Barrister Kunle Wahab (SAN) has declared that if both Late Gani Fawehinmi and his son were alive today, they would have condemned the so-called removal of the fuel Subsidy a ‘scam,’ as both will fight the battle to a standstill until victory is certain.
Kunle Wahab made this submission while delivering a 13-page lecture paper on the topic ‘Removal of fuel Subsidy and its impact on the Nigerian masses’ at the 2nd Annual lecture/ first edition of scholarship awards for the less privilege held at the LLP House, Otunba Jobi Fele way, Alausa Ikeja.
Wahab noted that the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and his late son alike are leaders among the kinds of lawyers equipped to use the ‘Law’ as a tool for social engineering, unlike those forestalling change.
“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, ” he charged.
Barrister Shittu, who was also in attendance and whose name is synonymous with high-profile prosecution on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and its twin, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), further said that lawyers who used the instrument of law to promote change in the society would continue to be celebrated like Gani Fawehinmi and his son Mohammed
“Because of that, some of us are out to continue the legacies of integrity and change which they (Mohammed and his father professed during their lifetime,” Shittu emphasised.
“We all agree that the fuel subsidy was a scam, and I think what we should prevent right now is that the removal should not be another scam.
Fuel subsidy was like a social security arrangement to make fuel accessible to Nigerians at reduced prices. Even when the fuel was being subsidized, were you buying at lower prices? No. The so-called fuel subsidy is an arrangement to enrich very few members of society at the expense of most Nigerians. We are not supposed to buy fuel at very expensive rates because this country is rich in human and natural resources, particularly oil. The raw materials of petroleum resources abound in the country, so if there is a country where fuel is supposed to be cheap, Nigeria is supposed to be that country. But the irony of our circumstance is that we have a rich country but poor people, so we need to discuss this subject.’ He continued
In her response, the convener and the brain behind the gathering, The British-trained lawyer who doubled as an author and publisher of several books, Mrs Basirat Fawehinmi Biobaku, daughter of Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and junior sister to Mohammed, in an emotion-laden speech said that it has not been easy for the family, especially for her aged mother of who still mourns the death of her illustrious son as we speak as well as her loving husband but quick to express her profound appreciation to God and those present at the event.
She further solicited their support even now the duo are no longer here and used the opportunity to share the motive behind the foundation.
“As you can see, the majority of the people present here are the less privileged, the physically challenged people whom my brother loves to associate himself with during his lifetime, and that is why we streamlined the criteria of those that can benefit from the award programme to those set of people, brilliant but struggling at their various levels of education not only in Lagos but all over Nigeria we speak, and we believe this is just the beginning of many to come.
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