Civil rights activist and politician Senator Shehu Sani has urged Nigerians and the government at all levels to appreciate and honour the freedom fighters who defended the country.
While speaking with Newsmen on Monday, Sani made the call when he visited the tombs of six deposed Emirs in Lokoja, who refused to bow down to British colonialists.
Sani, who was accompanied by his colleague, Comrade Suleiman Ahmed, admonished Nigerians and the government at all levels to appreciate freedom fighters who defended the country.
“Today, I am on the visit to the tombs of the Emirs from Northern Nigerians who were deposed by the British Colonialists and exiled to Lokoja where they died. Here, particularly, is the tomb of the late Emir of Kano, Mallam Aliyu Abdullahi (Maisango) who died in 1903.
“We have to appreciate the freedom fighters, those who stood in defence of our country. As a Pan-Africanist, someone who has been involved in the struggle for rights for freedom and justice, and someone who appreciates history a lot.
“I am here to appreciate this noble Emirs who stood in the defence of our country. This visit is to also send a clear message to Nigerians and to inspire others, that as we move forward as a country and as a people, we should also look backwards to appreciate those who fought and laid their lives and made sacrifices for us.
“Here, are Emirs who are lying down in their tombs; they were not deposed by their people but by the colonialists who came to enslave our people and take over our country and our resources. The Emirs that refused to bow down to colonialists, the ones who stood for freedom and defended our territorial land; we owe them a lot,” he said.
Sani, who was the Senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District from 2015 to 2019, reaffirmed his commitment to continue to appreciate and honour Nigeria’s freedom fighters.
Speaking, the Etsu Lokoja, Emmanuel Akamisoko Dauda-Shelika and other Lokoja community leaders who took the Senator and his colleague around the tombs’ sites commended the senator for the visit, describing it as a welcome development.
“The visit of distinguished Senator Shehu Sani and his colleague, Comrade Suleiman Ahmed, is a very welcome development and we appreciate them for the gesture.
“Oftentimes, we hardly remember that certain people contributed to certain measures in the past. So, the visit to Lokoja with particular interest in the tombs of the deposed Emirs, is very laudable.
“As a human rights activist, he could quickly point to the fact that these Emirs fought in defence of their people, and that was what leadership is all about”, Dauda-Shelika said.
By Gbenga Odogun
