Buhari, Atiku, Tinubu, Governors, Others Mourn Late Mohammed Fawehinmi

*No date yet for burial, says family

Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha in Abuja, and Segun James, Wale Igbintade in Lagos

President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi were among prominent Nigerians who on Thursday condoled with the family of the late human rights activist and lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, over the death of their son, Mohammed.

The Fawehinmi family officially announced the death of Mohammed yesterday, but said they awaited the arrival of Saheeed Fawehinmi (the eldest living son) from the United States before a date could be fixed for the burial.

Buhari, in a statement issued yesterday by his media adviser, Femi Adesina, commiserated with Ganiat, mother of the deceased, and the entire Fawehinmi family. He 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 had confined him to the wheelchair for many years.

The statement said concerning the late Mohammed, “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.”

While praying for the repose of the soul of the departed, Buhari urged strength for all those who mourned Mohammed.

Expressing his condolences to the Fawehinmi family, Atiku said he received with shock and sadness reports of the passing away of the younger Fawehinmi.

Atiku paid tribute to Mohammed for having worked tirelessly to fill the huge gap created by the death of his father in his selfless service to humanity.

In a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, the former vice president noted that it was 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 expressed his deepest condolences to the Fawehinmi family, particularly its matriarch, Ganiat.

Sanwo-Olu, in his condolence message, described the death of the eldest son of the late legal luminary and human rights activist as a colossal loss to the civil society movement in Nigeria.

The statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, noted that just like his father, the late Mohammed stayed the course with his persistent fight for the rights of the Nigerian people.

Sanwo-Olu added that the late Mohammed did not live under the shadows of his father, as he had grown to become a dependable comrade. He commiserated with Ondo State Governor, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, and the entire people of Ondo State on the demise of their illustrious son.

The Lagos State governor stated, “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.”

The late Gani Fawehinmi’s ally and fellow human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, while offering his condolences, said in spite of the challenge of insecurity, poverty and underdevelopment plaguing Nigeria, Mohammed strongly believed that a new Nigeria was possible.

Falana stated, “As a chip off the old block, Mohammed was courageous, dedicated, knowledgeable and committed to the liberation of the Nigerian people from the shackle of injustice in all its ramifications. Mohammed will be surely missed for his unwavering commitment to the struggle for a united, just and prosperous Nigeria.”
Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the news of the sudden death of Mohammed was depressing.

Tinubu said, “Like his father, he was a lawyer totally committed to engendering societal change and development through the instrumentality of the law.
“But for the incapacitation arising from his devastating road accident, Mohammed would surely have risen to the full stature of his potential. Even then, he refused to be constrained by his physical state or confined to the wheelchair.”

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, described Mohammed’s sudden death as shocking and very unfortunate, adding, “it is a great loss not only to the late Fawehinmi’s family and the civil society organisations but also the masses whose rights Mohammed fought to protect.”

Fayemi, who is also chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, said the late Mohammed, as his father, was very passionate about getting Nigeria to work better for the citizenry. He added that the deceased always sought a better Nigeria through constructive criticism of the government.

Meanwhile, addressing the press yesterday evening in Ikeja, Mrs. Basirat Fawehinmi-Biobaku, the eldest daughter of the late legal icon, said members of the family were still in shock and saddened.

A statement from the Fawehinmi family read, “It is with our deepest sorrow that we announce the sudden demise of our eldest brother and Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Weekly Law Reports, Barrister Mohammed Fawehinmi.

“He passed away at 9.00am on the 11th day of August, 2021 after a brief illness in a Lagos hospital. We are saddened and still in shock but will announce his funeral arrangement in due course after consultation with all relevant stakeholders.”