BY SHOLA OSHUNKEYE
In the spirit of the moment, the scion of the Gani Fawehinmi Family, Mohammed, has canvassed massive support for President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts at correcting the errors of the past and setting the building blocks for a greater Nigeria.
Fawehinmi made this passionate appeal in Abuja, Tuesday, after receiving the posthumous national award of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger, GCON, which President Buhari bestowed on his late father.
The legal luminary spearheaded the campaign against military dictatorship and the actualisation of the June 12, 1993 pan-Nigerian mandate won by the late M.K.O. Abiola. He died of cancer some years back.
In his emotional response to the Presidential gesture, Mohammed Fawehinmi thanked the President for the great honour done his father and Abiola, because, according to him, “the two men sacrificed a lot for this country. These two men sacrificed all they had for this country, and I thank God, their sacrifices have not been in vain.”
He stated that June 12 was the foundation of Nigeria’s current democracy, and its recognition meant the recognition and appreciation of not just his father and Abiola but also all those who died fighting for its validation.
He continued: “Today is symbolic because it shows the entrenchment of unity of all citizens of this country. Regardless of your tribe, regardless of your ethnic background, regardless of religious belief, we are all Nigerians.
“I want to appeal to all our politicians in this country to please, for God’s sake, let us appreciate ourselves as Nigerians. Chief MKO (Abiola) won in 1993, he was not allowed to govern. President Buhari won, and we thank God, he was allowed to govern.
“I urge all Nigerians to support this man. Let us stop the bickering and trivialities of religion, and ethnicity. If you win, let us appreciate you. If you lose, take it that way.”
Identifying ethnicity and tribal hatred as the factors fuelling the current crises in the country, he expressed confidence in President Buhari to unite the citizens, adding: “With Oga (the President) at the helm of affairs, things will be better for us in this country.”
He ended his response saying: “Thank God for Him (Buhari), and thank God for Nigerians. I thank you, Mr. President, for this award. Our family accepts it whole heartedly and we will continue to pray for you.”
