The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG) in commemoration of 16th Memorial Anniversary of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAM, SAN,has tasked stakeholders like Barrister Femi Falana SAN and some other contemporaries of the late Legal luminary to close ranks and help reposition the body in the interest of restoring the Nigeria’s moral compass for good.
In a statement jointly signed by the group’s Secretary Comrade Agbedina Omokehinde.and the Publicity Secretary Comrade Akintunde Adedeji, the body enumerated voids created by refusal of the organisation’s remaining compass bearers to work in synergy.
“GAFAMORG call on all Chief Gani Fawehinmi contemporaries, associates, disciples and the likes, such as Mr. Femi Falana SAN, Mr. Femi Aborishade, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, Mr. Richard Akinola and other notable advocates for the voiceless and defenceless to close ranks, form a formidable force to put the ruling cabals on their toes and rid our dear country of anti people/masses strangulating policies, that subject the citizenry to unwarranted hardship and suffering, including the unfettered violations of their inalienable rights.”
The organization disclose its resolve to convene an emergency meeting to reorganize and reclaim It’s moral authority amid National crisis.
The statement titled; GANI FAWEHINMI MEMORIAL ORGANISATION (GAFAMORG) CELEBRATES THE 16TH ANNUAL MEMORIAL ANNIVERSARY OF CHIEF GANIYU OYESOLA FAWEHINMI SAM, SAN read in parts:
LAGOS, NIGERIA – The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG) announces an extended emergency meeting of its Governing Council and key stakeholders on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Right House, Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.
The meeting is called to coincide with the 16th Memorial Anniversary of Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAM, SAN, marks a pivotal moment for the organisation to address internal challenges and reposition itself, as a relevant and powerful voice in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle for justice.
Honoring a Legacy in a time of unprecedented need,Chief Gani Fawehinmi was not just a lawyer; he was an unwavering moral compass for Nigeria. Known as the “Senior Advocate of the Masses,” his life’s work was a testament to courage, integrity, and an uncompromising commitment to the poor, downtrodden and oppressed.
Sixteen years after his passing, his legacy is needed more than ever as Nigeria grapples with a multi-faceted crisis: a crippling economy, escalating insecurity, rampant corruption, and the erosion of democratic values. These are the very battles Gani fought fiercely throughout his life.
His voice is sorely missed in today’s Nigeria, but his spirit lives on, GAFAMORG representatives and Governing Council members stated. “The organisation founded in his name cannot afford to be docile , complacent or silent, while the nation faces such existential threats.”
The torchbearers of today, even in these dark times, Nigerians find hope in new-generation activists and advocates, who embody Gani’s fearless spirit. Notable among them is Omoyele Sowore, who along with few others, continues to speak truth to power, demand accountability, and mobilize for justice, often at great personal risk.
GAFAMORG recognizes its duty is to support and amplify these voices, ensuring that Chief GANI Fawehinmi’s ideals and ideologies remain a driving force in the struggle for a just and equitable Nigeria.
In the same vein, GAFAMORG call on all Chief Gani Fawehinmi contemporaries, associates, disciples and the likes, such as Mr. Femi Falana SAN, Mr. Femi Aborishade, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, Mr. Richard Akinola and other notable advocates for the voiceless and defenceless to close ranks, form a formidable force to put the ruling cabals on their toes and rid our dear country of anti people/masses strangulating policies, that subject the citizenry to unwarranted hardship and suffering, including the unfettered violations of their inalienable rights.
Reclaiming Our Mandate: Addressing the internal crisis.
For far too long, GAFAMORG has been hobbled by a leadership crisis that has dishonored Gani’s memory and stalled its progress.
The organisation’s Governing Council, though subsisting is inhibited in its mandate as the administrative organ, who by virtue of the body constitution is empowered to see to the operational activities and day to day running of the organisation, leading to internal crisis of legitimacy.
More critically, the Board of Trustees (BoT) has been critically weakened, due to a perennial void created, following the passing of the respected Barrister Bamidele Aturu and Comrade Segun Akele. With only two trustees remaining, the BoT is effectively paralyzed, leaving a significant vacuum in the organisation’s highest leadership and strategic direction which should have been taken up by the Governing Council but not.
“This situation is unacceptable and an affront to everything Chief Fawehinmi stood for,” the representative(s) added. “We must rebuild from the ground up to restore our credibility and effectiveness.”
A Call to Action: The Way Forward
The emergency meeting is a direct response to this internal turmoil, Its objectives are clear, unambiguous and urgent:
- Reaffirm GAFAMORG’s core mission to promote rule of law, civic education, and good governance.
- Resolve the current leadership crisis by re-mandating the Governing Council and reconstituting the Board of Trustees.
- Expand stakeholder participation to ensure transparency and accountability.
- Adopt a new strategic framework for advocacy and engagement that reflects Gani’s vision in today’s context.
- Reposition GAFAMORG as a strong, independent voice in Nigeria’s civic and political space.
A moment of renewal, not just remembrance.
This 16th Memorial must be more than a simple ceremony; it must be a moment of renewal and rededication.
We call upon all GAFAMORG members, Civil Society Organisations, Professional bodies, the media, and the Nigerian public to join us in this critical process of reorganization.
To allow the organisation bearing Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s name to drift into irrelevance would be a betrayal of history and a disservice to Nigeria. As Gani himself would insist: “Stand firm, speak truth, and act with courage.”
