Posted by By ADESINA AIYEKOTI, BIMBO OYESOLA and MUYIWA OYINLOLA on
The ongoing nationwide fuel hike protest rallies by the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society groups suffered a major setback Wednesday when one of the nation's leading human rights activist, Chima Ubani was killed in an auto crash along with a photo-journalist, Mr. Tunji Oyeleru.
The ongoing nationwide fuel hike protest rallies by the Nigeria Labour Congress and civil society groups suffered a major setback Wednesday when one of the nation's leading human rights activist, Chima Ubani was killed in an auto crash along with a photo-journalist, Mr. Tunji Oyeleru.
Ubani and Oyeleru were killed at Potiskum, Yobe State when the vehicle they were travelling in, said to belong to the NLC, had a terrible accident while returning from the Maiduguri rally. Three other occupants said to be a mobile policeman, the driver of the vehicle, and a secretariat staff of the NLC, were seriously injured and admitted at the Potiskum General Hospital.
Ubani was the Executive Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), while Oyeleru was the Photo Editor of Vanguard newspaper.
Reacting to their deaths, eminent lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) said Ubani's death was the saddest blow to the human rights community in particular and civil society in general.
Describing him as one of the brightest young men being groomed by the older generation, Chief Fawehinmi said: "His courage knew no bounds. His vision was so clear. He was passionate in the crusade to save the poor people of the country.
"He was a democrat through and through. He had a knack to resolve issues with ease. He was with us during the battle against military dictatorship."
In his reaction, President of West African Bar Association, Mr Femi Falana, said the CLO director, in his lifetime, stood for future of Nigeria right from his days at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
"He took an unwavering position to align himself with the struggle of Nigerian people for an egalitarian society. It is painful and tragic that he has to lose his precious life in the course of prosecuting the ongoing incessant price hike.
"His death will certainly make all other progressives to rededicate themselves to the struggle that Chima laid down his life for."
Also expressing shock over the death of Oyeleru, Chairman of Photo Journalists Association of Nigeria, Mr Ashamu Adegbola described him as an outstanding photo-journalist.
"My assessment of him was based on the exhibition he participated in in 1991, alongside other seasoned photo journalists of repute like Sumi Smart Cole, Pa Ojeikere and Don Baba. He was a very great journalist."
Also contacted, Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, said he was too shocked to comment, adding that he was on his way to the CLO office.
A statement from the Citizens Forum described Mr. Chima Ubani, as "a pioneer stalwart of the Citizens Forum."
Chima Ubani, in his 40s, was the Executive Director of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO); General Secretary of Joint Action Forum, the ideological machine of Labour Civil Society Coalition (LASCO); and a strong member of PRONACO.
Ubani has been one of the moving spirits behind every mass movement which has occurred in Nigeria in the last two decades.
Also reacting, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, coordinator of the International Press Centre (IPC) in Lagos described the deaths of Ubani and Oyeleru as tragic and a great loss to the nation.
"I put their deaths squarely on the shoulders of the Obasanjo regime. If this government had listened, the NLC rallies would not have happened and these illustrious Nigerians would not have died just like that," he said.