Ambode To Unveil New Gani Fawehinmi Statue On April 22

Late Gani Fawehinmi

As part of efforts to commemorate the late legal luminary, Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), the Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode will on Sunday, 22 April unveil a new statue named after the late activist.

This is also part of the 80th Posthumous birthday celebration of the legal sage.

The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, in a statement said that Governor Ambode, alongside members of the Gani Fawehinmi family, leading voices in human rights and other dignitaries across the state will unveil the statue which is sited at the beautiful park in Ojota.

According to him, the remodelling of the magnificent Gani Fawehinmi statue was part of the State’s strategy to enhance the aesthetic beauty of open public spaces and parks across the state, as well as to celebrate and immortalise worthy icons that contributed immensely to the development of Lagos State.

Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode

“Lagos State is proud that Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s courageous voice was loud enough for the world to take notice of socio-political developments in Nigeria.

“His fearless activism and constant interventions on behalf of the voiceless were legendary and helped ignite global interest on the plight of the masses and on Lagos as a liberal State that created an enabling environment for voices against oppression to be heard”, he said.

While quoting Governor Ambode, Ayorinde stated that “the relevance of Gani’s struggle for transparent and responsive governance remains the pillar of our progressive leadership in Lagos State in particular and Nigeria in general.

“It is therefore pertinent to accord him the needed reference and respect in the company of great and revered minds that considered Lagos as home and an integral part of their success story”.

Ayorinde also expressed the gratitude of Governor Ambode and his entire cabinet to the Fawehinmi family for keeping the flag of what Gani represents to the law profession and the civil society flying through the sustenance of the colloquium to celebrate his birthday annually.

He, however assured that adequate security measures and traffic control have been put in place to ensure that the two-hour ceremony is orderly and befitting of Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s legacy.

Meanwhile, the unveiling ceremony of the 34-feet high statue is expected to be witnessed by members of Gani’s family, friends, protégés and loyalists that have sustained the legacy of the late legal icon by keeping the flag of human rights advocacy, fairness and justice flying.