UBA SANI PRAISES FAWEHINMI’S DEMOCRATIC STRUGGLE

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has described the late human rights lawyer and pro-democracy activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, as a key figure in the struggle to keep Nigeria’s political space open.

Sani made the remarks in Kaduna at the presentation of a book titled Gani Fawehinmi and Uba Sani: A Tale of Mentor and Mentee. He recalled Fawehinmi’s legal battle against restrictions imposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission on political associations seeking registration as political parties.

According to the governor, Fawehinmi and former Kaduna State Governor Balarabe Musa challenged INEC’s position in court. The legal battle lasted more than two years before the Court of Appeal ruled in their favour in 2002. INEC appealed to the Supreme Court, which also ruled in their favour in January 2003.

Sani said the court victory helped open Nigeria’s political space and paved the way for the emergence of more political parties. He urged Nigerians to remember the activists who fought for the political freedoms citizens enjoy today.

The governor also recalled Fawehinmi’s commitment to education, noting that his scholarship programme supported more than 1,000 students across universities in Northern Nigeria.

Sani described Fawehinmi as a committed nationalist who used the law to defend citizens and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s struggle for democracy, accountability and human dignity.