Gani Tackles Agagu
By Tosin Omoniyi
Monday, September 22, 2008
Fawehinmi accuses Agagu, governor of Ondo State of influencing the state university’s decision to drop him from its honourary list
It is like a case of a prophet suffering rejection in his own home. Gani Fawehinmi, a prominent Lagos State lawyer and a native of Ondo State, was dropped from the list of prominent persons selected for the award of honourary degree by Adekunle Ajasin University in controversial circumstances. The alarm over what transpired was raised by Fawehinmi himself.
The Adekunle Ajasin, University, which is in Akungba-Akoko, owned by the state government had, on August 14, forwarded a letter dated July 31, and signed by B.A Oloketuyi, registrar of the school to Fawehinmi, informing him of its decision to confer on him on September 12, an honorary doctorate in recognition of his successes in his field of endeavour. "You are a thoroughbred, distinguished international legal luminary, a social critic of note whose singular voice has continued to bring positive changes and development to this country; an effective judicial administrator, a highly respected son of Ondo State and community leader who continues to serve as a role model to generations of Nigerians and a shining example in hardwork and integrity," the letter stated.
The university said it hoped Fawehinmi would accept the award.
Fawehinmi, who was on his sick bed in London, accepted the offer. He instructed his chambers on August 18, to write the university and also send his citation expected to be read at the event.
Fawehinmi’s letter was duly acknowledged by the university and signed for by one Toyin Tiriko on August 19. Later another letter was sent to Fawehinmi informing him that the award date had been shifted from September 12th to 19th. But on September12, the message completely changed. Another letter was sent to Gani, saying the university would no longer honour him as initially planned. The university said the decision was based on the realisation that it had lined out three prominent lawyers for the award and needed to reduce the number to two and that he was the one dropped. "I am to inform you that, owing to unavoidable circumstances, the offer of the award has to be re-considered. This is because, on review, it has been discovered that three eminent personalities in the legal profession were put up for the award. It has therefore become imperative that we reduce the number by one."
Fawehinmi did not believe that story. He read political meaning into the sudden withdrawal and said so. He alleged that Olusegun Agagu, Ondo state governor was the unseen hand behind the change and said it was because of his open support for Olusegun Mimiko, his political rival.
Mimiko, who was the Labour Party candidate in 2007 gubernatorial election in Ondo state, had dragged Agagu to the State Election Petition Tribunal soon after the April 14, governorship election in the state. The tribunal led by Justice Garba Nabaruma ruled that Mimiko won the election, a position Fawehinmi held since after the election. Agagu has gone on appeal but Fawehinmi said in a statement he made available to Newswatch that his support for Rahman Olusegun Mimiko is total because it is based on truth and justice.
Fawehinmi said he had information that it was Agagu who stopped the university from giving him the award.
He said that the Ondo State government and the governor have no authority under the law establishing the university to impose on the university those to be honoured.
Fawehinmi, who is known for his opposition to almost all governments since 1966, chided the university for pandering to the whims of the governor, arguing that even in the height of his opposition to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, still found him worthy of an award. That was even after he stood against Obasanjo in the April 2003 Presidential election.
He described the intervention of the Ondo state government as barbaric and noted such intimidation would not stop him from continuing to criticise his regime for its corruption and election rigging.
But the Ondo State government denied playing any role in the withdrawal of the award as alleged by Fawehinmi. Rather the government argued that the legal luminary remained one of its illustrious sons whom it is proud of.
Yemi Olowolabi, chief press secretary to Agagu, told Newswatch that the university remained an autonomous entity and as such, the governor or the government does not dictate what it does.
He described the allegations as baseless insisting that the governor was not even aware of the plan to honour Fawehinmi. Agagu is the visitor of the university.
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