Activists remember Chima Ubani 10 years after

Prof. Wole Soyinka (m) with other human rights activists during a rally in Lagos this morning to mark the 5th anniversary of the death of Chima Ubani. PHOTO: Akin Farinto.

•Prof. Wole Soyinka (m) with other human rights activists during a rally in Lagos this morning to mark the 5th anniversary of the death of Chima Ubani. PHOTO: Akin Farinto.

 FILE PHOTO: Prof. Wole Soyinka (m) with other human rights activists during a rally in Lagos to mark the 5th anniversary of the death of Chima Ubani. PHOTO: Akin Farinto.
FILE PHOTO: Prof. Wole Soyinka (m) with other human rights activists during a rally in Lagos to mark the 5th anniversary of the death of Chima Ubani. PHOTO: Akin Farinto.

Activists have lined up activities to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Comrade Chima Ubani. He died along with Tunji Oyeleru, Deputy Photo Editor of the Vanguard newspaper in an auto crash in Potiskum, Yobe State, on 21 September, 2005 during protest against the removal of fuel subsidy by the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to a statement by Dr. Sylvester Odion Akhaine, on behalf of Chuma Ubani 10th Anniversary Committee, “Chima and Oyeleru died in the service of the peoples of Nigeria, their wellbeing and happiness. They must not be forgotten. Therefore, on behalf of comrades, friends and family of Chima Ubani, we wish to unveil the line-up of events to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the mortal passage of Comrade Chima Ubani.”

He said that on Thursday September 17, 2015, Women Activists and Friends will celebrate Comrade Chima Ubani, his life and times in a gathering billed to hold at the Conference Hall of Lagos Travel Inn, 39 Toyin Street, Opposite MKO Abiola Crescent, Ikeja, Lagos. Eminent professor of Philosophy, Princewill Alozie will present a lead discussion on the life and times of Chima Ubani while panellists including Comrade Abiodun Aremu, Comrade Ngozi Iwere, Hon. Nkoyo Toyo, Chief Ngozi Ezeilo, Dr. Abiola Afolabi Akiode, Chief Ojo Edet, Barr. Wisdom Uche Durueke, Lanre Arogundade and Dr. Sylvester Odion Akhaine, will focus on the ‘Building and Sustaining Women Movement in Nigeria’.

“The panel is expected to be chaired by Mrs Ayo Obe. This discussion will be preceded by a 9 am rally from Lagos Travel Inn to Lagos State Governor’s office and Lagos State House of Assembly to submit two letters, one to the President through the Governor and the other to the National Assembly through Lagos State House of Assembly. The letter is a request for the recognition of Comrade Chima Ubani, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Pastor Bamidele Francis Aturu and other heroes of Nigerian Democracy. This programme is being facilitated by Comrade Nma Odi,” Akhaine said.

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Also, “on September, 21, 2015 at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, is the grand finale and majorly a symposium under the theme: ‘A Life of Service and Struggle for a Better Nigeria: Remembering Comrade Chima Ubani’. It is delineated into three sessions. First session is a Keynote Address on the Life, Times and the Principles of the Struggles of Comrade Ubani to be delivered by Comrade Femi Aborisade and a panel session comprising Prof. Henry Onwubiko, Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, Dr. Sylvester Odion Akhaine and Comrade Lanre Nosaze Osaze.”

This session will be chaired by Prof. Humphrey Asobie, former President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The second session will feature tributes. This is expected to be chaired by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA). The third session will focus on ‘Next Steps’, largely an open discussion on how to preserve the principles of justice and egalitarianism that Comrade Ubani championed in his life time. This session is expected to be chaired by Comrade Femi Falana (SAN).

Other events lined up will take place on September 21, 2015, at Bayero University Kano (BUK), where there will be a Students’ Retreat organised by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) through its platform, the Centre for Popular Education (CEPED) in collaboration with the Comrade Abiodun Aremu-led Amilcar Cabral Ideological School (ACIS) for students’ union leaders and activists in tertiary institutions in the country commemorating the 10th Anniversary of Comrade Ubani.

Speakers at the event will include Dr. Nasir Issa Fagge, President ASUU; Lanre Arogundade former NANS President 1983–85, Mahmud Aminu, former NANS President 1991/92. The event will feature solidarity messages from NANS, NLC, TUC, JAF, ASUP and COEASU while Shola Olorunyomi, Hauwa Mustapha and Owei Lakemfa are expected to moderate the retreat discussion sessions.

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