The Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has said the enthronement of the nation’s fledgling democracy was made possible by human rights icons, such as the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and a host of others, past and present.
The governor stated this at the 86th Gani Fawehinmi posthumous birthday celebration and immortalisation of Balarabe Musa held at the Umar Musa Yardua Hall, Kaduna.
Senator Sani added that he remained a representative of the human rights community while holding forth in government.
The governor, called on pro-democracy activists, as the conscience of the Nigerian society, to jealously protect and defend democracy, while extolling the virtues of Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti and Balarabe Musa, in their struggle for social justice for Nigeria and Nigerians.
Sani said he honed his political skills in the “furnace” of the struggle for the enthronement of democracy, noting that he was the National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the Campaign for Democracy, which was then headed by Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, of blessed memory.
The governor said given his background in activism, he is a representative of the human rights and pro-democracy movement in government because his administration runs an inclusive, pro-people government committed to bringing succour to the poor, vulnerable and underserved in Kaduna State.
He said the Kaduna State government is implementing a massive rural transformation programme and has identified poverty reduction in rural areas as key to unlocking the enormous potential of Kaduna State.
Senator Uba reaffirmed commitment to promoting integrated and comprehensive accelerated rural development for economic and sustainable growth, which he said will be achieved by extending the required socio-economic infrastructure that will support work and social lives in rural communities.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Gani Fewehinmi Memorial Organisation, Agunbiade Tunde, said the organisation, founded over 13 years ago, stands to honour Fawehinmi who stood for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and press freedom.
According to him, this year’s celebration of Gani Fawehinmi’s posthumous birthday has the approval and support of the Kaduna governor.