Lagos set to unveil Fawehinmi’s statue

The Lagos State Government is set to unveil a new statue of
Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN sited at the beautiful park in Ojota
which is named after the late legal luminary and human rights
advocate on Sunday.

State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with members of the Gani
Fawehinmi family, leading voices in human rights and other
dignitaries across the state, will unveil the edifying statue in
commemoration of the late activist’s 80th posthumous birthday.

Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde
in a statement, said 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
and to celebrate and immortalise worthy icons that contributed
immensely to the development of Lagos State.

According to the Commissioner, the new statue was also informed
by the desire of Lagos State government to project and entrench the
enduring legacy of the country’s foremost human right lawyer,
activist, philanthropist and one of the icons of pro-democracy
movement in Nigeria.

“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,” Ayorinde said.

The 34-feet high statue will serve as one of the many iconic
edifices that highlight the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration’s
quest to transform the landscape of the state with artistic
aesthetics, while also signposting the belief in giving honour to
whom honour is due.

The commissioner quoted Governor Ambode as saying 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.”

The statement added that Governor Ambode and his entire cabinet,
on behalf of the good people of Lagos State appreciate and
congratulate 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.

Sunday’s unveiling 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.

The Commissioner added 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.

The Lagos State Government is set to unveil a new statue of
Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN sited at the beautiful park in Ojota
which is named after the late legal luminary and human rights
advocate on Sunday.

State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with members of the Gani
Fawehinmi family, leading voices in human rights and other
dignitaries across the state, will unveil the edifying statue in
commemoration of the late activist’s 80th posthumous birthday.

Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Steve Ayorinde
in a statement, said 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
and to celebrate and immortalise worthy icons that contributed
immensely to the development of Lagos State.

According to the Commissioner, the new statue was also informed
by the desire of Lagos State government to project and entrench the
enduring legacy of the country’s foremost human right lawyer,
activist, philanthropist and one of the icons of pro-democracy
movement in Nigeria.

“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,” Ayorinde said.

The 34-feet high statue will serve as one of the many iconic
edifices that highlight the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration’s
quest to transform the landscape of the state with artistic
aesthetics, while also signposting the belief in giving honour to
whom honour is due.

The commissioner quoted Governor Ambode as saying 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.”

The statement added that Governor Ambode and his entire cabinet,
on behalf of the good people of Lagos State appreciate and
congratulate 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.

Sunday’s unveiling 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.

The Commissioner added 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.