A non-governmental organisation, Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation, says the Nigerian masses have lost hope in the current political leaders following the controversial outcome of the 2023 general elections.
The Chairman of GAFAMOG, Tunde Agunbiade, while challenging the critical stakeholders to speak up against the current challenges facing the country, maintained that bribery and corruption had plunged many who were supposed to speak up into silence.
Agunbiade stated this during the annual 85th posthumous birthday celebration of the late Gani Fawehinmi with the theme: “Philanthropy as Panacea for the Needs of the Voiceless and Defenceless.”
The event was held in Lagos on Saturday.
Agunbiade said, “We need to speak the truth to ourselves. Without an iota of doubt, the state of the nation has caused pain and sorrow because of our lukewarmness, carelessness, nonchalance, lacklustre performance and lackadaisical attitude. The ever-fervent and ever-active labour unions, NMA, NBA, and human rights activists have become passive.
“A lot of our leaders have been plunged into silence, apathy and lukewarmness through bribery and corruption. While so many other active members have been plunged into poverty and penury due to lack of job and non-payment of salary as and when due has affected our dedication to this cause. Sadly, the state of the nation gets worsened and the economy sapped, and the condition of living of Nigerians degenerates every day because we have abandoned our primary assignment.”
Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer, Garu Technologies Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Lukman Garu, represented by Ms Lawal Abidemi-Garu, said the essence of philanthropy was to improve the well-being of mankind by providing solutions to social problems.
She said, “Philanthropy is sacrifice, it is love, it is charity, it is fairness, and it is humanity. This is why philanthropy is so vital. It has the power to accelerate progress where it’s needed most and support the causes that can fuel real change in the world. This benefits people, the planet, and society as a whole.”
