We are not mourning Gani - Ondo govt
From Yinka Oladoyinbo, Adewale Ajayi and Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare - 14.09.2009

AS the remains of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi begin final journey to mother earth, the Ondo State government has said the human rights crusader would be celebrated instead of being mourned.

To this end, the state government, on Sunday, said it had packaged a befitting ceremony to celebrate the life of Fawehinmi to be graced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, state governors, legislators, diplomats and presidency.


The state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Ranti Akerele, told newsmen that the body of the late legal icon would be received by a cabinet committee already put in place by Governor Olusegun Mimiko at Ipetu-Ijesha.


The committee, under the leadership of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, would lead the remains to the Akure Township Stadium for the celebration.


Akerele, however, said the programme would not be an ordinary lying-in-state and rendering of tributes, saying that glamour and colour would be added to reflect the mood.


The commissioner explained that musicians, particularly Ondo State artistes like Chief Sunday Adegeye, known as King Sunny Ade, Lord of Ajasa, Cliff Sama, Olu Maintain and others, would be on hand to add glamour to the event.


“We want to put in place one of its kind sendforth for the late legal icon, Chief Fawehinmi. He has fought a good fight and he has gone to be with his maker, we are not going to mourn him, we are going to celebrate because he lived a meaningful life.


“He epitomises the things that are good about Ondo State. Our people are known to be courageous and forthright, an average Ondo man is known to stand for what is good and what he believes in; the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi was this and more, he totally represent the best in Ondo State, therefore, we want to celebrate him.


He stated that the state government and the law enforcement agents had concluded arrangements that would ensure adequate security at the venue.
Governor Mimiko had, on Saturday, visited the family house of Fawehinmi in Ondo town and his uncle, Justice Rasheed Fawehinmi, to commiserate with them.


The governor urged the family not to mourn the deceased but to celebrate him. Meanwhile, Akure, the state capital, has been wearing a new look preparatory to the commencement of the burial programme in the state.


Besides, the Akure Township Stadium, venue of the event, has also been given a facelift by the government. The body of Chief Fawehinmi will depart Lagos today for his home town, Ondo, where he would be buried tomorrow, just as the government had declared today a public holiday to honour him.




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