Buhari, Tiniubu, others pay tributes to late Mohammed Fawehinmi
President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the family of the late irrepressible lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, over the death of their son, Mohammed.
President Buhari, in a statement Thursday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, commiserated with Ganiat, mother of the deceased, and the entire family.
The President urged them to find “comfort in God, who gives and takes” and draw consolation in the fact that the departed “robustly fought a debilitating condition” which confined him to the wheelchair for many years.
“His body may have been broken, but his spirit was virile, agile, and he kept the flag of the family flying, doing justice to the memory of his late father,” the President said.
President Buhari, while praying for the repose of the soul of the departed, urged strength for all those who mourning Mohammed Fawehinmi.
In his condolences, the Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, said he 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.
Governor Akeredolu describes Fawehinmi’s death as a big blow to the Sunshine State, the legal profession and the civil society movement in the country.
“Undoubtedly, this is a personal loss not just to our state, but also to me. 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,’’ he said.
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the deceased as a passionate human rights activist and champion of a true Nigeria, saying his death was a colossal loss to the civil society movement in the country.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, commiserated with his family and friends. “Like his father, the late Mohammed Fawehinmi stayed the course with his persistent fight for the rights of the Nigerian people,”
A Legal practitioner and university Don, Barrister Wahab Shittu, described the deceased as a perfect gentleman to the core and extremely humble.
Shittu, a lawyer to former EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, who spoke during a telephone chat with Daily Trust yesterday, said that Mohammed Fawehinmi was a fearless advocate for rights protection, adding that, “His passage is shocking but Allah knows best. I wish him rest in the bosom of the Lord.”
Barrister Femi Falana, SAN, on his part said, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the untimely death of Mohammed Fawehinmi. As we mourn his passing, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his mother, siblings and the entire Fawehinmi family.
Sen. Bola Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State has commiserated with the family of the deceased, saying late Mohammed had kept the activist’s fire of his dad burning since his passing.
Tinubu, in a condolence message by his Media aide, Mr Tunde Rahman, described Mohammed as a committed activist.
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President, Women Arise for Change Initiative, expressed shock and sadness over the death and described the deceased as a chip off the old block in every way.
Mohammed was born February 21, 1969.
He was on September 23, 2003, while returning from his father’s law firm, involved in a car accident that confined him to a wheelchair.
Until his death, he was the Head, Mohammed Fawehinmi’s Chambers, Director, Nigerian Law Publications Limited, Director, Books Industries Nigeria Limited and Director, Gani Fawehinmi Library & Gallery Limited.
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