Activists, Lagos government disagree over Abiola’s, Fawehinmi’s statues

Civil society groups have condemned alleged plans by the Lagos State Government to replace the statues of the late Moshood Abiola and civil rights campaigner, the late Gani Fawehinmi at Ojota.

This is coming on the heels the 24th anniversary of June 12 being celebrated today.

The Lagos State government had brought down Abiola and Fawehinmi’s statues for the purported construction of new structures at Abiola Gardens and Freedom Park in Ojota.

But civil rights group, expressed concerns over the development that the statues may be replaced with other those of other individuals and have vowed to challenge the state government on the issue.

However, a top official of the Lagos State Government told The Guardian yesterday that the removal of the statues was in line with the beautification policy of government as it is being witnessed in other parts of the state.

Some of the groups also alleged that the Lagos Government was planning to replace the statues, particularly that of late Fawehinmi’s with that of the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Convener of Save Lagos Group, Adeniyi Sulaiman who spoke on behalf of the groups, said information at his disposal suggested that the state government was planning to replace Fawahinmi’s statue with that of Tinubu.

Sulaiman stated however, that several rights groups across the country have been mobilised to protest attempts by the government to rubbish the legacies of the late human rights crusader.

He listed those already mobilised to include the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ), African Masses Voices for Survival (AMVS), the Veteran Group for Operation Clean Crusade (VGOCC), The Conscience Mainstream (TCS) and the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Foundation (GAFAMOG), among others.

It said the park, which the state government plans to remove, was symbolic to civil rights activism in the country, saying the group will resist the plans with all the forces it can muster.