LATE CHIEF GANI FAWEHINMI: Icon of Democracy

Chief Abdul-Ganiyu OYESOLA Fawehinmi, GCON, SAN popular known as Gani, was a well respected Nigerian author, publisher, philanthropist, social critic, seasoned human and civil rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. But popularly called Senior Advocate of The Masses 

Fawehinmi was born on 22 April 1938 by Saheed and Munirat Fawehinmi in Ondo State.

His father, Chief Saheed Tugbobo Fawehinmi, the Seriki Musulumi of Ondo, was a successful timber trader and well known philanthropist.

Gani's grandfather was the late Chief Lisa Alujanun Fawehinmi of Ondo, who engaged in several successful battles for the Ondo people in the 19th century. This was what gave birth to his appellation the 'Alujanun', which means Spirit or Heavenlies He died at the age of 92. The fighting spirit has been a lineage thing after all.

Gani had his early education at Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Iyemaja in Ondo State from 1947 to 1953 and his secondary school education at Victory College Ikare, from 1954 to 1958 also in Ondo State.

He was popularly called "Nation" because of his passionate interest in national, legal and political affairs when he was in college. He worked briefly as a law clerk in the High Court of Lagos until 1961 when he enrolled at the Holborn College of Law- University of London to read law. While at University, his father died. He completed his academic degree in London with a measure of difficulty due to lack of financial support. He returned to Nigeria in 1964 and was called to the bar in 1965. He then worked briefly at the law firm of his brother, Saheed Fawehinmi before setting up his own.

From Kaduna prison to Jos prison, from Gombe prison to portharcourt prison, from Kuje prison to Ikoyi prison, Chief Gani Fawehinmi was the most jailed human right activist from Nigeria.
For raising his voice against injustice, his books were confiscated, his library set ablaze, his house and chambers were always raided and he was assaulted on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way in Lagos by Naval officers.
His travails from security agents never dissuaded him from defending the poor and the weak in the society.

"I defended the students of University of Ibadan in 1971 when one of the students, Kunle Adepeju, was shot dead by the police under Gowon’s regime and the government of the day set up a Commission of enquiry headed by Justice B. O. Kazim and I represented the students for 5 months in that tribunal of enquiry. In 1976, I defended the students of University of Benin against the wrath of the military government. In 1983, under Shehu Shagari, there was a peaceful demonstration by more than 4000 students of the University of Maiduguri against the misdirected high handedness of the leadership of Professor Jubril Aminu, (former Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S.) Several students were expelled and their education illegally truncated. I fought to the Supreme Court to obtain victory. This is just to mention few of my struggles for justice." Gani recalled.

Fawehinmi personality gained prominence when he took on the case of a factory worker, Bala Abashe, who alleged that the Secretary to the government of Benue-Plateau State, Andrew Obeya had an affair with his wife. Abashe then sued Obeya for assault and damages for adultery. Fawehinmi took on the case as a pro bono lawyer (free of charge) for Abashe while the state government stood behind their official. Efforts were made for Fawehinmi to drop the case, when that failed, Obeya was forced to resign. However, Fawehinmi was detained for nine months. The publicity of the case improved the exposure of his law practice.

In 1986, Chief Gani Fawehinmi became Dele Giwa's Lawyer who was later killed in a bomb letter in his residence under suspicious circumstances.

They always came for him - Gani. He was arrested even on his 50th birthday.

"I witnessed one of the times they came to arrest him in the house. They were about 20 armed policemen. It was as if they were coming to take a criminal and they brought a big Black Maria. He told them, ‘Gentlemen, how are you? Are you ready?’ He told my mum to take care of us and he followed them" His daughter, Idiat recalled.

As a result of his incessant arrests, Chief Gani always kept a small bag containing toothpaste, toothbrush and the Qur'an with him, as he was always ready for jail.

When he was asked the possibility of defending Ralph Uwazurike he said:

"If I am approached by Uwazurike to take up his case, I will fly straight to wherever he is or, if I cannot go there by air, I will go there by road. If I cannot go there by road, I will trek to defend his right to hold an opinion because freedom of speech is a fundamental right. Because he has the right to pursue any objective and if they feel that his objective is criminal, then he has the right to defend himself in the court of law and we shall defend the issue of his fundamental rights".

The incorruptible Chief Gani was able to speak truth to powers because he had nothing to hide. He once said;

"I have never got any contracts from any local government, state government or from federal government. I don’t even know the house of ministers. I never met any Head of State in my life. I’ve never met any minister in my life. I’ve never submitted any application for contract anywhere in my life. I have never submitted any application for contract at any level whatsoever."

When his 14-year old first child asked for his dad's support to go to the Nigeria Defence Academy taking the NDA's form to his father to sign, Chief Gani left the form, reached for the cane and flogged the young man for planning to join his tormentors. Chief Gani was Unbiased, detribalized and unsentimental patriot. When his own daughter was working in his Chambers, she either resumed before/at 7am or be locked outside the gate like any latecomer.

One of his highlights was in 2008 where Chief Gani Fawehinmi rejected one of the highest national honours that can be bestowed on a citizen by the Nigerian government – Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) – in protest of the many years of misrule since Nigeria's independence.

Chief Gani's lung began to deteriorate while doctors were busy focusing on his heart and blood pressure. It got so bad that he called his cardiologist, Dr Mike Fadayomi, his childhood friend from the age of four. He is one of the best cardiologist in this world. He directed Chief Gani to a radiologist to do the X-ray first. When he (radiologist) came with the wet X-ray and showed it to Gani and Fadayomi, the cardiologist shouted;

"Gani something dangerous is wrong with your left lung. You must run to London. I don't understand this!"

When Chief Gani got to London the doctors told him that he was among the 5% patients in the world who don't smoke or drink and yet had lung cancer.

Gani narrated his ordeals to the doctors in London and one of them hinted that his "horrible detention" must have triggered the lung failure.
The human right activist was asked to prepare for the worst and Gani bitterly wept.

To prevent politicians from "hijacking" his burial, Gani bought his own casket while alive and made cash available for his funeral with instructions to his children about how he want his funeral to take place.

Chief Gani Fawehinmi literally lost his voice to the ravaging lung cancer before his sun finally set on 9th September, 2009.

In 2018, Chief Fawehinmi was posthumously awarded the GCON (Grand Commander of the Order of Nigeria) Nigeria's second highest honour.

As we celebrate today's Democracy Day, let's celebrate a selfless Nigerian
A legal icon
A symbol of justice
And OUR Hero who made a prominent impact on the symbol of democracy - Chief Abdulganiyu Oyesola Fawehinmi!

GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL
GOD BLESS NIGERIA 🇳🇬

Written by: ADESHILE ADEKOLAJO
Professional Writers Group