GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, has attributed Nigeria’s current democracy to the hard work of the late human rights activist and legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, who passed on last weekend.

According to him, Chief Fawehinmi endured a lot of hardship fighting the military to enthrone democratic governance in the country.

He said: “I am greatly saddened by the death of one of Nigeria’s legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Gani’, as he is popularly known, made his mark in the bar as a brilliant lawyer, but connected deeply with the people, especially the poor and underprivileged through his onerous crusade for social justice and human rights.

“For his beliefs which he had the courage to pursue, Gani suffered greatly, enduring a lot of hardships especially during the military era, which he fought with uncommon courage and dogged zeal.

“Today, Nigeria is a democracy, thanks for the enormous contribution of Gani and others like him, even in that, Gani the tireless gadfly continued to campaign for a better democratic practice, challenging any aspect that showed disrespect for the people’s will and right.

“He may not have achieved all his objectives, but he made such monumental impact, a vacuum that will be hard to be filled has been created by his exit.

“Mercifully, through his long and arduous fight for a better society, many activists sired in his tradition for crusading for social justice would hopefully continue his life of working for a better Nigeria.

“The inimitable Gani will be greatly missed by all, for he was a freedom fighter of note who always took sides with the society’s oppressed and at great personal cost to himself.

“On behalf of myself and people of Delta State, I send my heartfelt condolences to his family, the Governor and people of Ondo State and pray that the Almighty God grant them the fortitude to bear the loss of one who deprived himself certain comforts in life so that others may live. May his soul rest in perfect peace”.