Former Military Head of State of Nigeria, General Ibrahim Babangida, has revealed that all efforts he made to make Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi his friend failed. He confirmed that he deployed every means to have a relationship with made late civil rights lawyer and activist.
Babangida who asserted that 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 on Channels Television yesterday, 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 Fewehinmi.
Fawehinmi, a legal luminary and one of the most loved Nigerian social activist until his demise, was one of the most outspoken critics of Babangida’s government at the time and was detained no less than 17 times by Babangida’s administration which ended in 1993.
Fawehinmi was tagged as the Senior Advocate of the Masses based on his love and empathy for the people. He was very vocal and critical challenging the anti-people policies of the government despite the visible challenges and harassments. He rendered professional legal services to many of his clients for free most especially the Student Union Government as many student activists across the country would not have graduated but for his free interventions.
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According to Babangida, “He (Fawehinmi) is a good critic and he doesn’t want to be seen with someone that people already perceived as ‘an evil genius’.”
“I like listening to him. I made it a point to become his friend. He was very friendly with one of my former ministers, the late Alex Akinyele; they were very good friends, and he tried to make us very good friends.
“If we come 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 alway told members of his cabinet that joining his administration was in the interest of Nigeria.
