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By Cosmas Omegoh and Ayo Ademokoya
If the late Gani Fawehinmi and his son Mohammed were alive today, they would have been at the forefront of the fight against fuel subsidy removal and the fraud associated with it. This was because Gani in particular was a foremost legal practitioner who used the instrumentality of law as a tool for change and social engineering.
This was the position of Barrister Kunle Wahab Shittu, a senior advocate of Nigeria, when he extolled the virtues a of Gani and Mohammed at the second annual lecture and first edition of scholarship awards to the underprivilege in honour of father and son at an event held recently in Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking on the topic “Removal of fuel subsidy and its impact on the Nigerian masses,” Shittu maintained that the so-called removal of the fuel subsidy was a “scam.” He felt strongly that that would have been the exactly position of both late Gani and Mohammed, if both were alive, as they would have fought the battle for the masses to its end.
Shittu said: “Law is a tool for social engineering, and there are lawyers and there are lawyers. Some lawyers are equipped with the theory of change and the leader of this category of lawyers was the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and, of course, his late son, Mohammed, because a lion cannot give birth to a goat. Gani Fawehinmi was a lion; Mohammed, his son, too, was a lion.”
Shittu added that “some lawyers are also equipped with the theories of forestalling change.”
Then turning to non-lawyers, he said: “It is now up to you, whether as a lawyer or individual, to decide whether to make changes in the society or allow yourself to be used to forestall change in the society.”
Shittu maintained that that lawyers use the instrument of law to promote changes in the society, stressing that Gani and Mohammed “would continue to live in our hearts.
“They will continue to live in our consciousness, and because of that, some of us are out to continue the legacies of integrity and change which they (Mohammed and his late father) professed in their lifetime.”
Shittu’s opinion on the fuel subsidy was definite. He said: “We all agree that the so-called fuel subsidy was a scam. I think what we should prevent right now is the situation whereby its removal will turn to another scam.
“Fuel subsidy was like a social security arrangement to make fuel accessible to you and I at reduced prices. But even when the fuel was been subsidised, were you buying it at lower prices? The answer is No!”
Therefore, he argued that the scheme was an arrangement to enrich very few members in the society at the expense of the majority of Nigerians.
“We are not supposed to be buying fuel at the very expensive rates because this country is rich both in human and natural resources particularly oil. Petroleum resources abound in the country and so, if there is a country where fuel is supposed to be cheap, Nigeria is supposed to be that country.
“But the irony is that in our circumstance, just that we have a rich country, we have poor people. And that is why we need to discuss this subject,” he stated.
In her response, the convener of the forum, Mrs Basirat Fawehinmi-Biobaku, who is Gani’s daughter, recalled that the mother still mourned death of her illustrious son, Mohammed.
Fawehinmi-Biobaku in an emotion-laden speech said that it has not be easy for the family, especially for her aged mother, but was quick to express her profound appreciation to God and those present at the event.
Fawehinmi-Biobaku, a lawyer, who is the younger sister of late Mohammed, went on to solicit for support to run the foundation as the duo were no longer around. She also used the opportunity to share the motive behind Gani Fawehmi Foundation.
She said: “As you can see, majority of the people present here are the less privileged, the physically challenged people whom my brother loved to associate with during his lifetime.
“That was why we streamlined the criteria for those that can benefit from the award programme to include people who are brilliant but struggling at their various levels of education not only in Lagos but all over Nigeria. As we speak, we believe this is just the beginning for many to come.”
