DELE GIWA, 23 YEARS LATER STILL NO ARREST?
Nigeria we hail thee! Is there really any hope for the future for a country which is still investigating the murder of Dele Giwa, 23 years after his gruesome parcel-bomb killing? It was October 19, 1986 in Ikeja, Lagos, while taking his breakfast that a parcel bomb, believed to have been sent by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida dispatched him to eternity! Now October 19, 2009; 23 odd years later, his killers have not been found nor any conclusive investigation carried out to unravel his killers and bring them to justice. Dele Giwa was the former founding Editor-in-Chief of NewsWatch magazine! Regrettably, his colleagues at NewsWatch, the early team of Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohamed sold out on him; and have since moved on; consigning the memory of this their former colleague to the heap of ancient history. Icheoku asks, where is the courage that journalists are known for, and which they are supposed to display at times like this? What happened to the cause for which their former colleague gave up his life, pursuing? Was the alleged Gloria Okon's story that brought IBB's hit-men to town, not meant as a scoop for the then trail-blazing NewsWatch Magazine for which they all stood to benefit from? But good men are often interred with their bones and so was Dele Giwa's, who is now but a blimp in the radar of Nigerians killed, just another Nigerian that once lived. Icheoku says, NewsWatch did not do right by and for Dele Giwa; and because of this, they should be very ashamed of themselves as a bunch of castrated pigs, who joined forces with the killers of Dele Giwa to subvert investigation into his murder! Nigerian Union of Journalists allowed their colleague's death to go unsung; their colleague was killed and they just turned tails? The judiciary or whatever resembles or represents it in Nigeria today, what are they doing to force proceedings in this gruesome death of a journalist who was just doing his work, trying to unravel the biggest drug-running by a Nigerian army general who was then sitting at Dodan Barracks as a ruling despotic military junta? A self styled evil genius, who has not taken responsibility for this murder, by parcel bomb of Dele Giwa, 23 years after? To Nigeria's Attorney General Micheal Kassie Aodonkaa, Icheoku says, Nigerians have since lost hope in your efficiency and ability to discharge the duties of your office; we have earlier called for your resignation or firing from the job which you have taken down to its lowest ebb ever. Since your inception as the AG, nothing notable or tangible could be attributed to your years in office; not even the death of Bola Ige have you investigated? It is a known fact that you are neck-deep in the corrupt power-play that is Nigerian politics, and would shield the party responsible for Dele Giwa's death at any cost necessary. Therefore there is no need for us to implore you to do something about Dele Giwa's death and investigation since we already know you will not? To the greater Nigerian civil society, another toothless bulldogs, victims of the oppressors of Nigeria state, it would appear that Dele Giwa's death has come to an inconclusive shameful end; as investigation thereto have stalled and deliberately so, just to protect the bloody self-styled prince of Minna! Icheoku says, shame on these collaborators of Nigeria state, whose hands are dripping with the blood of so many innocent victims of the Nigeria state, including that of Dele Giwa. It shall not be well with you; as every innocent blood shed, like the biblical Cain's brother Abel's, cries to the Lord for redress; and so is Nigeria in turmoil, being punished for the shed blood of all innocent Nigerians. To the octogenarian, aged mother of Dele Giwa, Elekhia Giwa and family, Icheoku says take heart; the Almighty Lord is the rewarder who shall reward each according to his deeds. If IBB is not, cannot and would not be held accountable in Nigeria because he is an untouchable monster, someday he shall and possibly in hellfire! Our dear Dele Giwa, as we remember you today October 19, 2009, on the occasion of your 23 years memorial/remembrance anniversary, we say may your soul remain restless until the bloody murderer is held accountable! Adieu Dele Giwa!
Nigeria we hail thee! Is there really any hope for the future for a country which is still investigating the murder of Dele Giwa, 23 years after his gruesome parcel-bomb killing? It was October 19, 1986 in Ikeja, Lagos, while taking his breakfast that a parcel bomb, believed to have been sent by Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida dispatched him to eternity! Now October 19, 2009; 23 odd years later, his killers have not been found nor any conclusive investigation carried out to unravel his killers and bring them to justice. Dele Giwa was the former founding Editor-in-Chief of NewsWatch magazine! Regrettably, his colleagues at NewsWatch, the early team of Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese and Yakubu Mohamed sold out on him; and have since moved on; consigning the memory of this their former colleague to the heap of ancient history. Icheoku asks, where is the courage that journalists are known for, and which they are supposed to display at times like this? What happened to the cause for which their former colleague gave up his life, pursuing? Was the alleged Gloria Okon's story that brought IBB's hit-men to town, not meant as a scoop for the then trail-blazing NewsWatch Magazine for which they all stood to benefit from? But good men are often interred with their bones and so was Dele Giwa's, who is now but a blimp in the radar of Nigerians killed, just another Nigerian that once lived. Icheoku says, NewsWatch did not do right by and for Dele Giwa; and because of this, they should be very ashamed of themselves as a bunch of castrated pigs, who joined forces with the killers of Dele Giwa to subvert investigation into his murder! Nigerian Union of Journalists allowed their colleague's death to go unsung; their colleague was killed and they just turned tails? The judiciary or whatever resembles or represents it in Nigeria today, what are they doing to force proceedings in this gruesome death of a journalist who was just doing his work, trying to unravel the biggest drug-running by a Nigerian army general who was then sitting at Dodan Barracks as a ruling despotic military junta? A self styled evil genius, who