Gani rejects national honour

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, has rejected the Federal Government‘s national honour of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic.

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Chief Gani Fawehinmi

He gave what he called government‘s insincerity in its war against corruption and the treatment meted out to the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, as reasons for his action.

Fawehinmi, in a statement on Monday, said he could not see himself receiving such an honour from a government that was a “total failure” and unserious about eradicating corruption in the country.

He said that his activities in the last 43 years ought to have been considered by the government before deciding to honour him.

The eminent lawyer added that the government’s inability to achieve eight laudable goals made him to reject the honour.

He listed the eight goals as eradication of poverty in the country; the unqualified need to preserve, defend and protect the fundamental human rights; governance of the country through democratic processes and subjection of everybody to the rule of law.

Others are the right of the people to free and qualitative education at all levels; free and qualitative education; free and qualitative health services and facilities; strengthening of the economy through sound development of infrastructure and an end to corruption.

On corruption, Fawehinmi said, “It is a one single, fundamental factor that retards the progress of the nation and its socio-economic development. The issue of corruption is so fundamental in the governance of any nation.”

According to Fawehinmi, it is generally agreed nationally and internationally that Ribadu did a lot to curb corruption in the country.

He said that it was regrettable that the Umaru Yar’Adua administration threw Ribadu out of the EFCC at a time when Nigerians were saying “the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom.”

The human rights activist added that it was sad that when he went to court to challenge Ribadu’s removal, the government sent him on a course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Kuru, Plateau State.

He said, “Today, the architect of the unprecedented anti-corruption war , unprecedented in the annals of Nigeria since 1914 is now literally roaming the streets of Nigeria without official car, without official status, without any form of security and yet, he is still being subjected to hounding, haunting and all forms of dehumanising vilification by the Federal Government.”

To Fawehinmi, the only offence Ribadu committed is the prosecution of “some untouchables.”

He said, “In the light of the above, I cannot accept the ‘honour’ of OFR.

“Whether now or in the life beyond, how can I wake up in the morning and look at the insignia of honour bestowed on me under a government that persecutes anti-corruption efforts, particularly its arrowhead, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu?

“Put simply, the Federal Government is a total failure, worsened by lack of direction and leadership. Is this the atmosphere for the award of national honours? Certainly not.”

Source:the punch news paper