national Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has lauded Messers Femi Falana and Kunle Ajibade’s contributions to the rebirth of democracy in Nigeria, after many years of military rule.
Tinubu lauded the duo yesterday, in a statement to mark the country’s Democracy Day and their birthdays, which coincidentally fall within this month.
The APC chieftain, in the statement from his Media Office, signed by Tunde Rahman, said the month of May, which, in 1999, heralded the rebirth of democracy in Nigeria after almost 16 years of unbroken military interregnum, is also significant in one other respect, being the month of birth of many prominent Nigerians.
He said the statement is about Falana and Ajibade, whom he described as icons in their chosen fields, the one an outstanding lawyer, and the other an exceptional journalist.
“Falana, born May 20, 1958, and Kunle Ajibade, born on May 28, 1958, recently turned 60. I say happy birthday to them and wish them long life, good health and renewed energy to continue to make invaluable contributions to our country.
“Both are close friends and associates, with whom I have interacted in our continuous struggle for the enthronement of true democracy, good governance and rule of law.
“Falana is a lawyer, pro-democracy and human rights activist who over time employed and continues to employ the instrumentality of the law to correct the ills of the society.
“His contributions to constitutionalism and jurisprudence know no bounds. He takes briefs from the rich to empower him to fight the injustices against the poor pro bono. Like his late mentor and comrade, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Falana is an advocate of the masses.
“Ajibade is that astute journalist and celebrated author who, through his pen, fought the military junta and was, particularly, a thorn in the flesh of the late Abacha regime.
“He authored two popular books ‘Jailed for Life’, his experience in prison to which he was clamped by the Abacha junta, and ‘What a Country’, which speaks about the ills in the country.
“As both were united in their month of birth, there is also an unmistakable meeting point in their life trajectories. Both fought against successive military regimes to facilitate the emergence of democracy in the land and a country laden with respect for human rights.
“They fought to ensure Nigeria is a citadel of social justice and rule of law and generally a better place for the present generation and generations yet unborn. There is no doubt that both Falana and Ajibade have impacted Nigeria and Nigerians in the most profound ways.
“We thank them for their struggles and sacrifices. But, we are not yet in the Promised Land. We enjoin the duo not to rest on their oars and to join hands with us in the APC, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, to make Nigeria a better place,” Tinubu said in the statement.