TheCable

Bola Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on Femi Falana, human rights lawyer and Kunle Ajibade, veteran journalist, to join hands with the ruling party to move the country forward.

Tinubu described the pair, who recently clocked 60, as icons in their chosen fields.

“There is no doubt that both Falana and Ajibade had impacted on Nigeria and Nigerians in the most profound ways,” Tinubu said.

“We enjoin the duo not to rest on their oars but join hands with us in the All Progressives Congress, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, to make Nigeria a better place.”

Tinubu said the month of May, which in 1999 heralded the rebirth of democracy in Nigeria after almost 16 years of unbroken military rule, is also significant in one other respect.

“It is the month of birth of many prominent Nigerians,” he said.

“As both were united in their month of birth, there is also an unmistakable meeting point in their life trajectories.

“Both fought against successive military regimes to facilitate the emergence of democracy in the country.

“We thank them for their struggles and we thank them for their sacrifices but we are not yet in the Promised Land.”

Wishing them a long life, the APC leader thanked the men for their contributions to Nigeria’s democracy.

“Mr Falana is a lawyer, pro-democracy and human rights activist, who continues to employ the instrumentality of the law to correct the ills of the society.

“His contributions to constitutionalism and jurisprudence know no bounds.

“He takes briefs from the rich to empower him to fight injustice against the poor pro bono.

“Ajibade is that astute journalist and celebrated author, who through his pen, fought against the military junta and was particularly a thorn in the flesh of the regime of the late Abacha.”