Sylva Nze Ifedigbo

It was in this month some twenty two years ago, that cowardice took a whole new meaning. Precisely, on October 19^th 2008, it would be twenty two years since the blast from a letter bomb packaged by yet to be identified person(s) sent one of the greatest icons of journalism in this country-Dele Giwa- to an early grave at a little short of forty years of age.

In 1986, I was just two years old, far too young to have understood any thing happening. So I can’t boast of having had a personal knowledge of this great man, a privilege I wished I had had, but a starch of old magazines and news papers which my dad happens to be good in keeping afforded me the opportunity of meeting this rare gem one-on-one through his many issue oriented writings and critical columns and I feel an overwhelming urge to share what I know with the world as we count down to the twenty second anniversary of his death. 

Dele Giwa founding editor of NewsWatch magazine was a rare Nigerian who believed so much in journalism that he lived and died for it. With a blunt, firm and forthright resolve, he told the truth and damned the consequences.

With guts and extreme confidence in himself, Dele Giwa acknowledged that he was in the business of making enemies but was ready to make them in the overriding interest of a great Nigerian state. He saw this interest as the responsibility of the press to protect and he blazed the trail in that regard.

D G as he was fondly called believed so much in Nigeria and was said to have once boasted that Nigerians were unshakable.  Alas, his death shook the nation a great deal but we carried on. He was known for his unyielding opposition to bad leadership at all levels and uncompromising zeal to expose the misdeeds of public office holders and their collaborators. He condemned crime in all its ramifications and never shied away from openly stating so both in speech and in writing. He called a spade a spade and was never known to cut corners.

Above all, D G was very dedicated to his job. In simple terms, he was a workaholic and would not undermine excellence for any reason. He abhorred sloppy jobs and was quick to rebuke even his top colleagues at Newswatch when found wanting. He hated cheats and liars, was firm and decisive, yet humble and friendly. His bravery and strong personality combined to single him out among his contemporaries. Most of all, he was a good family man; a caring father and a loving husband.

Here was a true patriot and a national hero of the first degree. It was most relieving to have seen his name among the list of Nigerians who were recently honoured with Street names by the FCT minister. It took twenty two years, but then, better than never. But I think we should have done more to immortalize this person who bequeathed to Nigeria the spirit of service to one’s country even in the face of personal discomfort and insecurity.

While the search for his killers might have remained inconclusive all these years, I wish to note that in our society today, we can identify many Dele Giwa Killers. We see his killers in all those who are against the passage of the Freedom of Information bill, in those people who are quick to lock up television stations and arrest their staff for doing their job in the name of ‘security’. We see his killers in those who steal election victory and manipulate both the judiciary and the masses such that they remain in power no matter what. We identify the unknown killers in all those public office holders who mistake the public vault for their trouser pockets, looting so much that one begins to question their sanity.

All those who cut corners and delight in shoddy jobs stink of Dele Giwa’s blood. All those government contractors who have perfected the art of the more you look the less you see- those who will do the job at half the quality, those who will collect the mobilization fee but will never complete the job and those who will be paid even without knowing where the site for the project is.

We recognize D G’s killers in a legislature that spend the better part of the year manipulating the budget and an executive that seems simply confused and helpless. In a judiciary that gives justice to the highest bidder no matter the weight of evidence to the contrary and a police that is irretrievably corrupt and disorganized.

All those who oppose free speech at any level and engage in acts that negatively affects the lives of over 140 million Nigerian both as public officers and as private individuals are the killers we’ve been searching for and it is time we fished them out and made them face the book.

If those cowards who hatched and executed the letter bomb murder of D G thought that they would succeed in silencing him forever, it is a pity that his death only gave rise to many more biting journalist and journalistic forums like own dear Sahara Reporters and many others that are much to the distaste of the killers, telling it the way it is-pointblank- like Dele Giwa did.

So, twenty two years after, we are not mourning but celebrating the life and times of this icon that is a representation of the kind of people we-youths- should have as role model. We might not all be journalists or possess the talent of writing well, but we could still pursue excellence and the great ideals he exemplified by aspiring to be the best we can be in our chosen fields. As Roosevelt once said;

“No man is worth his salt

Who is not ready at all times

To risk his well being, to risk his body,

To risk his life, in a great course.”

Sylva Nze Ifedigbo

nzeifedigbo@yahoo.com

www.nzesylva.wordpress.com 

Robot  Villager

# 1 Sylva Nze Ifedigbo It was in this month some twenty two years ago, that cowardice took a whole new meaning. Precisely, on October 19th 2008, it would be twenty ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 10.10.2008 16:05

emj  Villager

# 2 While the search for his killers might have remained inconclusive all these years, I wish to note that in our society today, we can identify many Dele Giwa Killers. We see his killers in all those who are against the passage of the Freedom of Information bill, in those people who are quick to lock up television stations and arrest their staff for doing their job in the name of ‘security’. We see his killers in those who steal election victory and manipulate both the judiciary and the masses such that they remain in power no matter what. We identify the unknown killers in all those public office holders who mistake the public vault for their trouser pockets, looting so much that one begins to question their sanity. Eherm Sylva, da madness did not start today, it's been in dia system for laik ever...but be rest assured that it has a cure and the expiry date is near...very near:arrow: BTW....da killers are not invisible, they are very visible..and no one is searching for them...they know themselves....those who planned, collaborated + including those who carried out the orders are no ghost, masquerade or irumole.....:eek: Posted by emj| 10.10.2008 19:48

kpekere  Villager

# 3 In 1986, I was just two years old, far too young to have understood any thing happening. So I can’t boast of having had a personal knowledge of this great man, a privilege I wished I had had, but a starch of old magazines and news papers which my dad happens to be good in keeping afforded me the opportunity of meeting this rare gem one-on-one through his many issue oriented writings and critical columns and I feel an overwhelming urge to share what I know with the world as we count down to the twenty second anniversary of his death No disrespect meant, but throughout this brilliant article, the only thing that keeps screaming out at me is POSTERITY! POSTERITY!! POSTERITY!!! Justice delayed in a season, is certainly not denied in the next. From one generation to the next, the brutally splattered blood of an innocent man stirs in the earth and cries for justice. I think his killers (whoever/wherever they are) should really sit up and take notice. Cos you may mess with a people, but you can't fool posterity. Posted by kpekere| 11.10.2008 04:53

