Leading political figures, renowned lawyers and civil rights advocates converged on Lagos yesterday to celebrate the legacies foremost human rights advocate, the late Gani Fawehinmi.

It was at the public presentation of a book – “Gani Fawehinmi and the Nigerian Press” in honour of the Ondo high chief, who would have been 88 yesterday.

The event, which held at the Nigerian Law Publications House, Ikeja, attracted notable personalities from all walks of life.

Attendees did not only celebrate the late Fawehinmi’s lifelong battle for justice, they made a fresh appeal for the protection of democracy and civil liberties.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani recounted his personal experiences with Fawehinmi during Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggles, highlighting the late lawyer’s commitment to equality and education.

The governor revealed how Fawehinmi once approved scholarships for indigent Northern students without hesitation, noting that many beneficiaries have since become professionals across Nigeria and abroad.

“He didn’t care about tribe or religion; he cared about character,” Sani said.

Cautioning against calls for military intervention in Nigeria’s governance, the activist-governor described those behing such calls as threats to free speech and democratic progress.

He credited the Fawehinmi’s legal battles for expanding Nigeria’s political space, particularly the emergence of a multi-party system.

Former Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko, examined Fawehinmi’s political philosophy through the ideals of his National Conscience Party (NCP).

Dr. Mimiko, who highlighted the party’s slogan – “Abolition of Poverty,” say the late freedom fighter opposed temporary palliatives and instead pushed for lasting solutions.

He also maintained that Fawehinmi would have questioned current economic arguments surrounding subsidy removal, insisting that poor governance, rather than subsidies, is Nigeria’s real challenge.

Human rights lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana, who chaired the event, commended the author, Basirat Fawehinmi-Biobaku, for preserving her father’s legacy through literature.

Falana stressed that Fawehinmi’s life continues to challenge Nigerians to pursue justice and accountability.

Blending humour with criticism, Falana lamented Nigeria’s persistent infrastructure challenges, joking that electricity issues might have been resolved if the country experienced harsh winters.

He, however, stressed that the struggle for a better Nigeria must continue through the bravery of journalists and members of the legal profession.

In his keynote lecture, Prof Akin Ibidapo-Obe gave a critical analysis of the 1999 Constitution, arguing that it places heavy responsibilities on the press without adequate legal safeguards.

According to him, while the Constitution mandates the media to act as a watchdog over the government, it fails to provide the necessary teeth for effective oversight.

“If you assign responsibility without empowerment, that duty becomes meaningless,” he said.

He pointed out that Section 39 guarantees freedom of expression but does not explicitly recognise the press within its main provisions, limiting its legal strength.

Ibidapo-Obe noted that the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights played a crucial role during military rule, enabling journalists to challenge oppressive decrees in court.

He also cautioned against the growing influence of privately-run media outfits, controlled by political and commercial elite. He warned that “media mogul” syndrome could place profit and influence above public interest.

“The danger is that media ownership is shifting away from practitioners to powerful interests seeking government patronage,” he noted.

The professor referenced the assassination of Dele Giwa via a parcel bomb, describing it as the ultimate form of censorship and a stark reminder of the risks faced by journalists.

He concluded that although the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) 2011 represents progress, Nigeria’s constitutional framework still falls short in fully protecting press freedom.

He called for stronger legal reforms to empower the media as true custodians of democracy. (The Nation)

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