Tobenna Erojikwe Attends the 20th Gani Fawehinmi Lecture, Advocates for Good Governance.
Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA-ICLE), Tobenna Erojikwe, was among the prominent Nigerians present at the 20th anniversary of the Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture organised by the Nigerian Bar Association Ikeja Branch in collaboration with the NBA National Body.
The lecture was held on Monday, January 15, 2024, at the Oranmiyan Hall, Airport Hotel in Ikeja. It explored the theme “Right to Self-Determination and Agitation for Secession in Nigeria.”
In his remarks on the sidelines of the event, Erojikwe emphasised the need for good governance and accountability from political leaders.
“We must hold our leaders accountable and demand good governance from them,” Erojikwe said. “That is what Gani Fawehinmi fought for his whole life. We must carry on that fight.”
Erojikwe noted that ethnic tensions and calls for secession are symptoms of bad governance and injustice. “When leaders only look out for themselves instead of the people, it breeds discontent,” he said. “To move forward as a nation, we need servant leaders who care about improving lives.”
Other prominent Nigerians at the lecture included NBA President Y.C. Maikyau, SAN, OON, human rights activists Femi Falana and Ezenwa Nwagu, former Kaduna Senator Shehu Sani, Attorney General of Lagos Pedro Lawal, SAN, representing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and senior advocate Dele Adesina.
In his speech, Senator Sani condemned the tribalism and ethnicity being used by Nigerian leaders to divide citizens for political gain. He said Nigerians should stand up for justice regardless of the tribe or religion of the perpetrators.
Nwagu blamed bad governance by political elites for the agitations for secession, saying they manipulated ethnic sensitivities to distract from their failure to provide basic amenities.
Meanwhile, Lawal urged human rights activists to participate in government to make positive change, like Gani. Adesina advocated constitutional reforms for good governance.
Falana asked Nigerians to demand accountability from officials for spending public funds.
In addition to advocating good governance, Erojikwe told reporters that the life and legacy of Gani Fawehinmi should inspire this generation of Nigerians.
“Gani was a fearless fighter for human rights and democracy. He used the law as an instrument for social change. We need more activists and lawyers with such courage to speak the truth to power,” Erojikwe said.
The NBA-ICLE chairman added that the annual lecture provides an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on Fawehinmi’s ideals of justice and good leadership.
Erojikwe also commended the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch, for sustaining the annual lecture tradition for 20 editions. He said the branch deserves praise for keeping alive the memory of Fawehinmi’s activism by providing a platform to discuss human rights, democracy, and good governance in Nigeria. “The annual lecture has become an inspiring tradition that promotes the ideals championed by Gani throughout his career. I congratulate the NBA Ikeja Branch for this laudable effort to honour his lasting legacy,” Erojikwe said.
“When we stand up for each other and hold leaders to high standards, we honour Gani’s legacy,” Erojikwe concluded.
