Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna state, says he sees himself as a representative of human rights and pro-democracy movement in government.
Sani spoke on Sunday in Kaduna at the 86th Gani Fawehinmi posthumous birthday celebration and the immortalisation of Balarabe Musa, a former governor of the state.
He said Fawehinmi and Musa devoted their lives to the struggle for social justice.
“This is one reunion I deeply cherish. We must sustain such fora in order to continually reflect on our past struggles, critically look at current and emerging issues, and chart the pathway to a better future for our country,” Sani said.
“We are here to remember and honour two icons who devoted their lives to the struggle for social justice.”
The governor recounted his years of civil rights activism, where he said he honed his political skills “in the furnace of the struggle for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria”.
“I was a civil rights activist for so many years, after graduating as an engineer,” Uba said.
“My colleagues and I fought for the enthronement of democracy in Nigeria.
“As governor, I see myself as a representative of the human rights and pro-democracy movement.”
Speaking on governance in Kaduna, Sani said his administration’s initiatives have brought succour to the people.
The governor recalled that in 2000, Fawehinmi appointed him as coordinator (north) of the Gani Fawehinmi Scholarship Foundation.
He said the foundation assisted brilliant but indigent students in the region to finish their studies, and they are now making their contributions to national development.
“The inspiration I got from Fawehinmi and my experience as the Northern Coordinator of the scholarship scheme enabled me to set up the Uba Sani Foundation, devoted to poverty alleviation, education and healthcare for the underprivileged, and entrepreneurship and skills acquisition for youths, women and the underprivileged,” the governor said.