Dele Giwa's sister blames Babangida for brother's murder

Abiba Aboaba, sister of the slain editor-in-chief of Newswatch magazine, Dele Giwa, has accused the former self-styled military president, Ibrahim Babangida of behind the death of her brother.

Giwa's sister spoke on Monday at a stage performance, titled: ‘Conversation at Night' organised by Friends of Gani Fawehinmi, to mark the 23rd anniversary of Giwa's murder. The late journalist was murdered with a parcel bomb on October 19, 1986 in his Ikeja Lagos home.

"I will join you in this battle, this battle has just started. Who killed Dele Giwa? " Mrs Aboaba said.

An emotional Mrs Aboaba, who attended the occasion with Giwa's aged mother,Rekiya, said: "I knew the role Babangida played, I knew the role Togun played, I knew the role Akilu played. Instead of Babangida to come and give answer to the question at Oputa Panel, he didn't come. Babangida was bigger than the law. That's the greatest pain I feel about Nigeria. I want to tell Babangida the battle has just started. Babangida has murdered sleep." Her speech was met by loud chorus of amen from the gathering that included activists and lawyers. The killers of Giwa will never sleep, she said. "Your children will never sleep because justice must prevail." Asked later by NEXT if she has the facts to back her claim, Mrs Aboaba said:

"The facts are there. Go back and you'll find out from several archives on this same story. Babangida should come out and defend himself. He should not be covered up. He's not bigger than the law. If I come out and accuse you, will you not come out to defend yourself? Why hasn't government brought him out, at least to say something?" Also speaking at the occasion, Muhammed Fawehinmi, first son of the late activist gave the assurance that he will take up the fights left by his father. He promised that he and others of like minds would do their best to get the ministers of education and health removed because of non- performance.

Keep asking the question

Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, who condemned the many unresolved murders, said Nigeria's situation is one "where the killers are looking for the killers, so the killers are not found." Social activist, Wale Oshun, who was among those who spoke at the performance held inside the multipurpose hall of the Lagos Television , said Nigerians must not tire of asking government questions.

"We need to keep asking who killed Dele Giwa, Bola Ige, Suliat Adedeji, Alfred Rewane, Harry Marshall and whose turn is it next?" he said.

Lanre Arogundade of the International Press Institute, said Nigerians' silence about the many murders and the refusal to help others in need is a "product of certain circumstances, so we shouldn't lose sight of that. People are silent because of helplessness, because there are no alternatives." Tunji Abayomi, Wahab Shittu, Bisi Adegbuyi ,Yinka and Joe Odumakin are members of the Friends of Fawehinmi who organised the performance that featured Segun Sofowote and Wale Macaulay.