Sani Celebrates Fewehinmi, Balarabe Musa

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, yesterday, celebrated the Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Alhaji Balarabe Musa, as iconic right activists, saying he also considered himself as representative of the human rights and pro-democracy movement in government.

Sani spoke at the 86th Chief Gani Fawehinmi posthumous birthday celebration and the immortalisation of Balarabe Musa, a former governor of Kaduna State, in Kaduna.

Sani said Fawehinmi and Musa devoted their lives to the struggle for social justice, noting that Fawehinmi used the instrumentality of the law to fight for social justice, while Musa deployed his mobilisational skills to rally the masses to take their destiny in their own hands.

“I am extremely delighted to be in the midst of my dear comrades and colleagues in the human rights and pro-democracy struggles.

“This is one reunion I deeply cherish. We must sustain such fora in order to continually reflect on our past struggles, critically look at current and emerging issues, and chart the pathway to a better future for our country.

“We are here to remember and honour two icons, who devoted their lives to the struggle for social justice. I honed my political skills in the ‘furnace’ of the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.

“I was a civil rights activist for so many years, after graduating as an engineer. My colleagues and I fought for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.

“I was the National Vice Chairman (North West) of the Campaign for Democracy (CD), which was then headed by Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, of blessed memory.

“Thereafter, we decided to form a coalition of opposition groups against military rule. We formed the Joint Action Committee of Nigeria, JACON, which was headed by the legendary Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

“In JACON, I also became the Deputy National Chairman, North.  As governor, I see myself as a representative of the human rights and pro-democracy movement.

“We are running an inclusive, pro-people government committed to bringing succour to the poor, vulnerable and underserved in Kaduna State. We have come up with initiatives to lessen the pains of the people.”