Gani Fawehinmi’s legal battles opened Nigeria’s political space – Uba Sani

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State highlighted the significant impact of the late Gani Fawehinmi on Nigeria's political landscape. He emphasized that Fawehinmi's unwavering commitment to maintaining an open political space was his most notable contribution. During a presentation of a book titled 'Gani Fawehinmi And Uba Sani, A Tale Of Mentor And Mentee' in Kaduna, Sani recalled Fawehinmi's efforts to combat INEC's stringent registration conditions for political parties.

Fawehinmi argued that the democratic process should be utilized to defend democracy, rather than abandoning it. The Governor noted that the legal battle took over two years and was ultimately won in 2003, with the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the opposition. This verdict, Sani pointed out, "opened the political space in Nigeria and paved the way for the emergence of more political parties."

He urged citizens to remember those who fought for their right to politically organize. Sani also described Fawehinmi as a deeply committed pan-Nigerian who believed in the development of every part of the country and the empowerment of every citizen, regardless of background. He further highlighted Fawehinmi's commitment to education, which led to the establishment of the Gani Fawehinmi Scholarship Foundation, awarding scholarships to over 1,000 students in Northern Nigeria.