The new 44-feet monument further affirms the commitment of the Governor Akinwumi Ambode-led administration to celebrating icons and using their statues to beautify the state.
FOR the new statue of the late lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi at Liberty Park, Ojota, Lagos, it’s a perfect case of the Yoruba saying, Ileoba to jo, ewa lo bukun. That is, every cloud has a silver lining.
Compared to the new one unveiled to mark the posthumous 80th birthday of the legal luminary last Sunday, the old statue removed last year looked tiny and did not completely capture Gani’s eminence. It will be recalled that the human rights community and others had roundly criticised the government for removing the previous figure, claiming that it was desecrating Gani’s memory. They had remained sceptical even after government explained that it was merely replacing it with a more befitting one.
Sunday’s unveiling of the new 44-feet monument, however, reinforced Governor Akinwumi Ambode’s commitment to continue to beautify the state through the erection of monuments and upgrading of heritage sites while also empowering artists. Apart from Gani’s statue unveiled at the event attended by eminent Nigerians, members of the human rights community, the Fawehinmi family and the general public, not less than 20 other monuments have been erected across Lagos to beautify the state.
Some of these include The Drummer and The Fisherman at Ikorodu by Chinedu Ogakwu; Waka-The Big Foot at Ojodu Berger by Hamza Atta; Virtues of Life at MarwaLekki by Segun Aiyesan; From Ebute at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way by Ade Odunfa, and The Nerve Centre at Maryland by Gerald Chukwuma among others.
Welcoming guests last Sunday, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, disclosed that Governor Ambode’s motive for replacing the former statue was not only to enhance its aesthetics and beautify the park, but that it was also “to keep in our memory the good deeds of Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN). The statue we are here to unveil today, as indeed the entire Gani Fawehinmi Park, is meant to inspire and encourage citizens who have a dream and the ambition to positively influence the society and speak for the voiceless.”
He assured of Ambode’s commitment to the arts and further noted that the unveiling ceremony fulfiled the administration’s objective “to celebrate our icons and use their statue and artistic impressions to transform our state as most civilised, culturally active cities are known for.”
Olurotimi Ajayi, the chief executive officer of O’Modupe Studio that made the statue, commended Ambode’s sustained interest in the arts, noting that he was by his patronage, providing gainful employment to hundreds of artists. He said that more than 20 young artists were employed in making the 44-feet statue destined to last more than a lifetime.
Speaking at the occasion, the governor said the edifice symbolised the phenomenon that Gani represented in his lifetime and that the late lawyer remained a hero and role model for many people.
“We celebrate the invaluable contributions and personal sacrifices of Chief Gani Fawehinmi in the campaign for human rights and dignity, especially in Lagos State where he spent the greater part of his life. Also in the hallowed corridors of the law courts where he fought many battles, he was revered as a titan. Also, his acts of philanthropy were borderless,” he said.
Ambode, who was represented by his deputy, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule, promised that his administration would continue to draw inspiration from Gani’s struggles and ideals in its quest to make life more meaningful for Lagos residents.
Earlier, son of the late lawyer, Muhammed Fawehinmi, who was present alongside his mother, Alhaja Ganiat Fawehinmi, disclosed that the last person he expected the gesture from was the governor. He thanked Ambode for the honour done to his father.
Some human rights activist present at the event including Femi Falana (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, and Ayo Akele, among others, also lauded the Lagos State Government for honouring Gani.
Falana said: “I thank the Lagos State Government for honouring a great man. It is a mark of greatness to honour a great man. This monument we are unveiling today is one of the best in the country, and it has to be so. We can assure you that many Nigerians or anybody who enters Lagos through this road will want to find out who is here and every day we are going to teach lessons about Gani Fawehinmi.”
Adegboruwa lauded Lagos State for erecting the statue, adding that Ambode had set an example for the Federal Government which should name May 29, now called Democracy Day after the maverick lawyer.
Secretary-General of the National Conscience Party founded by Gani, Ayo Akelegushed: “I am totally flabbergasted by this wonderful edifice in honour of my icon, my mentor. This is a wonderful memory of Fawehinmi. I was previously worried that it wouldn’t be replaced.”
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