…Says If We Come Up With A Policy, My First Question To My Staff Was ; What Would Gani Fawehinmi Say?
… Narrates How One of his Minister’s, late Alex Akinyele Tried To Bring Them Close But On Several Attempts Gani Rebuffed The Idea.
Former Military Head Of State Of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida has made a Startling revelation about his relationship with the late civil rights lawyer and activist, Gani Fawehinmi, stating that during his tenure as Head of State, He Employed Several means to make the deceased his friend.
Babangida who said Fawehinmi was a good man, explained that while his efforts failed, a friend of Fawehinmi and member of his ministerial cabinet . Mr Alex Akinyele , Also tried in vain to spark a friendship between them. Making the disclosure during an interview, Babangida added that in the process of formulating many of his policies, he always queried members of his inner circle on the reaction he would receive from Fawehinmi.
The late legal luminary who is arguably one of Nigeria’s most loved Social Activist until his death was one of the outspoken critics of Babangida’s government at the time and was detained no less than 17 Times by the Military Junta Which came to an abrupt end in 1993. Nigerians would remember the human rights lawyer for many things, among which were his fierce Commitment to upholding the ethics of social responsibility and his many acts of selfless service rendering professional legal services to many of his clients for free.
According to Babangida, He (Fawehinmi) is a good critic and doesn’t want to be seen with someone that people already petcieved as an “Evil Genuis” .
“I like listening to him and I made it a point to become his friend, He was very friendly with one of my former minister, the Late Alex Akinyele; They were very good friends, and he tried to make us very good friends”. If we came up with a policy , my first question to my staff was; What would Gani Fawehinmi Say?.
He said his fondness for Fawehinmi was borne out of his attraction to bright minds ,adding that he always told members of his cabinet that joining his administration was in the interest of Nigeria.
Ayobo/IpajaTV.com 