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Nest Of Murders By Jide Ayobolu jidegrand@yahoo.com
Since 1999, the Obasanjo administration has failed woefully to provide security for the people of Nigeria. The blame for the general insecurity can be put at the doorstep of the president because he is the chief security of the country. The rate at which prominent political figures have been mauled down without any trace of the assailants is not only disturbing, it has continued unabated. And, if this kind of gruesome killings can be carried out on well known individuals, it means several other Nigerians must have been subjected to greater agonizing and traumatic experiences in this regard. And, seven years into the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo he has not been able find a lasting solution that will put paid to this heinous crime. In fact, at a time professor Wole Soyinka look at the alarming rate of this politically motivated crimes, and said that it was more predominant in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that is why he aptly referred to the PDP as nest of murder, and at some other time as a cult of killers. This was the case when Mr. Funsho Williams, a leading PDP governorship contender and PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Lagos State was brutally killed in his house in Dolphin estate in Lagos state. About three days before he was cut down by heartless and merciless political goons, he and his supporters were viciously attacked in Epe area of Lagos state. But those who knew the dead politician very well said, he was a very gentle, easy-going, innocuous, cool, calm and collected politician that abhors violence. So, why will any right thinking person want to kill a person like that? Some have said that the killing was as a result of the power struggle amongst contending political gladiators in the Lagos State PDP, but some have stretched the argument further that, it is the handy work of fifth columnist, who cashed in on the crisis within the Lagos State PDP. The killing of Funsho Williams just like the one that took place in Plateau State about two weeks ago is to create the impression that there is general insecurity in the country. So, elections will not take place as planned. It is said that by the time this same kind of thing is replicated in several places around the country, there is no way elections will take place, and this is what the present occupiers of office like so much. So, the question is who killed Funsho Williams and for what purpose? It would be called that, this killings did not just start today; it dates back to about year 2001, in the run up to the 2003 general elections. On December 19, 2001, Mr. Odunayo Olagbaju, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly, was killed in front of Moore police station, Ile-Ife, Osun state. Next, was Chief Bola Ige, the minister of justice and Attorney- General of the Federation, who was shot at the residence in Ibadan, Oyo State, on December 23, 2001. Mr. S Ade Awonusi, the confidential secretary to the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Uwais , was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants near the national mosque, Abuja. On January 7, 2002. There is also the case of Mr. Barnabas Igwe, the NBA Onitsha branch chairman and wife, Abigail, were both murdered at their residence in Awka, Anambra State on September 2, 2002. Furthermore, on February 7, 2003, Mr. Ogbonnaya Uche, a chieftain of the All Nigeria Peoples Party in Imo State was gunned down at his residence. On February 2003, Theodore Agwatu, principal secretary to the Imo State Governor, was murder by suspected hired assassins in Imo State. On March 5, 2003, Dr Harry Marshal, a top nether of the ANPP was murder in his bedroom in Abuja. Also, on March 20, 2003, Rasak Brahim, a supporter of the former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Mohammed Lawal, was killed. On March 21, 2003, ANPP house of Assembly aspirant, Mr. Anthony Nwodo was murdered in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. On March 27, 2003, ANPP councillorship candidate in Anambra State, Mr. Ikenna Ibor, was murdered. On April 19, 2003, ANPP stalwart, Onyewuchi Iwuchukwa was murdered in Ike duru, Imo State. On April 20, 2003, ANPP House of Assembly, Toni Dimegwu, was murdered in Imo state. On May 12, 2003, no fewer than 25 persons were killed at a political rally in Effurun, Delta State. As if these killings are not enough, on June 20, 2003, a lawyer, Chief Ajibola Olanipekun, was murdered in Ibadan, Oyo State in circumstances believed to be political. On February 14, 2004, PDP National Vice Chairman, south-south, A.K. Dikibo was killed in Delta State, on March 3, 2004,the convoy of the Governor of Benue State, George Akume, was attacked by suspected assassins on his way to Kaduna. A member of the PDP’s board of trustees, Andrew Agom and Joseph Ngama, a police sergeant, were killed. On March 4, 2004, Mr. Luke Shingaba, a chairmanship candidate, was killed at his house in Bassa L.G. A., Kogi State. On March 7, 2004, Kogi State Electoral Commissioner, Chief Phillip Olorunipa was murdered in his residence in Kabba, Kogi State. On February 5, 2005, Sunday Atte, the leader of the legislative council in the leader of the