Tinubu Hails Senior Advocate Falana

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, former governor of Lagos, has hailed the elevation of Lagos lawyer and human rights crusader, Femi Falana, to the rank of senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), saying the elevation was well earned.

“Femi Falana is most deserving of the silk, for which he has just been considered,” Asiwaju Tinubu declared, in reaction to the announcement.

“Despite coming so late in the day, this is one honour well earned.”

Going back history lane, Tinubu said Mr. Falana’s SAN odyssey was no different from that of the late Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, whose denial of silk for a very long time became an embarrassment to everyone.

“Incidentally, both Gani and Falana belong to the same legal orientation: both are perceived as the people’s lawyers; and both are human rights crusaders, even when it was very costly during the military era. Both also have contributed immensely to the development of the law as an agent of positive social change in Nigeria,” the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) national leader said.

He added that the country should evolve a new culture of rewarding brilliance, merit and hard work, no matter the ideological hue of the person in consideration, adding that society could not develop without highly intelligent people, questioning the status quo, and wondering why things could not be differently done.

“The late Gani and Falana, the living legend, fall squarely into the category of conscientious objectors but patriots who always want the best for their country,” Tinubu said. “We must find a way to accommodate their non-conformist temper, and learn not to see critics as enemies. They are not. They are only patriots with radically different mindsets from the majority.”

Congratulating the new SAN-designate, Asiwaju Tinubu said Mr. Falana should consider his elevation as endorsement of his positive contributions to Nigeria, and therefore should continue to serve his country, to the best of his ability, in his forte of legal activism.