The former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida yesterday spoke on the mystery surrounding the death the editor and founder of Newswatch magazine, Mr Sumonu Oladele Giwa, popularly called Dele Giwa
Recall that Dele Giwa was killed by a parcel bomb in his home at Ikeja, Lagos, on October 19, 1986 while in his study with Mr Kayode Soyinka.
The assassination occurred two days after he had been interviewed by State Security Service (SSS) officials.
Speaking on the matter yesterday at the launch of his book ‘A Journey in Service’ former military president, General Babangida who has been variously alleged to have been the mastermind of the cruel act stated that the truth would be unfolded someday.
He denied any involvement of the government in the journalist’s death.
“I still hope the truth about Dele Giwa’s murder will be uncovered in our lifetime or after us,” he stated.
Babangida also said the hysteria of the media did not help the investigation.
“The hysteria of the media did not help the investigation of the Giwa murder. As is typical of the Nigerian media, the direction was marked by an adversarial attitude towards government which had remained the hallmark of the Nigerian media from its colonial heydays.
“It was an attitude of ‘we versus the government’ that has remained today. It is a situation in which the government is adjudged guilty even before the evidence in a case is adduced.
“When the Obasanjo civilian administration reopened the Giwa case at the Oputa Panel on Human and Civil Rights, I expected that the police and lawyers would come forward with new evidence as to their findings on the Giwa murder over the years.
“Nothing of such happened. The Giwa, like all mysterious murders, has remained unsolved after so many years. I keep hoping will be uncovered in our life time or after us. More often than not, mysterious crimes are solved long after their commission,” Babangida declared.
