Gani Fawehinmi: Critics Come Hard On Festus Keyamo

the spokesperson of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 campaign, Festus Keyamo, has come under great criticism for comparing his former boss, late Gani’s hatred for corruption and president Muhammadu Buhari.

Naija News learnt that Keyamo said In a message posted on his Twitter page that the late Mr Fawehinmi stood by Mr Buhari because he abhorred corruption.

“Happy 81st posthumous birthday to my boss, Chief Gani Fawehinmi,” Mr Keyamo said in the message. “You abhorred corruption; that’s why you stood by PMB till death. Your staunch disciples & your son, Mohammed, are still on the path you left for us. Thank u for standing by me in all my struggles. Rest in peace, sir.”

See Some of the harsh criticism,

Festus Keyamo is struggling to use Gani Fawehinmi’s posthumous birthday to legitimize his working and support for Buhari,” he tweeted. “Those of us who know Gani and his style know that he would NEVER have tolerated Buhari. In fact, Gani would have sued Buhari for all he has done to Nigeria!”

"Happy 81st posthumous birthday"? When did Gani die? Or you meant Happy posthumous 81st birthday? A SAN should do better. I also endorsed Buhari but when he endorsed the killing of 800 Nigerians in the post election madness of 2011 I realized who he really is and got wise.

— Otunba Olu (@olu1_otunba) April 22, 2019

A few other users also took time to celebrate the late lawyer and activist.

The late Mr Fawehinmi began practising law in 1965 and was made a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in September 2001.

He prominently led protests and rallies against the military governments on issues of welfare and democratic rights of Nigerians before he formed the National Conscience Party (NCP).

https://twitter.com/theonce001/status/1120407184268058626

In 2008, Mr Fawehinmi famously rejected the national honour as a sign of protest against Nigeria’s bad governance. According to a press statement signed by him at the time, some of the key concerns of his struggle included the abolition of poverty, governance through the democratic process, the subjection of everything to the Rule of Law and making Nigeria a corruption free country.

Nonsense! If Gani were alive today he wouldn't support what this government is doing, would rather sue the Federal Government to court for genocide!! Stop aligning yourself with a successful SAN because he is late!!!https://t.co/sKwgOwlQt4

— Jude Uba Eza (@EzaJude) April 22, 2019

Mr Fawehinmi said Nigeria’s government of the time and the ones before it, had consistently failed to uphold these democratic principles, which have guided his struggles for decades.

He died in 2009.

On January 15, 2011, two years after his death, the famous Gani Fawehinmi Chambers was shut according to the dictate of his will. His eldest son, Mohammed Fawehinmi, said the late activist made the decision on principle.

Ask yourself if Gani would even allow this present Festus around him? The answer is an emphatic No. Gani does not surfer fools.

— OG Osakwe (@OsakweOg) April 22, 2019

“In my view, he did it basically on principle. It is well known that he attached so much importance to his name and his principles,” the younger Fawehinmi told Vanguard newspaper in an interview.

It’s a problem of a society which fails to teach history . It tarnishes the memory of Gani for @fkeyamo to attempt this ridiculous association of Gani with @MBuhari administration.

— Green_Cycles (@Green_Cycles) April 23, 2019

Among Mr Fawehinmi’s renown protegees are Femi Falana, Mike Ozekhome, Mr Keyamo, Mohammed Fawehinmi, among others.