And old proverb from home says that ‘truth is like pregnancy – it cannot be concealed’. It’s prominent in my mind as I think of my days as a teenager in southeast Nigeria, when the struggles of Nigeria’s foremost human rights activist came to my attention. Like a colossus, Gani Fawehinmi – who died earlier this month at the age of 71 – stands tall in the memory of people throughout west Africa who’ve suffered enormously in the hands of successive dictators.
A lawyer by profession, Gani Fawehinmi was a social crusader, a champion for the emancipation of the Nigerian people from the shackles of injustice. For as long as I can remember he has been at odds with Nigeria’s rulers for their decisions made against the will of the majority. His rebellion wasforceful, stinging and sustained by his belief in the ultimate triumph of the rule of law.
I remember when he challenged Gen Ibrahim Babangida to find the killers of Dele Giwa, whose life was cut short by a letter bomb delivered by suspected government agents, knowing that he was risking his own safety. He haunted the general like a retributive ghost, giving a voice to the people that they otherwise lacked.
I remember Sani Abacha and his attempts to assassinate Fawehinmi during his moves to install himself as Nigeria’s president for life. But Fawehinmi was undeterred, pursuing the dictator through the courts for murders carried out by his agents in the wake of his vaulting ambition. He survived terrible beatings and incarceration in gulags designed to dampen his spirit of agitation. But he kept coming back, appearing like an hallucination to Abacha and his goons at every turn until the end of their reign of terror.
I remember Abdusalami Abubakar, and his dipping into the country’s reserves while the people mourned the loss of Ken Saro-Wiwa. The popular support for his timetable for transition to civil rule convinced him that he could get away with doing whatever he wanted. But he did not bargain on Gani Fawehinmi, who taunted him and his cronies at every step until they fulfilled their promise of leaving office.
I remember the charade that was the 1999 general elections, which finally ushered in civil rule in Nigeria – at a price. Fawehinmi was unafraid to speak in the broad daylight about the rigging of votes to install Gen Obasanjo into office. He kept both him and his successor President Yar’Auda constantly on their toes, arguing ferociously against the political machinations that clashed with the rule of law and principles of social justice.
Gani Fawehinmi lived for the people. He was a lone ranger in the battle against dictatorship. He was a one-man riot squad, and the unsung hero of Nigerian democracy. We are grateful for the sacrifices he made for downtrodden Africans through his advocacy. Gani, may your soul rest in perfect peace.
Ukachukwu Okorie is originally from Nigeria and writes weekly for Metro Éireann. Visit his
website at www.olumouka.com
