Toast to the legal gadfly

Nigeria is a very lucky country for having people like Chief Gani Fawehinmi to populate it.

Chief Fawehinmi needs no introduction. He is a man the downtrodden know very well. They identify with him and his continued struggles. They understand his passions and dispassion; they know when he rages, he is about to challenge demonic rulers to a contest. And Chief Fawehinmi rages a lot and so the people whose cause he has put on himself to fight, know him to be a warrior constantly engaged in battles.

The firebrand lawyer, on Tuesday crossed the threshold of “elderhood” as he celebrated his 70th year as a sojourner in a world dominated by killer-leaders and more deadly followers. He is fortunate to have been alive to witness the lives of thoughtful and thinking leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, among others as well as thoughtless killer-leaders like George Bush— father and son, the late Sani Abacha, prodigal ones like Shehu Shagari and Ibrahim Babangida and, finally, outright unthinking ones like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Fawehinmi’s life has been defined by these (life’s) characters and they as well have shaped his worldview and redefined his activities. He is globally acknowledged as an unrepentant crusader of truth and justice and for his strong opposition to the villainous characters who take delight in creating tragedies out of humanity. Chief Fawehinmi’s life has been a long adventure, an enduring challenge and triumph of good over bad.

Characters like Fawehinmi are rare in life’s drama. Only very few people have the capacity to live a sustained life of struggles over a cause. But his consistency in the fight to enthrone good governance, to protect the poor and ensure that the poor of Nigeria are not turned into Frantz Fanon’s “wretched of the earth” is noteworthy. It is that strong personality and unyielding spirit even at great personal risk to himself that stands him apart from other so-called social crusaders. Chief Fawehinmi is unarguably, the crusaders’ crusader and a leader of leaders.

Apart from his strong moral stance on corrupting associations and corruptible influences, he has a noble heart that does not prevaricate in matters of generosity. He is a free giver, an exemplary philanthropist. It is not known how many indigent people Chief Fawehinmi has helped to realize their dreams. But the number is quite large. He has built an army of followers unlike other influential individuals, who use either their God-given or stolen wealth to oppress others.

One newspaper vainly attempted to cast some individuals in the image of Gani by lumping its proprietor, who is still engaged in the battle to wash himself of the moral and criminal allegations levelled against him, with the legal icon. The idea was to suggest that the proprietor was born in the same month of April like Gani and curiously tried to place him within the same brilliant light that has illuminated every step of the legal gadfly. It is such ignoble ideas that Chief Fawehinmi has fought all his life and it is such a person that was lumped with him that he has fought all the way in his fight against corruption and corrupt leaders. Chief Fawehinmi has no history of engaging in any act of calumny. He is a Muslim by conviction and has never been found worshipping or taking any oath in any shrine, even when it is believed that many lawyers have cultic connections.

Figuratively speaking, the gadfly is human and not without his weaknesses. His constant battle and swiftness in challenging every issue have somewhat become a joke. It is said that the chief enjoys seeing himself in his legal, battle regalia and arguing cases in court and for that he is ready to challenge any issue as long as it would end in a court of law. It is said that the fiery lawyer could head to court to challenge the fact that he has no case in court. All these are the attributes that make him tick. They make him to be a rounded character, a complete human being with his qualities and hubris. They define his humanity and fallibility.

There is no doubt that Nigeria will see more of this passionate human and benefit from his strong commitment to the creation of a new Nigeria and a regenerated Nigerian populace. But the unfortunate aspect of it all is that the population of people like Gani is gradually thinning out. What will happen when people like Gani eventually transit to a higher plane? The forces of darkness, which have enveloped the nation with their evil, naturally will be happy that the rank of these rare breed is being gradually decimated by nature.
Happy birthday to a beloved patriot and friend of the commonman.

REACTION

Your article on the above subject matter is commendable. The fact is that whether we like it or not, Iyabo is carrying the burden of being the daughter of Obasanjo. And she must have known that before venturing into Nigerian politics. I want to appeal to the Nigeria media to treat the Obasanjo family with the fear of God in their hearts, whenever they are reporting any issue about them. They are human beings like us. - Tomori Abdulfatai, Zardauna Crescent, Kaduna fattytom2@yahoo.com

Thank you for soliciting for the Obasanjo’s. I can only agree to disagree with you that OBJ is being haunted by his enemies. Rather, I would say that he is the architect of his own fortune or misfortune. Here is a man who despised his own people only to love his political friends and mentors. This is the reward for his lust for power. Be as it may, no one can condemn him until we hear his own side and all former leaders are probed.
As for Iyabo, she should also talk now. — 08057688097.

Keep your dispassionate views on national issues as demonstrated in your article on Iyabo. We need journalists like you who will shed lighht on issues and not resort to vendetta and sentiment. — Lanre Asha (08053634699).

I usually went straight to look for your column to read some realities. But your piece on the "Iyabogate" caught me by surprise. I don't know what you were advocating in that article. But never trust Nigerian journalists for their honesty. You just earned a medal of "corrupt" journalist to even try to defend Iyabo. I am very very disappointed and I feel so sorry for Nigerians. — Franklin Olusoji (folusoji@mail.com).