Adeola Aderounmu  Villager

# 4 While the search for his killers might have remained inconclusive all these years Let me break my 2 months old silence in this village. Silence because in a way I am furious about many things/people about truth, public service, accountability,fairness and my version of "the good of all"-no citizen left behind. Gani Fawehinmi said Babangida, Togun and Akilu (Babangida's security chiefs) killed Dele Giwa. He wanted Babangida at Oputa Panel. He wanted him more in the court of law. Babangida is above the law and NO BODY in Nigeria, Living or Dead can tell Babangida what to do, not even the Police or Judiciary. In Nigeria some people are still ABOVE the law and Babangida is number one. Gani could not overcome the various evil governments in Nigeria to pass or send his message across. That is why your statement above needs to be re-visited. But who will do the revisitation? In a system where evil and illegality reigns, you cannot get justice. Some people even alleged that Dele Giwa was going to blackmail IBB and that's why he was killed. I suggest you do more insightful research into this topic and perhaps come up with a follow-up. We cannot keep forgetting the evils that people do because they sum up to the perpetuation of fear, wickedness and injustice. Do we not know that one of the reasons why corruption and poverty will never cease from Nigeria is because Babangida and the others like him are freemen. Murderers and Looters parading the seat of power means that judicial confirmation of DG killers will remain elusive just the same way that penury will persist as the portion of more than 90m people. All these things are interwoven and the elucidation of one is a prerequisite for the way out of the other. Thank you for your piece, more ink to your pen. Back to Blog!! Posted by Adeola Aderounmu| 11.10.2008 04:58

Ben Emman  JJC

# 5 SPECIAL APPEAL TO GOV. ROTIMI AMAECHI (RIVERS STATE GOVERNOR) I am using this forum to appeal to the Governor of Rivers State, in the person of Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, on the proposal of its government to widen the new Eliogholo – Port Harcourt Airport road by another 450 feet. This road initially claimed 100 feet and the casualties of that exercise are yet to recover. It is surprising to hear again that the government is planning to extend the already dualised road by 450 ft on both sides. Some of us bought land in this area when it was a thick forest as we could not afford to do so in any habitable area. Fortunately, the immediate past government dualised that road and many of us, including the writer, had to go and borrow money from Co-operative society. I will still be servicing this loan for at least the next few years. The loan notwithstanding, the fact that I am living in my house brings joy to me and my household. I wonder where to go if this house, that is already completed, is demolished because the government wants to build high rise buildings on a road that stretches up to 4-5 kilometers. I am strongly appealing to Governor Rotimi Amaechi to consider the mess that many families will be put into by this singular act. It would be good to mention here that some of the landlords are widows and even jobless men. The fact that they have a roof on their heads makes life a little bearable for such people. I wonder what would be their fate should this plan materialize. I beg the Governor in the name of God to reconsider this plan and as well imagine the pains that it will bring to many lives and families. Many to-be-affected people, if the plan is finally executed, may never come out of this mess for years to come. I am very confident that the Governor is a God-fearing man and he will use his good position to temper this issue with mercy. God bless you. Regards, Ben Emman Posted by Ben Emman| 11.10.2008 08:46

Gbolly  Villager

# 6 Thank you for an excellent piece. Dele Giwa's spirit is here with us. His killers(s) will continue to carry the guilt for eternity. Posted by Gbolly| 11.10.2008 14:25

ajimoh  Villager

# 7 Gani Fawehinmi said Babangida, Togun and Akilu (Babangida's security chiefs) killed Dele Giwa. He wanted Babangida at Oputa Panel. He wanted him more in the court of law. Babangida is above the law and NO BODY in Nigeria, Living or Dead can tell Babangida what to do, not even the Police or Judiciary. In Nigeria some people are still ABOVE the law and Babangida is number one. Gani could not overcome the various evil governments in Nigeria to pass or send his message across. That is why your statement above needs to be re-visited. But who will do the revisitation? In a system where evil and illegality reigns, you cannot get justice. Do we not know that one of the reasons why corruption and poverty will never cease from Nigeria is because Babangida and the others like him are freemen. Murderers and Looters parading the seat of power means that judicial confirmation of DG killers will remain elusive just the same way that penury will persist as the portion of more than 90m people. I echo Gani Fewehinmi in saying IBB, Togun and Halilu Akilu murdered Dele Giwa and only citizens of cloud cuckoo land would believe otherwise. In the same vein, Olusegun Obasanjo, Atiku Abubakar and Iyiola Omisore are responsible for the death of Bola Ige (SAN), AND THESE KILLERS ARE CELEBRATED BY THEIR HANGERS-ON, APOLOGISTS & OTHERS TOO BLIND TO SEE THE OBVIOUS! Equally obvious is the trail to the murderers of MKO Abiola, using a poison traced to the old South African Security Services which does not show up in any post-mortem examination. The IBBs, Abdul Salam Abubakars, Obasanjos, Omisores, Atikus, etc have made pacts with eternity that they and their cohorts will inherit the world and never die. We shall see! Posted by ajimoh| 11.10.2008 18:00