Posted by By Abimbola Akosile on
Lagos-based human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), yesterday dispelled rumours circulating that he was attacked and killed on April 23, saying his time was not ripe and that he still has many more governments to fight for the betterment of Nigerian masses before he goes.
Lagos-based human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), yesterday dispelled rumours circulating that he was attacked and killed on April 23, saying his time was not ripe and that he still has many more governments to fight for the betterment of Nigerian masses before he goes.
Fawehinmi, who spoke to THSDAY on telephone, said "I am very embarrassed and worried. I have received not less than 45 telephone calls since the rumour started spreading, even from people in my home-town. They said I was attacked and killed. I am shocked."
Gani, aged 65, corroborated a press statement issued on Saturday by one of his lawyers, Mr. Adindu Ugwuzor, on the death rumour, noting that "I do not know who started this ungodly and embarrassing rumour but all I have to say is, I am not going yet. I am not ready to go yet because God has not ordained me to go."
"We still have many governments to fight in this country, for the improvement of the lives of the masses of Nigeria. Honestly, I am still shocked at the wicked rumour. Many people, including media houses, have been calling me on this matter. I am not ready to go yet," Gani said.
Ugwuzor, in his statement wrote, "there is a rumour circulating around today Saturday, April 23, that Chief Fawehinmi (SAN), is dead. We dispel that rumour as a fabrication and absolute falsehood. We confirm most categorically that Chief Fawehinmi is alive, hale and hearty. He was at the Federal High Court, Lagos on Friday."
Gani has been incarcerated in prisons several times in his legal career, which began in 1965 and has spanned four decades. He was arrested on 30 January 1996 by State Security Service (SSS) and held without charge in harsh conditions (where medical neglect has caused him to become seriously ill) in Gashua, Bauchi Prison, Northern Nigeria, for 10 and a half months before his release.
He set up National Conscience Party (NCP) in 1994, at a time when political parties were illegal. In August 1996, there were fears that he had lost his sight. In 1995, he was twice forced to leave the country clandestinely for medical treatment having being twice stopped by security police in defiance of court orders.
Fawehinmi has established, in nearly fur decades, a reputation as an irrepressible critic and opponent of abuses by a succession of military and civilian rulers. During that period he was arrested and detained more than 40 times.
He has been an unrelenting critic of economic policies of the type advocated by the Bretton Woods institutions including privatisation, devaluation and removal of subsidies and has pledged to reverse such policies implemented by previous governments if elected.
Also, Gani has received several awards including the American Bar Association (ABA)'s International Human Rights Award in August 1996.