-BY: Kehinde Amusan
On the 25th of May, 2018, as the Student Council on Legal Aids (SCOLA), U.I celebrated Femi Falana at 60 in honour of his legal activism, the guest lecturer, Prof. Ademola Popoola, sequel to the depth of his lecture, captured the activism and achievement of the celebrants as what he called “Vintage Falana”
The Justice Moshood A bass chaired occasion which occurred at the faculty of Law LLT building, U.I welcomed the presence of Prof. Ayo from the faculty of Law, Ajayi Crowther University, the celebrants, Femi Falana (SAN), Prof. Popoola, among other eminent personalities. Shortly after the opening prayer was said, the president of SCOLA, U.I, Mr Akinola Yusuf gave a warmth welcome address where he commented that the passion for justice and selfless service to humanity running in the veins of virtually all members of SCOLA, U.I is nothing but an emulation of the legal activities of Femi Falana(SAN). He added that, “for the past 6 months SCOLA, U.I has offered legal aids services to over 215 students of U.I”. Also, in the opening remark by the chairman of the occasion, Justice Moshood Abass, it was said that Femi Falana was being celebrated that day because of his doggedness in fighting for the cause of justice which started right before he became a lawyer.
In his speech, the guest lecturer, Prof. Ademola Popoola, former Dean of Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, commented that both individual and corporate commitment to total national efforts have suffered caprice in Nigeria. He further remarked on the indices of development in 2016, where human development in Nigeria is ranked 166 out of 187 countries while in Global competitiveness index Nigeria has 127 position out of 144 countries. He added that a this has indication for poverty and socio economic right. At the climax of the lecture, Prof. Popoola explored the jurisprudence of socio economic right, enumerate that public welfare as the object of the people, pursuit of social justice and the pursuit of the idea of welfare history as significant. According to him, ” an unjust society cannot maintain unity and progression “.
On the application of the concept of social justice, he remarked that a society must at least maintain some minimum standard of living, education and security for all its members. However, he added that the state should make sure to secure organized collective action against the risk of social and economic right. According to him, ” what is required of government is not only to regulate by law the way social security is organized and retainable and attainable, but also involving in the administration”. Prof. Popoola concluded, suggesting that the economic system should not be operated in such a way as to permit the confederation of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of two individuals or a group and that planned and balance economic development be provided.
Featured after the lecture was a rendition from Law Chorale in honour of the celebrant. Also, Mr Ebun Oluadegboruwa, Mr Adeyinka Olumide and Mr Femi Aborisade gave an activist spirit steering remark which tingles the ears of the audience. Femi Falana, SAN also gave a short and meanings embedded remarks, where he disclosed that his family and he have engaged in so many risks. He further revealed an incident of how he was stab in the back, just a few meters away from his spinal cord. Nevertheless, he declared that “so we have taken risks, but now that we are alive, we have just started”.
He further assured the public that he is going to collaborate with his local and international comrades to replace and engage in the complete emancipation of the people from poverty to prosperity. He prompted the audience that, ” 2019 is around the corner and the enemies of our people are reorganizing to continue the status quo, but it is not an easy task to fight and destroy them”. Conclusively, he admonished the public that, ” the task ahead of us is herculean, but it is not an insurmountable challenge”
