LAGOS – Some lawyers and activists on Tuesday said the struggles of the late human rights lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, for a social change in Nigeria should be kept alive.
They made the remark in Lagos at a colloquium held in honour of Aturu, who died on July 9 at the age of 49.
The theme of the colloquium is “Struggle for Social Change in Nigeria.’’
Mr Femi Aborisade, who chaired the occasion, said Aturu would never be forgotten because he devoted his life to the cause of social justice.
Aborisade, who is a senior lecturer at the Polytechnic, Ibadan, said apart from defending indigent litigants, Aturu was always at the forefront of the fight against some government policies.
“Though we have to mourn the untimely death of Aturu, but at the same time we have to mobilise that his dream for a better Nigeria should be actualised,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr Biodun Aremu, the Secretary, Joint Action Force (JAF), recalled that Aturu provided free legal representations to labour groups in the country during their struggles.
“We must rise up for fairness and justice the way Aturu rose up for a better Nigeria.
“The best way we can honour him is to continue with the struggle,” Aremu said.[eap_ad_2]
On his part, Mr Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director, International Press Centre, Lagos, said Aturu was committed to the quest for social justice and transformation of the country.
He described as the death of the human rights lawyer as a big loss to the human rights community and the country at large.
In her speech, Mrs Ngozi Iwerre, the Executive Director, Community Life Action Project, a civil rights group, said:“The high rate of unemployment, poverty and corruption in the country were some of the things Aturu campaign against.
She urged mass struggle for change in the country.
Mr Yinka Farounbi, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, who also paid tribute to Aturu, described him as the people’s lawyer.
He noted that the late lawyer, who used the law to fight injustice in the society, was a role model to many young lawyers. (NAN)[eap_ad_3]