Nigeria’s eighth Commander-in-Commander and Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), has said the late civil rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), never wanted to be seen with him because he was perceived as an “evil genius.”
Babangida said he employed all possible means to make Fawehinmi his friend while in power but failed.
Describing the late activist as a good man, IBB said a member of his cabinet, the late Alex Akinyele, also tried in vain to spark a friendship between them.
Featuring on Channels Television, IBB said: “He (Fawehinmi) is a good critic and he doesn’t want to be seen with someone that people already perceived as ‘an evil genius.’
“I like listening to him. I made it a point to become his friend. He was very friendly with one of my former ministers, the late Alex Akinyele; they were very good friends, and he tried to make us very good friends.
“If we come up with a policy, my first question to my staff was: What would Gani Fawehinmi say?”
He said his fondness for Fawehinmi was born out of his attraction to bright minds adding that he always told members of his cabinet that joining his administration was in the interest of Nigeria.