legislative council in Yagba East Local Government of Kogi State, was murdered by unknown gunmen. On May 15, 2005, Alhaji Alabi Olajokun, one of the political associates of the Lagos State commissioner for works and infrastructure, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, was killed by suspected assasins at Gbongan junction in Osun State. On June 3, 2005, the principal administrative officer of Uvwie L.G.A. in Delta State, Mr. Patrick Origbe, was assassinated by unknown gunmen. On July 16, 2005 unknown gunmen killed Alhaji Lateef (alias Lati Osogbo) a close associate of the strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adebibu in Ibadan. On July 27, 2005, PDP, s assistant national director, research and planning, Mr. Anthony Ozioko, was murdered at his residence in Saburi- Gwagwa, Abuja by unknown persons. On June 30, 2006, a gubernatorial aspirant of the ACD, Mr. Jesse Arukwu, was abducted and his dead found around his house in Bassa L G, Plateau State on Sunday, July 2, 2006. It is also important to note that, Chief Alaba Joseph of Mobitel died in circumstances that has remained unknown. Also, Victor Nwankwo, the younger brother of Auteur was killed. On December 12, 2004, a promininent aviation activist and former president of the National Association of Pilots and Engineer Jerry Agbeyege was shot dead in front of the Alapere police station. On August 15, 2002, the chairman of PDP in Kwara State, Ahmed Pategi was killed. On September 24, 2002, Isyaku Mohammed, chairman of the newly registered United Nigeria People’s Party in Kano State, was also murdered. And, just two weeks ago, there was an attempted murdered of ACD Governorship aspirant in Plateau State, Arc. Pan Dung Gyang. One terrible thing about these murders is that, the police have not been able to unravel the motive behind a single case out of all the mentioned cases highlighted above. Hence, this culture of impunity has encouraged these political criminals to carry on with their dastardly acts, yet, the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, which is the supreme law of the country, section 14(2b) stipulates that, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”. But in reality, life is so cheap in Nigeria. Government has not been able to guarantee security in the country. In spite of all the noise about police reform, the organization has continued to move from bad to worse, has it has failed terribly in getting to the root of all these killings. The reason for the failure is the personalization of power President Obasanjo, his inability to listen to advice and intolerance of opposing viewpoints. If not, suggestions would have been giving to him on what to do, to move the police forward. It is for this reason that, it has been said that, “to say that only president Obasanjo has the experience and foresight to give quality leadership to Nigerians is as preposterous as it is irresponsible. Indeed, it is an admission of failure. One of the major aspects of good governance is the elimination of undue reliance on the political will and the personality of a leader. Good governance is achieved by improving the quality of government organization and service delivery. Unfortunately, since president Obasanjo came to power, the country has witnessed the deepening of centralization of power around him and the presidency with the attendant consequence of the weakening of governmental institutions. His control of important state agencies like the NNPC, ICPC, EFCC, CBN AND INEC to mention only but a few, has strengthened his hands in that regard. It is no secret that virtually all the presidents of the senate, who were removed, suffered their fate at the behest of president Obasanjo. Indeed the president behaves as if he is above the reach of the law. Like it happened in other African countries where despots are or were in charge, the presidency has become the dominant arena of decision-making”. Until, this trend changes, this kind of ineptitude associated with the police will continue to manifest, even in worst terms. It is also important to stress that it is as a result of the incessant killings that, Professor Wole Soyinka reasoned that, “I am convinced beyond any further doubt that there exists within the ruling party, a nest of murders. Their purpose is power, and to attain and retain this at all cost is a mission that habours a deep contempt for moral scruples. This nest is prepared to subjugate the rest of the nation to a reign of terror, backed by a display of contempt is best expressed by a familiar Americanese: In your face! We are speaking of a cabal that has exercised such influence in policy that there is no question in my mind that some of its members are to be found within the higher reaches of government where they have redefined governance as the exercise of impunity, with all its guarantees, extending this protective umbrella to all their underlings who carry out nefarious instructions without any fear of consequences”. This is the abyss into which Nigerian politics has fallen, as our politicians have refused to learn to any good thing from history. But certainly, things cannot continue this way. Political assassination is an ill wind that blows no one any good. By
Abuja-Nigeria.
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