The Fawehinmi family has said that it is yet to fix a date for the burial of Mohammed Fawehinmi, the late son of the fiery lawyer and activist Gani Fawehinmi, who passed on Thursday, in Lagos.
Speaking at a very brief media conference, in Lagos, on Thursday, a representative of the family, Mrs. Basirat Fawehinmi-Biobaku stated that the family was yet to come to terms with the sudden death of Mohammed, and would announce the burial rites after it must have finished its consultations with relevant stakeholders.
“We are all saddened and still in shock, but will announce his funeral arrangements in due course after consultations with all relevant stakeholders,” she stated.
Mrs Biobaku also confirmed that her late brother died, at exactly 9 am, on Thursday, after a brief illness in a Lagos hospital.
On whether the late Mohammed died as a result of complications arising from the deadly COVID-19 disease, former Lagos Chairman of the Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ), and a close acquaintance of the deceased, Lanre Arogundade, who was part of the press briefing, explained that the family had not been fully briefed on the cause of his death.
“The family is yet to have the medical report, and until that is done, we can not really attribute his death to any cause,” the former Lagos NUJ Chairman stated.
Until his death, Mohammed was the chairman of the Board of Nigerian Weekly Law Reports.
Mohammed’s death, a loss to the law profession ― Atiku
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, said that he received the report of Mohammed’s death with shock and sadness.
According to a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2019 election paid tribute to Mohammed for having worked tirelessly to fill the huge gap created by the death of Gani in his selfless service to humanity.
“It is undeniable that the loss of Mohammed is a hurt to the law profession and especially the civil society space, which has become a lifetime commitment of the Fawehinmis,” he said.
Atiku expressed his deepest condolences to the Fawehinmi family, particularly its matriarch, Mrs Ganiat Fawehinmi.
The statement said the Waziri of Adamawa prayed for strength and comfort to the family at this difficult moment and as well to the Almighty Allah to heal the family and grant Mohammed a peaceful repose.
‘A huge loss to Ondo State’
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Thursday described the death as a big blow to the people of the state, the legal profession and the civil society movement in the country.
Akeredolu who stated this in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, said the late Fawehinmi was a voice for so many people who were also committed to a just and fair society.
The governor said: “We received the news of the death of Mohammed Fawehinmi, the first son of the late legal luminary and human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, with grief and disbelief.
“Undoubtedly, this is a personal loss not just to our state, but also to myself. As a learned colleague, Mohammed Fawehinmi was a great lawyer. He was a voice for so many people. He was committed to a just and fair society.
“Truly, MO’s urbane character was alluring. He may not have been seen by all, but to those who had reasons to relate and work closely with him, he represented strong voice and character, compassion and strength.
“MO carved a niche for himself, despite his father’s fame and records; he walked his path and allowed the trajectory of life to mould him for inexorable service to his fatherland. He was a dependable, dogged fighter”
Akeredolu, while commiserating with the people of the state, particularly, Ondo Kingdom, says Fawehinmi will be sorely missed by many.
“I most importantly commiserate with the immediate family as well as friends and associates of the departed learned brother over this shocking development. May God grant us all the strength to bear this loss. May MO find eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.”
It’s a colossal loss to civil society movement in Nigeria ― Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described Mohammed’s death as a colossal loss to the civil society movement in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu said this on Thursday in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Gboyega Akosile, noting that like his father, the late Mohammed Fawehinmi stayed the course with his persistent fight for the rights of the Nigerian people.
The governor, while maintaining that the late Mohammed did not live under the shadows of his father as he had grown to become a dependable comrade, commiserated with Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the entire people of Ondo State on the demise of their illustrious son.
Sanwo-Olu also commiserated with family and friends of the deceased, saying late Mohammed Fawehinmi was undoubtedly a great Nigerian, passionate human rights activist and champion of a true Nigeria.
He, therefore, prayed that God will grant Mohammed Fawehinmi eternal rest and give the immediate family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“It is with a deep sense of sorrow that I commiserate with the family, friends and associates of the Late Mohammed Fawehinmi. He was undoubtedly a great Nigerian, passionate human rights activist and champion of a true Nigeria.
“As a civil rights activist, he spent his life in the service of humanity and particularly for the emancipation of the Nigerian people. Mohammed Fawehinmi was as consistent as his father, the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. He kept the flame of his father burning by fighting for the masses even on his wheelchair.
“On behalf of my family and the people of Lagos State, I express my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, associates and members of the Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria.
“I pray that God will grant Mohammed Fawehinmi eternal rest and give the immediate family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
Mohammed Fawehinmi stayed on course to the end ―Ajulo
A former National Secretary of the Labor Party (LP), Dr Kayode Ajulo, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja said that late Fawehinmi’s son stayed on course till he breathed his last.
Ajulo described the late Fawehinmi as “a comrade and brother” who will be missed for staying the course notwithstanding a terrible accident he had in 2003, which affected his spinal cord and confined him to the wheelchair.
He prayed God to grant succour to the family he left behind.
‘One death too many’
A rights group, Centre for Change (CfC) said Mohammed was another brightly burning candle dimmed by death and would be sorely missed.
President of the group, Dr Joe Okei Odumakin, said this in a signed statement titled: “Mohammed Fawehinmi: A painful, shocking loss” copy of which he made available to the Nigerian Tribune, just as she further described the deceased as a chip off the old block in every way, who “relegated the designs of a fateful accident aside and performed all his obligations creditably.”
“We are devastated by the sudden death of our dear Mohammed Fawehinmi as announced.
“This one death too many was communicated to us quite early but the shock was arresting, alongside the need to find the best way for the immediate family to absorb the effect of this tragedy.
“He was a chip off the old block in every way. He relegated the designs of a fateful accident aside and performed all his obligations creditably.
“This is another brightly burning candle dimmed by death. We will miss him so sorely,” Okei Odumakin said.
According to the rights activist, who is also president, Women Arise (WA), Mohammed during his life time attended rallies and kept the flame of activism burning in the Fawehinmi clan and indeed in the national circle of activists.
She, therefore, prayed Allah to erase his shortcomings and grant him Aljanat Fridaus.
“Mohammed attended rallies and kept the flame of activism burning in the Fawehinmi clan and indeed in the national circle of activists.
“May the Almighty Allah erase his shortcomings and grant him Aljanat Fridaus,” Okei Odumakin said.
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