30 Years On, Ghost Of Fearless Journalist Continues To Haunt IBB
It was the day Dele Giwa, a columnist, was killed by means of a bundle bomb right inside his Talabi home in Ikeja, Lagos.
It was 11: 40am.
Giwa was 39 years old at the season of his death. It will be the first run through in the country's history such anybody's reality would be stopped by a letter bomb. Nobody has been killed by a letter bomb since that time, too.
Giwa was the pioneer Editor-In-Chief and CEO of Newswatch Magazine. Close by Ray Ekpu, Yakubu Mohammed and Dan Agbese, Giwa made Newswatch a standout amongst the most read titles in Nigeria in the '80s.
He had come back to Nigeria in the wake of laboring for a long time as a News Assistant with the New York Times. He would go ahead to flawless his exchange the National Concord and the Daily Times.
Set out Babarinsa, who filled in as a correspondent under Giwa, assuages that miserable day in the historical backdrop of the media in Nigeria.
"Newswatch was an incredible place to practice news coverage. We had four of the best columnists under one rooftop and charging the troops into fight. At that point one day, our lives changed. October 19, 1986 was a Sunday. After administration, I had gone to the workplace, similar to the practice among us staff of Newswatch to get my duplicate of the Magazine. I was joined there by my companion and neighbor, Paul Okomayin, an investor and bookkeeper. We got to the workplace at 62 Oregun Road, and met a ghostly scene.
"Giwa had been besieged!
"A woman from Newbreed, another magazine established by Chris Okolie, was letting me know. She detected my incomprehension. Giwa had been shelled! He is dead!"
Records of how Giwa kicked the bucket and fear inspired notions that finished in his passing may vary from individual to individual, yet the name of a specific General (retd) Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) who was Nigeria's ruler at the season of the letter bomb death, has been a repeating decimal.
Lt. Col. A.K Togun, the Deputy Director of the State Security Service (SSS) was on Giwa's case, as was Col Halilu Akilu of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI).
Togun and Akilu had blamed Giwa for different offenses from weapon running, plotting an insurgence against the administration of the day and shakedown.
Akilu had called Giwa's home and had requested driving directions to Giwa's home a day prior to the package bomb tore through the columnist, abandoning him mortally burned.
Giwa had been welcome to the workplaces of the SSS and DMI before his passing. He was a living risk to the military junta headed by IBB. His pen was mightier than the sword, to get an ageless quote.
There's additionally been the Gloria Okon edge to Giwa's passing.
On 22 April, 1985, a specific Gloria Okon was gotten with heroin and hard medications at the Aminu Kano International Airport. She was set out toward London. As indicated by a few records, Ms. Okon didn't exist. Her genuine name was Chinyere.
The said Okon would "kick the bucket" in authority six days after she was gotten; and a "carcass" of hers paraded.
As the trick goes, the "body" of the Gloria Okon divulged to the world had been uncovered from a funeral home. The cadaver had a place with another person.
Chinyere, as indicated by the intrigue scholars, was a medication donkey for Maryam Babangida, late spouse of IBB.
Giwa had seen Chinyere in the UK and had appointed a writer to take photos of the woman. He was contemplating the photos when a package arrived his home, bearing the seal of the "President".
As per the New Telegraph, Giwa asked his seven-year-old child when he got hold of the letter: "Who brought this?"
"On the bundle was composed "From the Office of the C-in-C" (president). Additionally composed on it was that no one aside from the recipient ought to open it. Billy told his dad that he got it from Musa Zibo, the security monitor. Billy left the room and Giwa suspended his feast and said to Soyinka: "This must be from the president." He put the bundle on his laps and attempted to open it with his right hand and that was it".
Kayode Soyinka, who was with Giwa when the package arrived, had pardoned himself to utilize the restroom. It turned out his redeeming quality.
Babangida has been mum for a long time. In 2001, he avoided a welcome from the National Human Rights Commission, to affirm about what he thought about Giwa's passing.
It deteriorated: Babangida, Hakilu and Togun continued to the courts, getting a controlling request banning the Human Rights Commission from constantly summoning them.
30 years on be that as it may, the apparition of Dele Giwa keeps on stalking the land.
There have been a few unsolved homicides including prominent people in that traverse, yet Giwa's has been the stand out did with a letter bomb. Giwa's has been the stand out executed with such relentless, ruthless strategy just the Military could have pulled off at the time.
All examinations concerning the passing of Giwa have been disappointed, a few organizations after. The vast majority of the on-screen characters in the murder case are still alive. IBB still standards the perch in Minna, Niger State is still viewed in specific circles as a political Godfather.
IBB keeps on pontificating on matters of national concern.
Late legitimate illuminating presence, Gani Fawehinmi, battled unsuccessfully to disentangle the one million dollar address: Who executed Dele Giwa?
IBB may not be the main Nigerian pioneer who has blood recolored hands covering up under his Babariga (customary Nigerian clothing), however the passing of the writer may well frequent him until his diminishing day.
Keep on resting in peace, Sumonu Oladele "Baines" Giwa
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