Mr. Mohammed Fawehinmi, son of the late legal luminary, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as the first sensitive and reasonable Head of State.
Mr. Fawehinmi praised the President during a Special National Honours Investiture in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Tuesday.
At the event, President Buhari conferred the title of Grand Commander Order of the Niger on his father, posthumously.
Asked to speak about the honour, which was received on behalf of his late father by his mother, he explained that the act was touching considering the sacrifices made by his father and Chief MKO Abiola in the fight for democracy.
“You are the first sensitive and reasonable Head of State we have had in this country,” he said.
As far as Fawehinmi, the eldest son of the late human rights law, is concerned, President Buhari’s decision to honour the heroes of June is purely in reaction to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.
According to him, June 12 is the foundation of democracy in the country following the annulment of the peoples’ mandate vested on the late Chief Abiola.
He, however, joined those who want Abiola declared winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 Presidential election.
“He was the winner,” he said.
Overall, Fawehinmi is delighted that all the sacrifices made by his father in the struggle for the restoration of Abiola’s mandate are not in vain.
He said, “These two distinguished men sacrificed everything they had for this country and I thank God that their sacrifices have not been in vain.
“Today is symbolic because it shows the entrenchment of the unity of all citizens in this country regardless of your tribe, ethnic backgrounds or religious beliefs. We are all Nigerians.”
President Buhari had declared June 12 Nigeria’s new Democracy Day on June 6.
Buhari also conferred a posthumous GCFR title on the Moshood Abiola, who died in prison on July 7, 1998, in the course of his fight to reclaim his mandate.
The President explained that June 12 is a more symbolic day, hence his decision to change the date, in a bid to honour the Abiola struggles.
“In the view of Nigerians, as shared by this Administration, June 12, 1993, was and is far more symbolic of Democracy in the Nigerian context than May 29, or even October 1,” President Buhari had said.