has not taken responsibility for this murder, by parcel bomb of Dele Giwa, 23 years after? To Nigeria's Attorney General Micheal Kassie Aodonkaa, Icheoku says, Nigerians have since lost hope in your efficiency and ability to discharge the duties of your office; we have earlier called for your resignation or firing from the job which you have taken down to its lowest ebb ever. Since your inception as the AG, nothing notable or tangible could be attributed to your years in office; not even the death of Bola Ige have you investigated? It is a known fact that you are neck-deep in the corrupt power-play that is Nigerian politics, and would shield the party responsible for Dele Giwa's death at any cost necessary. Therefore there is no need for us to implore you to do something about Dele Giwa's death and investigation since we already know you will not? To the greater Nigerian civil society, another toothless bulldogs, victims of the oppressors of Nigeria state, it would appear that Dele Giwa's death has come to an inconclusive shameful end; as investigation thereto have stalled and deliberately so, just to protect the bloody self-styled prince of Minna! Icheoku says, shame on these collaborators of Nigeria state, whose hands are dripping with the blood of so many innocent victims of the Nigeria state, including that of Dele Giwa. It shall not be well with you; as every innocent blood shed, like the biblical Cain's brother Abel's, cries to the Lord for redress; and so is Nigeria in turmoil, being punished for the shed blood of all innocent Nigerians. To the octogenarian, aged mother of Dele Giwa, Elekhia Giwa and family, Icheoku says take heart; the Almighty Lord is the rewarder who shall reward each according to his deeds. If IBB is not, cannot and would not be held accountable in Nigeria because he is an untouchable monster, someday he shall and possibly in hellfire! Our dear Dele Giwa, as we remember you today October 19, 2009, on the occasion of your 23 years memorial/remembrance anniversary, we say may your soul remain restless until the bloody murderer is held accountable! Adieu Dele Giwa!
Dele Giwa: IG Urged To Re-open Investigation
ReplyDeleteWritten by Taiwo Ogunmola, Lagos
Monday, 19 October 2009 20:28
The Inspector-General of Police, Ogbona Onovo has been urged to re-open investigation of the murder of Dele Giwa by a parcel bomb on October 19, 1986 during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Barrister Mohammed Fawehinmi made the call yesterday in Lagos during the 23rd anniversary of Dele Giwa's death as remembered by the chambers of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
He said: 'The trend set by Dele has been extended with numerous extra-judicial killings".
He noted that the inability of the police to produce any concrete evidence and culprits had become worrisome.
"Dele Giwa’s murder should be re-investigated and other Nigerians who were assassinated thereafter".
Mohammed complained that nothing has been done despite the efforts made by his late father, saying it was time to bring the culprits to justice.
He enumerated Nigerians who were assassinated without further investigation on their killing.
He, therefore, gave the IG one week to set up a committee to investigate the killing of Dele Giwa.
"The IG has everything in his purview to fish out those involved in the assassination of the foremost journalist ", he said.
Mr. Bamidele Adewunmi, who contributed during the event, urged Babangida to come out and exonerate himself from the allegation leveled against him during the assassination of Dele Giwa, adding that his confession would help the police.
Monarch Wants Dele Giwa Immortalised
ReplyDeleteFrom Adibe Emenyonu in Benin, 10.20.2009
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The traditional ruler of Ekperi, the ancestral home of slain journalist, Dele Giwa, has appealed to government at all levels to immortalise the latejournalist who, according to him, died while fighting against injusticeand corruption in Nigeria.
Egiegba of Ekperi, Yakubu Kanobamade, made the appeal when the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo state chapter, led by itschairman, Friday Obanor, and other executive members visited him at hispalace as part of activities lined up to commemorate the 23rdanniversary of Dele Giwa’s death.
According to him, Dele Giwa died when his dreams of attractingdevelopment to the kingdom was almost bearing fruits. "His death was adivine act to reveal hidden happening in the country," he said."
He died in thecourse of protecting the country against injustice and corruption."
His call, however, came as a Benin-based lawyer, Mr. Mr. Osaheni Uzamere, urged the Nigerian media to continue to be at the vanguard andthe fight against corruption in spite of the brutal murder of journalists.
Uzamere, who made the call yesterday at the 1st Dele Giwa Memorial Lecture organised by theNigeria Union of Journalists, Edo state Council in conjunction with Etsako local government council, laid the blame of corruption at the door-step of the military who were in power for 34 years.
He stressed that the military‘totally corrupted Nigerian beyond redemption” , holding Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Gen. Sano Abacha liable for putting “a seal on Nigeria’sfate for years”.
He observed that the problems faced by journalists in Nigeria were nodifferent from those faced by other professions, pointing out that theproblems were foisted on Nigerians by the manner the country attainedher so-called independence”.Uzamere who extolled the journalistic qualities of the lateGiwa, blamed the colonialist and past military rulers in Nigeriafor handing over the reins of power to their stooges who, he said, werenot prepared to take leadership responsibilities. “Nigeria is still acolony of the West”, he declared.Speaker , Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, whospoke through the House Committee Chairman on Information, Hon. BrightOmokhodion, called on the National Assembly to speedily pass theFreedom of Information [FoI] Bill, noting that with its passage, Giwa would not have died in vain.He said journalists’ occupation is critical position in any societyand called on them to continue t be alive to their responsibilities.In his comments, Edo State Commissioner for Information andOrientation, Hon. Abdul Oroh, said in celebrating the life and times ofGiwa, journalists should imbibe those virtues he was noted for,like investigative journalism