent Nigerians in Odi, Bayelsa State in November 1999. He also shut African Independent Television (AIT) on November 30, 2005.“Without doubt, all our infrastructure are decadent and no effort has been made by this regime to improve on the infrastructure. Under this regime, power generation is next to zero and everyday the country is thrown into darkness. The manufacturers and domestic users of power are at the mercy of generating sets.” For standing firm all these years (about 43years) with his firm convictions, irrespective of the government in power and what they throw at him, Icheoku hereby declares Chief Gani Fawehinmni, the one Saint in the hell called Nigeria and pray that the good Lord will preserve him, keep him alive and hearty to continue his onerous fight against all that is evil and militating against Nigeria. Long live Gani Fawehinmni!
Shehu Sani lauds Gani for rejecting national award
ReplyDeleteWritten by Emeka Mamah
Friday, 19 December 2008
* Calls him a living legend
Kaduna—President of Northern civil rights groups and chairman of the Civil Rights Congress (CRC), Mallam Shehu Sani has commended prominent Lagos-based lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) for rejecting the National Merit Award to be conferred on him by the Federal Government.
Sani however urged President Umaru Yar’Adua to pay attention to the revival of the nation’’s economy and the elimination of poverty in the country.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Kaduna yesterday, Sani also criticized the rationale behind the government’s award of national honours to some discredited personalities whose activities in the past had contributed to the hardship being faced by Nigerians currently.
“This was a man (Chief Fawehinmi) who has spent most part of his life fighting against military dictatorship before the enthronement of democracy and had been incarcerated more than any other Nigerian in the struggle to free Nigerians from shackles of oppression in the country.
“For this government to come out and give this man a position of the Order of the Federal Republic is demeaning,” Sani said, and that “it is insulting for the Federal Government to give such a flagship of struggle, a living legend, a man who is the flagbearer and the holder of the torch of freedom of Nigerians such award,” while more prestigious awards are awarded to discredited former governors, ministers and advisers.”