He was often regarded as the eternal foe of every Government in power; the irremovable thorn, and perhaps one of the finest in Nigeria’s legal world. Erudite and not giving fine colourful speeches the blunt speaking Gani rose to national prominence in the late seventies when he championed for the removal of Ahmadu Ali, Nigeria’s recalcitrant minister of education. “Ali must go” he cried and Ali went. Gani Fawehinmi’s distaste for military oppression and despotism was never in doubt and he paid for it with long periods of incarceration. He had always courted controversy with a single focus; the struggle was more important than the victory. His legal battles were legendary. I remember the case of several unionists in the early nineties who had been mischievously expelled from school because of unionism. The day Gani appeared in court the south western town came to a standstill.http://connectafrica./2009/09/05/gani-fawehinmi-dies-at-71/