A popular Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has appealed to the Federal Government to name a train station after the late Chief Remi Ade Fani-Kayode.
It should be noted the former Deputy Premier of Western Nigeria is the father of Femi Fani Kayode, ex-Minister of Aviation.
Speaking in a statement on Friday MURIC Director, Ishaq Akintola, argued that the late nationalists deserves the honour more than some of those already given.
According to him, Fani-Kayode, one of the earliest crown counsels to the Queen of England, played a major role in Nigeria’s history particularly in the nationalists movement.
He claimed that the former Deputy Premier played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence and a major character in the political landscape from 1940 to 1995.
MURIC said Fani-Kayode showed unique courage in his political career and fought against autocratic leadership and feudalistic royalty.
“He joined Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, the region’s premier who was also a great patriot and unequalled nationalist, to forge a coalition with the mainstream political party in the North in order to promote national unity. This is his major contribution,” he said.
The statement said the parameter employed in picking those to be honoured by FG “remains monumentally flawed if such a great hero is left out”.
“If names like Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti (Papalanto Station), Olusegun Osoba (Olodo Station) and Mobolaji Johnson (Ebute Metta Station) who held office or featured only at state level appear at our train stations, why shouldn’t that of the great Fani-Kayode appear”, it added
