As part of measures by the Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani to address security challenges and encourage education using Gani Fawehinmi and Balarabe Musa as a contact point, he has approved the hosting of this year’s Gani Fawehinmi posthumous birthday in the state.
This was disclosed Wednesday in a press statement by the Chairman, Governing Council, Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation, Gafamorg, Comrade Agunbiade Babatunde, and Mallam Kassim Balarabe Musa.
According to the statement part of this year’s event would also include the immortalisation of Mallam AbdulKadir Balarabe Musa who it described as a friend of the masses and a friend of Gani.
The statement notes that the event which will take place on April 22, 2024, will be held in Umaru Musa Yar’adua International Conference Center, Kaduna State with three themes to form the discussion of the day: Social Justice as a Foundation for Human Dignity, Towards Restorative Justice System, Paradigm From The Criminal Justice System In Kaduna and The Northern Almajiris System, Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow.
The statement reads in parts: “The exploits of both Chief Gani Fawehinmi and Mallam AbdulKadir Balarabe Musa who bestrode the Nigeria landscape and fought all their lives in ensuring social equality, human dignity and rights of every Nigerians to have a sense of belonging and live a decent life cannot be over emphasized. These duo imprimatur left in the sands of time remain indelible till date, resonating in all spheres of human endeavour.
“Chief Gani Fawehinmi throughout his lifetime always fought for the masses, dregs of the society and equally celebrate with the physically challenged and beggars while Mallam Balarabe AbdulKadir Musa championed the cause of the less privileged and Talakawas; a noble cause both identified with all their lives in ensuring social justice which must be a template, indices or parameter to measure human dignity.
“It should be remembered that the two gentlemen stood for multi-democratic political parties thus winning the case at the Supreme Court including the right of civil servants to join political parties. This has greatly enhanced and advanced our Democracy.
Read Also: Three visible signs that the Benue Governor may dump APC for PDP
“Speaking to the theme and sub-themes, Gafamorg in its quest to consolidate on the immortalization of these two quintessential great heroes of their time believe that social inequality and injustice are the bane social vices which leads to social insecurities in the mould of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery e.tc. which is ravaging our country, permeates and prevalent in the Northern part and indeed the country in general.
“A case in study is the recent unfortunate incident of the Kidnapped Kuriga students in Kaduna which the State Government in collaboration with the Federal government rose to the occasion and rescued the abducted students, a case of one too many which we intend to address during the event.
“In view of the above and as part of measures to solving the security challenges the Executive Governor of Kaduna state Mallam Uba Sani has graciously approved the program through Dr Yunusa Tanko the Director General of the Event
“In the same vein, our Organization is equally poised to continue one of the cardinal objectives, ideals and ideologies on which Gafamorg was founded by passionately committed to the decongestion of Correctional Centre in Kaduna, using it as a pilot scheme through restorative justice system for inmates of lesser crime and criminal records and hopefully reenact subsequently in other states of the federation.
“Additionally, the social in balance of the Almajiris system in the Northern part of the country, which is viewed as a social stigma in the society. This formed part of our, if not wholly commitment in making sure it becomes the thing of the past.
“When Mallam Balarabe AbdulKadir Musa was with us, he advocated for social equality and equity within Nigerians of all class, to berth/birth a psyche of true citizens of this great country where we are all stakeholders.
“Conclusively, this year event and celebration of these two enigmatic and distinguished Nigerians and personalities is a little shift from the tradition of celebrating just Chief Gani Fawehinmi but also his friend and co-advocate in the struggle for emancipation of Nigerians and entrenchment of an egalitarian society, Mallam Balarabe AbdulKadir Musa and not in Lagos as it was the usual practice but in Kaduna, making it the second time Gafamorg time will go to other state after the other one held in Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s home town in Ondo, Ondo State in 2015 by Dr Olusegun Mimiko the Governor of Ondo State(2009–2017).
“The way out and solution to Nigeria protracted socio-economic problems is true social justice, equality and equity which will makes Nigeria a country, for all and not for few.
