Fashola urges FG to immortalise Beko

Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos - 11.02.2008

Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has called on the Federal Government to immortalise the late president of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) Dr. Beko Ransome–Kuti and other heroes of democracy.

This was contained in the governor’s message to the Ransome-Kuti family and civil society community through his Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, on the second year remembrance of the human rights and pro–democracy activist.

The governor said Dr. Beko Ransome–Kuti stood for truth, social justice, the rule of law and selfless service to the development of humanity.

He added that Beko chose to be in the trenches in defence of the people and democracy rather than living a quiet and privileged life after a brilliant and prosperous career as a medical doctor.

He also said as the President of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr. Ransome-Kuti “was at the forefront of the civil society’s response to the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential elections, which made him to fight military dictatorship to a standstill.”

He added that the late activist was a humanist who believed that nothing was too big to sacrifice to make the society a better place and for this cause, he paid a heavy price on the basis for which the current democratic dispensation was enthroned.

“The sacrifices made by the great freedom fighter are already yielding invaluable dividends as exemplified by the stance of the present administration on the rule of law and good governance,” he said.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to immortalise Dr Beko Ransome- Kuti, Chief M.K.O Abiola, Mr. Chima Ubani, General Musa Yar’ adua, Pa Alfred Rewane and “other heroes and heroines of democracy for the great price they paid for the enthronement of civil rule in Nigeria.”